network effects; the tech becomes more valuable as more people use it
however, the tech also needs to be useful when just one or a few people use it
virality; users of the tech have a tendency to spread awareness of it
"stickiness"; users of the tech have a tendency to use it frequently
change function (perceived crisis vs. perceived cost of switching)
publicity/distribution (it's easier to get publicity for trendy things, hence trends)
simplicity of explanation (often a function of what the audience already knows, hence technologies "before their time")
allows everyone needed to produce/provide the tech to sustain themselves, i.e. "viable business model"
provides incentive to everyone needed to produce/provide the tech; could be in the form of:
a good business model
they get rich, or
they have more certainty of continuity
altruism (the tech makes the world a better place)
socialogical
stick it to the man
become famous
platform-ness: something that is a platform that others build upon develops an 'ecosystem' of related projects, increasing the chance that the base can find an alternative means of support if necessary
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