Scandinavian Working Papers in Economics
Working Papers,
Blekinge Institute of Technology, Department of Industrial Economics
No 2014/07: Atanasoff’s invention input and early computing state of knowledge
Philippe Rouchy ()
Additional contact information
Philippe Rouchy: CSIR, Blekinge Inst of Technology, Postal: CITR (Center for Innovation and Technology Research), Department of Industrial Economics, Blekinge Inst of Technology, 371 79 Karlskrona, Sweden
Abstract: This article investigates the dynamic relationship between a single pursue of an invention and the general US supply of similar activities in early computing during the 1930-1946 period. The objective is to illustrate how an early scientific state of knowledge affects the efficiency with which an theoretical effort is transformed into an invention. In computing, a main challenge in the pre-industrial phase of invention concerns the lack of or scattered demand for such ground-breaking inventions. I present historiographical evidences of the early stage of US computing providing an improved understanding of the dynamics of the supply of invention. It involves solving the alignment between a single inventor’s incentives to research with the suppliers of technology. This step conditions the constitution of a stock of technical knowledge, and its serendipitous but purposeful organisation.
Keywords: invention input; computing; technological change
39 pages, June 23, 2014
Full text files
WP%202014_7_Rouchy_A...ting%20knowledge.pdf
- Blekinge Institute of Technology, Department of Industrial Economics
- Ordering Working Papers
- Home page for this series
Questions (including download problems) about the papers in this series should be directed to Martin Andersson ()
Report other problems with accessing this service to Sune Karlsson ().
This page generated on 2024-02-05 17:10:55.