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December 5, 2010
FIAT 500 and Structural deepening
One aspect of technology evolution, according to W. Brian Arthur's excellent The Nature of Technology, is structural deepening: How basic technology adds features over time. Structural deepening is actually one factor which often means we underestimate technology evolution - for instance, a car today costs about as much, in relative terms, as a car did 30 years ago. What you get for your money, however, is something completely different.
A couple of months ago I was walking through the parking garage at the Norwegian School of Management - and I spotted a case of structural deepening in practice. I just had to take a picture or two with my cell phone (which has a camera - an0ther instance of structural deepening, right?):
The Fiat 500 on the left is from sometime in the 60s, has an engine of about half a liter and a weight of around half a ton. The Fiat Nuova 500 on the right has 2-3 times as much engine, double the weight, is (as can be seen) a lot bigger and also a lot faster. It also has lots more technology - not only headrests, but safety belts, 7 air bags (!), air conditioning, better stereo, steel bars, crumble zones, etc. etc.) It is, supposedly, still considered a small car...
(More pictures after the break)
Posted by Espen at December 5, 2010 3:36 PM
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