Offshoot (technology)
A spin-off , spin-off called in the field of technology , the use of an innovation or a known technology in an area for which it was not originally designed.
To the subject
In the case of an offshoot in the technology sector, either an existing technology is used for a purpose that was not previously intended or a technological innovation is used for a purpose for which it was not originally developed.
The term comes from the English and literally means “joyride”, “going astray”, “thrown out of the circle” to to spin “turning, whirling, spinning”. It was coined in the late 1950s in the US, particularly for uses of the aviation and aerospace developed materials, brought the unplanned financial success by other applications.
Since the 1970s at the latest, the spin-off effect has also been used in the security policy discussion to provide further justification for armaments spending. Accordingly, the armaments industry was seen as the engine of innovation. Important technological developments are owed to the armaments industry, which has thus also contributed significantly to economic growth. Opponents of this position referred to Japan, which without major armaments expenditures and without major developments in defense material also recorded considerable, usually even higher, economic growth.
Examples
A good example is the laser , which after its development as a coherent light source has found its way into a wide range of areas ( laser printers , laser pointers , lasers for material processing and many others).
The example of the kidney stone smashers comes from Germany , the principle of which ESWL was discovered during an investigation into the all-weather resistance of the military supersonic aircraft F-104 Starfighter at Dornier and then specifically developed for ESWL.
The Teflon pan is often unjustifiably published as a spin-off with the broadest effect for the general public. Teflon was originally developed for space travel to manufacture bearings that work in a vacuum without lubricant. Due to its excellent non-stick properties, it is said to have been placed on the Teflon pan. However, this relationship is not correct (see Teflon ).
A counterexample for the security policy discussion is the development of the Landing Vehicle Tracked , an armored amphibious vehicle that was used for landing operations. It arose from the design for a rescue and disaster relief vehicle.
Individual evidence
- ^ H. Beer: University spin-offs in high-tech competition - entrepreneurship theory, education and support . Kovac, Hamburg 2000, ISBN 3-8300-0147-9 . , quoted According to the German Bundestag - 16th electoral period (Ed.): Technology assessment (TA). Policy benchmarking: Academic spin-offs in East and West Germany and their conditions for success . Printed matter 16/466 March 12, 2007, p. 15 , col. 1 ( dip21.bundestag.de [PDF; accessed on September 9, 2008] Report of the Committee on Education, Research and Technology Assessment [18th Committee] in accordance with Section 56a of the Rules of Procedure).