One Aging Geek

Monday, May 31, 2004

Value Negation

The proliferation and permutation of viruses and worms offers a superb case study in wicked innovation and innovative wickedness. Why do such innovations succeed? What can and should we learn from their continuing success? Just as society better understands health by better understanding disease, markets better appreciate healthy innovation by grasping the dynamics of pathological innovation.

I have followed Michael Schrage on technology and the Internet for years. Read this essay about cheating and think outside the box:

The single most important lesson pathological innovation teaches is that the economics of cheating play as great a role in defining value as the economics of adoption. You’ve got to love that.

(I don't want to take this too far, but God Himself uses evil to work His glory in the end.)

[Coffeehouse at the End-Of-Days]

I agree with Russ that the Schrage essay is a good read and a good thought provoker. I don't agree that God uses evil to work His glory.