<< back to list of all areas of research

Technology Diffusion

How and why do technologies spread when and where they do? What are the implications and consequences for the structure, wealth, and management of human organizations? Social and industrial evolutionary processes follow a sequence of replacements or substitutions: new ideas for old, new labor patterns for old, new technologies for old. The diffusion of new technologies follows common patterns that guide the selection of technologies and their rate of adoption.  We explore the forces and factors determining when diffusion succeeds and its speed and extent may change over time. 

Publications about Technology Diffusion

0090 JH Ausubel. Maglevs and the vision of St. Hubert (PDF). In Challenges of a Changing Earth 175-182, 2002 Also in Proceedings of the Global Change Open Science Conference, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 10-13 July 2001.Maglevs and the vision of St. Hubert, maglev, St. Hubert, great restorations, farmlands, sea, forests, transportation

0089 NM Victor, JH Ausubel. DRAMs as a model organism for study for technological evolution (PDF). Technological Forecasting and Social Change 69(3): 243-262, 2002 DRAMs as a model organism for study for technological evolution, Technological substitution; Learning curves

0069 JH Ausubel. Five worthy ways to spend large amounts of money for research on environment and resources [external link]. The Bridge 29(3): 4-16, 1999 Five worthy ways to spend large amounts of money for research on environment and resources, Research, funding, zepp, wood products, natural gas

0018 JH Ausubel. Rat race dynamics and crazy companies: The diffusion of technologies and social behavior. Technological Forecasting and Social Change 39: 11-22, 1991 Rat race dynamics and crazy companies: The diffusion of technologies and social behavior, technology diffusion