Fundamental Interactions as Sources of the Evolution of Technology

The study suggests that the long-run evolution of any technologies depend on the interaction with other technologies. This proposed interpretation of the evolution of technology is explained with the concept of technological parasitism, in broad analogy with the evolutionary ecology. Technological parasitism is a mutual symbiotic relationship between technologies, where one or more parasitic technologies can function only in connection with a host or master technology, generating interaction that leads to the coevolution of innovations over time. In general, many technologies are associated to other technologies to form a complex system of components that interact in a non-simple way. Parasitic technologies have, in average, the properties of high degree of specialization. A prima facie evidence of the theoretical framework of the technological parasitism is provided with the interaction between some innovations in mobile technology, such as mobile apps, headphones and Bluetooth (parasitic technologies) and mobile devices (smartphones and/or tablet computers, host-technology). Overall, then the technological parasitism seems to be a useful theoretical framework to explain, whenever possible, the coevolution of innovation in human societies. A main prediction of this theory is that the long-run behavior and evolution of any technology is not independent of the other technologies. This new theoretical framework can be a ground work for development of more sophisticated concepts to explain the technological and economic change in society