Vapourware and the agency of ideas

Vapourware and the agency of ideas

ATKINSON, Paul

Full Article:

‘Vapourware’—computer hardware which is promoted as forthcoming but which is never manufactured—has received little attention in Design History, although it is important. Vapourware often has a direct influence on the future development of computing technology—causing competitors to reconsider, alter or even stop their planned activities. This paper shows that often, product concepts themselves influence market expectations or desires for future technological developments. Proof, in fact, of the agency of ideas.

‘Vapourware’—computer hardware which is promoted as forthcoming but which is never manufactured—has received little attention in Design History, although it is important. Vapourware often has a direct influence on the future development of computing technology—causing competitors to reconsider, alter or even stop their planned activities. This paper shows that often, product concepts themselves influence market expectations or desires for future technological developments. Proof, in fact, of the agency of ideas.

Palavras-chave:

DOI: 10.5151/design-icdhs-112

Referências bibliográficas

• [1] Atkinson, P. 2008. A Bitter Pill to Swallow: The Rise and Fall of the Tablet Computer, Design Issues, 24 (4): 3-25.
• [2] Hiltzik, M. 2000. Dealers of Lightning, London: Orion Business.
• [3] Kaplan, J. 1994. Start Up: A Silicon Valley Adventure, London: Little, Brown and Co.
• [4] Bijker, W.E, Hughes, T.P., And Pinch, T.J (eds.) 1987. The Social Construction of Technological Systems, Cambridge, MA: MIT Press
• [5] Purbrick, L. 1993. The Dream Machine: Charles Babbage and His Imaginary Computers, Journal of Design History, 6 (1): 9-23.
• [6] Swade, D. 2004. The Shocking Truth About Babbage and his Calculating Engines, Resurrection, The Bulletin of the Computer Conservation Society, 32.

Como citar:

ATKINSON, Paul; "Vapourware and the agency of ideas", p-507-510. In: Farias, Priscila Lena; Calvera, Anna; Braga, Marcos da Costa & Schincariol, Zuleica (Eds.). Design frontiers: territories, concepts, technologies [=ICDHS 2012 - 8th Conference of the International Committee for Design History & Design Studies]. São Paulo: Blucher, 2012. São Paulo: Blucher, 2014.
ISSN 23186968, DOI 10.5151/design-icdhs-112