Linear thinking, based on the fundamental premise that there are limited resources available, confines us to a world of incremental innovation. The emergence of disruptive technologies is fast changing the tech landscape – a 2013 report by McKinsey showed how twelve technologies — including the mobile Internet, autonomous vehicles, and advanced genomics—have the potential to truly reshape the world in which we live and work ( https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/mckinsey-digital/our-insights/disruptive-technologies ). Convergence of such disruptive technologies allows us to conceive of exponential innovations that are not constrained by the availability of resources. Non-linear thinking, inspired by the belief that resource constraints can be overcome through technology innovations, allows us to create abundance in a resource-constrained world. Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler, in their book Abundance, document how progress in artificial intelligence, robotics, inf
New Inventions, Discoveries and Business Models have flourished during Crises. The famous physicist, Isaac Newton, was in his early 20s when the Great Plague of London hit. Cambridge University sent their students home. Newton used the time to work on his theories that revolutionized physics - he introduced calculus into physics, developed the principles of optics and proposed a theory of gravity. Newton returned to Cambridge in 1667, theories in hand. Within six months, he was made a fellow; two years later, a professor. https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/03/12/during-pandemic-isaac-newton-had-work-home-too-he-used-time-wisely/ Versatile inventions like blood banks, sanitary pads, zippers, stainless steel etc were invented during the first world war. And it was during the second world war that innovations like ATM, Superglue, Instant Coffee (Nescafe), Ball point pen etc were created. https://www.history.com/news/world-war-i-inventions-pilates-drones-kleene