Chapter 9: Technological System Evolution and Innovation

Major Topics

Viewing technological objects as systems of interacting components provides a framework for characterizing the evolution of technology.

Technological system evolution can frequently be described as modification at the component level.

Changes affecting multiple components commonly involve changes in the underlying principles used to carry out a system subfunction.

Chapter 9 Overview

  • The framework describing technology as systems of interacting components carrying out functions provides one perspective for characterizing the evolution of technology and the products of innovation. 

  • If demand and resources exist, technological systems undergo evolution and improvement to better accomplish the system function and satisfy the system requirements.

  • Systems frequently undergo modification at the component level. Improvements to individual components maintain the existing system structure.

  • Changes affecting multiple components frequently involve changes in the underlying principles used to carry out system functions. More fundamental changes affect more components.

  • Basic structure variations tend to be most pronounced in the early stages of development after which the critical components and major principles of the system often stabilize. 

  • One mode of evolution involves merging of individual components into modular structures.

  • In existing systems, evolution can entail a proliferation of additional capabilities and features appended to the original fundamental structure of the system, or variations of a basic system, and the addition of subsystems to extend capabilities.

  • The emergence of new requirements can produce changes to systems.

  • New components and materials can propagate to influence existing systems.

  • Patents are granted for technological components, systems, processes, and materials, deemed novel compared to the existing state-of-the art.

Chapter 9 Abstract

9. Technological Evolution and Innovation

The framework describing technology as systems of interacting components carrying out functions provides an approach for characterizing the evolution of technology and the products of innovation.  If demand and resources exist, technological systems undergo constant evolution and improvement to better accomplish the system function and satisfy the system requirements. Systems frequently undergo modification at the component level. Improvements to individual components maintain the existing system function structure. Changes affecting multiple components frequently involve changes in the underlying principles used to carry out a system function. More fundamental changes affect more components. Basic function structure variations tend to be most pronounced in the early stages of development after which the critical components and major principles of the system stabilize.  A mode of evolution involves merging of individual components into modular structures. In mature systems, evolution can entail a proliferation of additional capabilities and features appended to the original fundamental function structure of the system, or variations of a basic system, and the addition of subsystems to extend capabilities. The emergence of new requirements can cause changes to systems. New components, materials, and domains can propagate to influence existing systems. Patents are granted for technological systems deemed novel compared to the existing state-of-the art.