A great deal has been, and is being, said about the necessity of repairing, reforming or transforming existing means and methods for the development and innovation of technology. However, from a systemic design perspective, very little significant change can be accomplished without ‘re-scoring’ (reorganizing algorithmic steps) the present process of ‘progress’—particularly technologic progress. The dominant ‘spirit of the times’ for scoring progress was captured in the 1933 World Fair’s motto:
Science Finds
•
Industry Applies
•
Man Conforms
20th Century ‘score’ for technologic progress
The historical enablers for each step include:
Science Finds
• university research
• business R&D programs
• government research programs
•
•
Industry Applies
• innovates
• disrupts
• persuades
•
•
Man (sic) Conforms
• adapts
• adopts
• maintains
• sustains
• mitigates
•
•
‘score’ step-enablement
These embedded enablement reactions have been hardened and reinforced over time making any possibility for significant change in the score for technical progress extremely challenging. However, given our present state-of-affairs we are in, it is still worth considering possibilities.
For example, an alternative process for progress in the 21st Century might be:
people express what would be desirable
•
science confirms feasibility
•
business innovates desired ends through instrumental means
•
21st century alternative score
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