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Forcing people to use anything is never a good way to promote innovation. Two words: seat belts. The auto industry fought this tooth and nail, as did parts of
by saidajigumi 9y ago
Forcing people to use anything is never a good way to promote innovation.
Two words: seat belts. The auto industry fought this tooth and nail, as did parts of the general public. But once this painful transition was accomplished, it resulted in a big improvement in automotive safety.
Other examples include EPA regulations that forced out the use of hazardous chemicals and processes. This, in turn, also produced a notable series of entirely improved processes: better for the environment, and often cheaper costs and/or better end results (although not universally, to be sure). The potential for innovation had been present, but these mature industries had to be forced into innovation. The very concept that R&D might improve their bottom line as well as their externalized costs was practically foreign.
- extra88 9y agoCreating seat belts is innovation. Creating regulation requiring cars to have them and passing laws that people have to use them is not innovative.
- saidajigumi 9y agoQuoth the parent to my post (emphasis mine): > Forcing people to use anything is never a good way to promote innovation. You're arguing against a straw man. This is about the promotion of innovation. Yes, seat belts were innovative, and left to their own course were going nowhere. Some innovations face adoption challenges that go beyond the mere "meh" of "non-consumption". They are major social battles, requiring large and multi-faceted campaigns to succeed and overcome social inertia. E.g. for seat belts: regulations on manufacturing, laws and law enforcement campaigns, public education and marketing, etc.
- extra88 9y agoI took "promote innovation" to mean "promote the creation of innovations" not "promote the adoption of innovations."