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 ()
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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
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WP%202014_7_Rouchy_A...ting%20knowledge.pdf
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