Technology is one of the fundamental forces of innovation creating the possibilities that are adopted (or not) by a community.

Technology is the lifeblood of innovation. In its broadest sense, all innovation comes from technology, it is the source of possibilities – but not all technologies are innovations.

To create an innovation process based on a comprehensive theory and models, ‘technology’ must be precisely defined. The definition below is the one Inovo uses

Technology is a means of purposefully inducing a controlled transformation of material, information or behavior. Technology is a form of knowledge manifested by an identified transformation of material, information or behavior that has a measurable effect.

The term transformation is used in its most general sense to mean any change, including in space, time or ‘inherent nature’.

Transformations, and hence technologies, are not all created equal. With such broad relevance and use, technology can best be viewed as a space with one dimension being the nature of the technology’s transform and the other dimension being its significance. Within this space, specific technologies can be placed. The value of defining such a space is that it lets technologies be compared and contrasted in terms of their underlying essence rather than in terms of how they are manifested in specific products or services.

The Dimensions

In Figure 1, the Technology space is pictured.

Nature of Transform
· Integrated – Combining existing transforms in new ways.
· Engineered – New transforms using design practices
· Discovered – Uncovering novel transforms
· Invented – New transforms using scientific first principles
Nature of Effect
· Item – Affects individuals
· Society – Affects societies

This space defines the underlying nature of a technology but it is not a value judgment. Value can be derived at any point in the space. The background does, however, depict a technology’s potential, it’s scarcity and it’s difficulty of being realized.

Picasso was a Technologist

The creation of technology has been a focus and an imperative of human activity since there were humans. It is intimately intertwined with the daily lives of every human on the planet. In its purest form, as a purposeful transformation, technology is valueless. It is only in the context of the effects of the transform on a community that technology can take on value and become an innovation.

Note that this definition of technology covers all creative endeavors, including artistic ones. In a very real sense, the worlds of art and science, of engineering and production are very similar in the way in which new value is created and innovations occur. A unified theory of innovation needs to encompass both of these worlds, not just the ‘high tech’ industry. In the artistic world, transforms are primarily in information and behavior but the dimensions of the transform and effect of the technology space apply equally to these areas.

Other technologies that may not at first seem to conform to the theory and analysis of innovation are the world of finance and capital where new technologies and innovations occur all the time.

In addition, people such as Steven Pinker and others have identified technologies of behavior such as conflict resolution: mediation, face-saving measures, measured restitution and retribution and legal codes.

All these realms conform to the definition of technology. All are driven by the exact same imperatives as technologies of physics, chemistry or biology.

Discovering a Technology’s Essence

With technology defined as a purposeful transformation, it is clear that not all technologies are innovations.

Technology in search of a Solution. How often have we heard that phrase as an insult against the scientist or engineer who ‘builds a better mousetrap’.

All technologies are created because the creator believes that there is some value.
Material, Information, Behavior are linked. Information is stored (i.e. coded) in material transformations. Behavior is affected by information transformations.

There is a real need for early stage technology screening, the analysis of things that are conceptual in nature. The rigorous, procedural analysis of a technology, whether conceptual or actual, .is necessary to understand how to create value.

Engineered solution – packaging technology. Doesn’t change the underlying transformation. Changes the way it is expressed, its manifestation
Fundamental Transformation
The creation of a new transformation and new effect
Innovation occurs in both realms