Final answer:
Early adopters are the most influential adopter category in a community, serving as a bridge between innovators and the larger population. They leverage their status as 'thought leaders' to influence the adoption of new technologies and ideas.
Step-by-step explanation:
The category of adopters that has the greatest influence on people in their community is C) Early adopters. Sociologist Everett Rogers developed the Technology Adoption Lifecycle, which identifies different groups based on their willingness to adopt new technologies and ideas. Early adopters are significant because they are more influential in spreading new technologies or concepts to others. They often serve as a bridge between innovators, who are the first to adopt, and the early majority, who start adopting once an innovation appears to be beneficial based on the choices of early adopters.
Early adopters are seen as 'thought leaders' and they hold a great amount of influence over their peers. It is their approval and usage that is crucial in making an innovation go mainstream, influencing the technology adoption patterns within a society. As a result, targeting early adopters can be an effective strategy for businesses and innovators looking to successfully introduce and spread new innovations within a community.