Science


Limits of Radical Innovation in Networks

We have all gotten used to spectacular innovation breakthroughs over the last decades, especially in the field of information and communication technologies. We have also come to appreciate what seems like a continuous stream of incremental innovation coming to our information processing tools in the form of updates and point releases. The Internet is a most effective and efficient distribution mechanism for such incremental change. But is the Internet also facilitating radical innovation?

Not necessarily, as I+I Centre director Viktor Mayer-Schönberger has argued in a recent paper. He suggests that successful commercial vendors are held back by the desire to keep loyal a growing user base that is reluctant vis-a-vis radical changes. That is why Microsoft can't fundamentally rethink Word, even if it wanted to - hundreds of millions of users would likely revolt, or at least see this as an opportunity to consider alternatives. more >>

"New Scientist" reports on I+I Research

ns_logo.jpgWeekly international science magazine "New Scientist" has just reported on I+I Centre Director Viktor Mayer-Schönberger's work on the difficulties of radical innovation to take hold in densely connected online communities. The piece, entitled "Cosy social networks 'are stifling innovation'" explains how reducing connectedness may lead to pockets of more radical experimentation and innovation.

I+I Paper Makes International Headlines

150px-El_Pais_logo_2007.svg_.pngInternational media around the globe have been reporting findings of a recent paper authored by I+I Centre Director Viktor Mayer-Schönberger in Spanish, French, and German in addition to English. The paper in question, published in renowned SCIENCE, suggests that massive peer production may not be conducive to radical innovation. more >>

US media giant MSNBC reports on I+I Centre research

250px-Msnbclogo2008.svg_.pngMSNBC.com, the leading news website of US media giant NBC prominently featured I+I Centre director Viktor Mayer-Schönberger's recent research on the innovativeness of open source software.

The story, entitled "Too much networking?", was authored by MSNBC's lead science editor Alan Boyle, and not only quoted Mayer-Schönberger extensively, but also famed network theorist Albert-Laszlo Barabasi.

I+I paper published by Science

logo.science-aaas.113x60_0_0.gifOne of the top scientific journals in the world, SCIENCE, just published a paper by I+I Centre director Viktor Mayer-Schönberger. In the paper, Mayer-Schönberger looked at the difficulties of radical innovation in Internet times. Here is the abstract: more >>