ITPEC FE Morning April 2020 Question 71
ITPEC FE Morning April 2020 — Question 71 of 80
Technology S Curve — identifies the three-phase lifecycle of technological progress.
The technology S curve plots performance (or progress) against time or effort. It follows three distinct phases:
- Early phase — slow progress as the technology is being explored
- Growth phase — rapid advancement as breakthroughs accumulate
- Maturity phase — progress slows and eventually stagnates as the technology reaches its physical or practical limits
The shape of this progression resembles the letter "S."
Why not others:
- (a) Describes the diffusion curve (frequency distribution of technology adoption across market segments — innovators, early adopters, majority, laggards)
- (b) Describes a hype cycle or maturity model — tracks awareness/expectations over time, not actual technological progress
- (d) Describes the experience curve (or learning curve) — shows how unit cost decreases as cumulative production volume increases
Key rule: S curve = Slow start → rapid growth → Slow plateau — it's about technology performance, not market adoption or cost.
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