Doing old things better vs doing brand new things
New technologies enable activities that fall into one of two categories: 1) doing things you could already do but can now do better because…
Computers that can make commitments
Blockchains are computers that can make commitments. Traditional computers are ultimately controlled by people, either directly in the case…
Inside-out vs. outside-in: the adoption of new technologies
There are broadly two adoption paths for new computing technologies: inside-out and outside-in. Inside-out technologies are pioneered by…
Strong and weak technologies
During a media tour in 2007 in which Steve Jobs showed the device to reporters, there was one instance in which a journalist criticized the…
Who will control the software that powers the Internet?
Originally published by Wired. As the internet has evolved over its 35-year lifespan, control over its most important services has gradually…
Why decentralization matters
The first two eras of the internet During the first era of the internet — from the 1980s through the early 2000s — internet services were…