Re:The next big thing will start out looking like a toy (2010)
by l_t on Monday October 21, 2019 @05:59PM
(#21317933)
I think the "looking like a toy" terminology is confusing the discussion.
From the article:
> Disruptive technologies are dismissed as toys because when they are first launched they “undershoot” user needs.
So instead of asking if it "looks like a toy", what if we asked, which of those products started out by "undershooting" user's needs?
In that lens, I think you could make arguments for a few of those having started by "undershooting." The most obvious example to me is Amazon starting out as an online bookstore.
edit: I just want to add that from my vantage point this might be a true idea, but it gives very little actionable information. Perhaps Christensen's books give better insight on why this is something we should care about.
From the article:
> Disruptive technologies are dismissed as toys because when they are first launched they “undershoot” user needs.
So instead of asking if it "looks like a toy", what if we asked, which of those products started out by "undershooting" user's needs?
In that lens, I think you could make arguments for a few of those having started by "undershooting." The most obvious example to me is Amazon starting out as an online bookstore.
edit: I just want to add that from my vantage point this might be a true idea, but it gives very little actionable information. Perhaps Christensen's books give better insight on why this is something we should care about.