The Early Development of the Steam Engine: An Evolutionary Interpretation using Complexity Theory

complexity theory, development, steam engine

Geography of scientific knowledge : a proximity approach

The geography of scientific knowledge is defined as the replication process of locally produced knowledge claims. Proximity in social, cognitive, and physical dimensions promotes the sharing of tacit knowledge. Thus, given the complementarity between tacit and codified knowledge, proximity supports the replication of codified knowledge claims. Distinguishing between controversial and uncontroversial contexts, one can understand the sociology of science as explaining the behaviour of scientists from their proximity to other scientists, and the sociology of scientific knowledge as describing the processes that constitute the proximity between scientists

"Справа гідна сил та труду"

Рецензія на книгу: Микола Мушинка. Голоси предків. Прияшів: Центр антропологічних студій, 2002. - 256 с

Entropy statistics as a framework to analyse technological evolution

No abstract

Proximity, knowledge base and the innovation process : the case of Unilever's Becel diet margarine

The proximity concept refers to types of inter-organizational relationships that are expected to facilitate interactive learning and collaborative innovation. Different forms of proximity include geographical, cognitive, social, institutional and organizational proximity. Following an extensive case study of a new diet margarine developed by Unilever, we extend the proximity framework by theorizing how the relative importance of each proximity dimension depends on the type of knowledge being produced, where we distinguish between analytical, synthetic and symbolic knowledge. We argue that our theoretical framework in principle applies to product innovations in all science-based industries

The early development of the steam engine : an evolutionary interpretation using complexity theory

In this paper we analyse the early development of the steam engine as a search process in a multidimensional design space. This conceptualisation allows us to make use of recent insights coming from complex systems theory, in particular, a generalised version of Kauffman’s NK model. We analyse yearly distribution of steam engine designs and their sector of applications for the period 1760-1800. We interpret the patterns of variety and differentiation characterizing the behaviour of these distributions as emerging properties of underlying search processes unfolding on the design space. We conclude that the early development of steam power technology can be understood as a process of ‘technological speciation’ of various engine designs in distinct users’ niches

Пам'яті Івана Григоровича Гуракова

20 вересня 2004 року, не доживши 4 дні до свого 70-річчя, пішов у вічність колишній головний гідрогеолог, начальник Трускавецької гідрогеологічно режимно-експлуатаційної станції Іван Григорович Гураков. Пішов тихо і раптово в далекій землі Ізраїлю

Зведений словопокажчик української лексики

У статті обґрунтовано доцільність створення "Зведеного словопокажчика української лексики" (далі – ЗС), підкреслено його реєстраційно-довідковий характер і важливість не тільки для лексикографії, а й для мовознавства в цілому. Викладено деякі положення, що стосуються завдань та принципів укладання ЗС, а також уточнень і доповнень до Інструкції. Стаття містить перелік словників-джерел Зведеного словопокажчика зі скороченням їхніх назв

Designing for a living? : income determinants among firm founders in the Dutch design sector

Many studies have analysed the role of the creative class and cultural industries in fostering regional development. The focus on regional development neglects the individual differences in success among members in the creative class and among firms within cultural industries. We study firm founders in three design sectors (industrial design, graphic design and web design) and analyse the determinants of their personal income. Next to individual factors affecting income differences among designers, we look at the relational and spatial contexts in which designers operate. Hence, we can also assess whether spatial clustering and organisational networking are beneficial for designers. The main result, based on 200 telephonic questionnaires, holds that income is determined mainly by business experience and the use of advanced ICTs, while education and spatial clustering have no impact. We argue that policies in the design sector should be oriented towards helping young designers to gain experience as well as towards life-long learning in the use of ICTs