[论文解读] A New Classification of Technologies

Mario Coccia|arXiv (Cornell University)|Dec 11, 2017

Innovation Diffusion and Forecasting被引用 5

一句话总结

本文提出了一种基于复杂系统内技术互动动态的新型技术分类体系，借鉴了生态关系的类比。该分类将技术划分为四种类型——寄生、偏利、互惠与共生，为预测协同进化路径及系统级技术演化提供了理论框架。

ABSTRACT

This study here suggests a classification of technologies based on taxonomic characteristics of interaction between technologies in complex systems that is not a studied research field in economics of technical change. The proposed taxonomy here categorizes technologies in four typologies, in a broad analogy with the ecology: 1) technological parasitism is a relationship between two technologies T1 and T2 in a complex system S where one technology T1 benefits from the interaction with T2, whereas T2 has a negative side from interaction with T1; 2) technological commensalism is a relationship between two technologies in S where one technology benefits from the other without affecting it; 3) technological mutualism is a relationship in which each technology benefits from the activity of the other within complex systems; 4) technological symbiosis is a long-term interaction between two (or more) technologies that evolve together in complex systems. This taxonomy systematizes the typologies of interactive technologies within complex systems and predicts their evolutionary pathways that generate stepwise coevolutionary processes of complex systems of technology. This study here begins the process of generalizing, as far as possible, critical typologies of interactive technologies that explain the long-run evolution of technology. The theoretical framework developed here opens the black box of the interaction between technologies that affects, with different types of technologies, the evolutionary pathways of complex systems of technology over time and space. Overall, then, this new theoretical framework may be useful for bringing a new perspective to categorize the gradient of benefit to technologies from interaction with other technologies that can be a ground work for development of more sophisticated concepts to clarify technological and economic change in human society.

研究动机与目标

• 为解决技术变革经济学中技术互动系统分类的缺失问题。
• 构建一个理论框架，解释不同互动类型如何影响长期技术演化。
• 系统化复杂系统中互动技术的类型学，以增进对协同进化过程的理解。
• 概括塑造技术间相互受益梯度的关键互动类型。
• 打开技术互动的‘黑箱’，阐明其在时间与空间维度上塑造技术与经济变革的作用。

提出的方法

• 将生态学概念——寄生、偏利、互惠与共生——应用于建模复杂系统中技术之间的互动。
• 基于技术在二元关系中各自获得的净收益或成本，定义四种互动类型。
• 将该分类体系应用于分析技术系统的演化路径，强调逐步协同进化。
• 运用理论建模，描绘互动类型如何影响复杂技术系统的长期发展。
• 建立一个概念框架，将互动类型与可观测的技术变革及系统演化模式相联系。
• 借鉴生物生态系统类比，形式化社会技术系统中技术协同进化的动态机制。

实验结果

研究问题

• RQ1 如何基于其相互影响，对复杂系统中技术互动进行系统性分类？
• RQ2 不同类型的互动技术会产生哪些独特的演化路径？
• RQ3 技术之间的寄生、偏利、互惠与共生关系如何塑造长期系统演化？
• RQ4 互动类型在多大程度上影响技术间相互受益的梯度？
• RQ5 生态类比在多大程度上可提升对技术系统中协同进化过程的理解？

主要发现

• 该分类体系识别出四种截然不同的互动类型：寄生、偏利、互惠与共生，每种类型对技术演化具有独特影响。
• 技术寄生指一种技术以牺牲另一种技术为代价获益，形成非对称依赖关系。
• 偏利描述的是一种技术获益而另一方不受影响的关系，表明其整合过程无破坏性。
• 互惠指技术间相互受益，推动协同进步并促进系统整体发展。
• 共生代表长期协同演化的关系，技术共同进化，通常带来系统稳定性与创新。
• 该框架通过分类互动类型，可预测协同进化轨迹，为分析复杂技术系统提供有效工具。