Importance of disruptive technologies

While the 'marketability' of new technologies depends on a number of the factors, both sustaining and disruptive technologies have a larger role to play in our life. For instance, a disruptive technology like the internet introduced a whole new way of linking information assets together, as gradual improvements of the first 'internet' prototypes at CERN led to the public internet as we know it today. Similarly, technologies like the 'search engine' came about in response to a need to find information in the hyperlinked environment.

However, there were some technologies that were revolutionary, but became extinct over time. These include the beta max, laser discs, vinyl albums, polaroid pictures, PDAs, 8-track tapes, cassette tapes and floppy discs. The important thing is that they were all crucial bridges to our modern world of digital convenience - the essential steps towards disruptive innovation.