Emerging Technology- Combinatorial Innovation (Two of Three in the series)

Recently I wrote about the diffusion of technologies into personal and corporate technology systems as a key component to emerging technology innovation.  Although there is always the risk that any new technology will not work, this technological failure is most often weeded out in early product development or market trials.  One of the key factors is more often how the new invention is adopted as part of the broader ecosystem of technology that surrounds all of us.  If it doesn't fit with our current relationship or systems of technology, and requires widespread change (as opposed to incremental additional functionality), then it's odds of success are low.

Another contributing factor that seems remarkably obvious, however seldom receives it's due attention, is the dependent supporting technologies required for the new emerging technology to thrive.  If it's a new broadband video service like the Roku/Netflix brick, or Hulu, then you need video codec technologies to be at a certain maturity level, processor on a chip technologies to be at a mature price point for the Roku brick, and pervasive broadband.