Prof. Yechiam Yemini (YY) Computer Science Department Columbia University (c) Copyrights; Yechiam Yemini; Lecture 1: Course Introduction Should I Consider This Course? Version: /20/05

(c) Copyrights; Yechiam Yemini; Can Technology Innovation Be Learned? Is it about creativity? Is it just common sense? Is it just luck? Is it just thinking-out-of-the-box? Isn’t “technology driven” a bad idea? Is it market-driven?

(c) Copyrights; Yechiam Yemini; Example: “IP Router” 1990  LANs provided client server connectivity sharing file-server, print-server  Rapid diversification of LAN technologies  Need: interconnect LANs Token ring LAN File server PC Workstation Ethernet LAN

(c) Copyrights; Yechiam Yemini; Bridges Were The Established Paradigm  Bridges provided layer-2 interoperability Interconnected a growing range of layer-1-2 standards (interfaces) and wire speeds Admitted a growing range of higher layer stacks and applications of multiple vendors  Bridges involved lower complexity & cost than routers A simple spanning-tree routing protocol Hardware transformations between standardized interfaces.  Bridges commanded broad market support Token ring LAN File server PC Workstation Ethernet LAN Bridge

(c) Copyrights; Yechiam Yemini; : The IP Stack Was “Academic”  LANs were dominated by Novelle/Xerox stack, not IP  The Internet: academic network  The IP stack: technology-driven academic research  The OSI stack was a widely heralded “standard”  Interop attracted ~1500 participants Any market-driven logic would conclude: IP-routers are a bad idea (Leading LAN vendors rejected internal “technology-driven” proposals to develop routers)

(c) Copyrights; Yechiam Yemini; “IP Router” 1995  IP routers replaced bridges as the interconnection paradigm Bridges disappeared (absorbed into Layer-2 switches) LAN vendors were skidding towards disappearance Cisco became the leading networking company  The IP stack was rapidly replacing all other stacks OSI vanished without trace InterOp attracted some 80k participants  The Internet was growing at an exponential rate WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE LOGIC OF 1990? Are there principles (another logic) that could have predicted this in 1990?

(c) Copyrights; Yechiam Yemini; ATM Technology:  Organize networks into cell-transfer virtual circuits Cell = small packet (53 bytes); The ISDN grail; (Last ditch effort to contain the “IP threat”)  Support voice and data traffic uniformly  Universally promoted by the telecom industry Are there principles that could have predicted this? Any market-driven logic would have proven: ATM-switching is a great idea But, like its ISDN predecessor, it died on arrival

(c) Copyrights; Yechiam Yemini; Course Goals  Underlying Hypotheses: Innovation is driven by technology paradigm changes These changes are guided by fundamental principles These principles may be learned and applied  Goal 1: discover these principles  Goal 2: develop the skills to apply them  Goal 3: practice them through class projects  Goal 4: have fun

(c) Copyrights; Yechiam Yemini; But First Disclaimers  This is an experimental course It is the second time I am teaching it There are no textbooks, not even other courses to “plagiarize” from Expect glitches/changes/controversial/unproven-ideas  It is not a standard CS/Technology course The “principles” we will uncover are not scientific (Think of these as a “meta” and “macro” explorations of technology)  It is not a business school course I am not a businessman The driving focus is technology innovation; (business impact is a result of innovation value) I will teach elementary mechanics of translating innovation to business (e.g., business plan) but this is not the course essence

(c) Copyrights; Yechiam Yemini; Course Projects: Stage an Innovative Startup  Project teams of 3-4  Teams will pursue early staging of start-up Focus on technology innovation  Project reviews: learn to handle due-diligence Vote through “investment” Measure your “ROI” (return on investment)  Grading will be based on project results/contributions

(c) Copyrights; Yechiam Yemini; Schedule: Three Tracks  Class: I do the talking  Workshops: discussion (exercise)  Projects: you develop and present mini-business- plan DateClassesWorkshopsProjects 5/23 1. Course intro 2. Intro to paradigms Organize teams 5/24 3.The power of scale 4.The power of interoperability 1.The innovation plan 5/25 5.From innovation to business;2. Product engineering 3. Business planning-I Team guidance sessions Complete innovation plan 5/26 Team Presentations of Innovation plans 4. Business planning-II 5. Protecting innovation 5/30 Team Presentations of BP 6.From business to leadership Complete mini-BP

(c) Copyrights; Yechiam Yemini; Books  Recommended T.S., Kuhn, “The Structure of Scientific Revolution” C.M., Christensen; “The Innovator’s Dilemma” G.A., Moore, “Crossing the Chasm”

(c) Copyrights; Yechiam Yemini; Should I Take This Course?  Cons: Projects will be demanding This course is meta-technical This is not a fully baked course with a 20 years history …..  Pros: an opportunity to explore/discover/learn How to identify and pursue innovative opportunities Base skills to build a technology start-up + fun…