Innovation Trajectories Research Articles

A sociotechnical history of an AI video chatbot: Mapping AI chatbot innovation trajectory for information policy design

This study traces the patent citation network of U.S. Patent 11,107,465 Natural Conversation Storytelling System (Gustman et al, 2021) to map the innovation trajectory of AI Chatbots. This patented AI video chatbot enables the reanimation or digital resurrection of humans in video form. As GLAMs continue to experiment with new technologies such as historical figure chatbots to increase engagement through gamification and empathy, a critical examination of technologies that are designed to appear human-like is warranted as they often skirt credibility, accuracy, and likely insert bias. Furthermore, the rise of generative AI tools and the propensity for producing hallucinations (Christensen et al, 2024) increases ethical issues for the implications on humans and truth (Ranalli, 2022; Stahl and Eke, 2024). Patent citation network analysis is frequently conducted as a competitive strategy for mapping the trajectory of technological development and patented inventions (Érdi et al, 2013; Jain et al, 2020). Drawing from this method, innovation trajectory routes or pathways will be traced through the patent citations to identify the most prominent or critical patents in the AI video chatbot innovation trajectory and analyze which features of technical innovation are retained across its pathway. These methods are frequently utilized to understand changes, patterns, and development in innovation to predict economically viable futures and can be utilized to predict the needs for information policy (Frohmann, 1995) by understanding the implications asymmetrical power on society.

A critical review and systematic design approach for innovative upper-limb rehabilitation devices

This paper conducts a thorough literature review and assessment of prevailing upper-limb rehabilitation devices, scrutinizing their strengths and limitations. The focus of this work is mainly on soft exosuit devices but some rigid and hybrid exoskeleton devices are also discussed as a comparative mean. Subsequently, this manuscript delineates explicit design guidelines with the intent of fostering a systematic approach toward innovation in the realm of upper-limb rehabilitation technology. Through an examination of current concepts and technological paradigms, this study seeks to contribute nuanced insights aimed at optimizing both efficacy and user experience in rehabilitation device design. The culmination of this critical analysis results in the proposal of a systematic design procedure to inform and influence the trajectory of specific user-tailored innovations within the domain of upper-limb rehabilitation devices.The proposed approach enables the identification of features and weaknesses in existing devices, facilitating also the design of innovative solutions for unsolved issues in the field of wearable robotics. A design example is presented to clarify the proposed design procedure.

Promoting sustainability goals: innovation trajectories of Fintech through patent analysis

AbstractPatents are important sources of technical knowledge because they offer a wealth of information on innovations and technological developments. This paper focuses on Fintech-related patent certificates in order to examine the technical trends in this particular sector and discuss the factors influencing technological advancement. The data were retrieved through the World Intellectual Property Organization database, considering selected keywords. Through the network analysis, we identify five relevant technological clusters that allow us to detect the technological substrate underlying the corresponding cluster. The Bass diffusion model permits the observation of the technological trajectories of each cluster, outlining the diffusion patterns. Furthermore, particular attention is given to the developing technologies defined as "green", and we describe how these trends have changed over time and predict their future technological trajectory. Our findings provide an in-depth analysis of the Fintech patent landscape, highlighting the connections between the different technologies. It also allows us to assess the technological leadership of companies and the technological life cycle that describes the diffusion patterns.

Innovation in libraries: A service-oriented perspective

This article is devoted to the question of innovation in libraries. Ignored by ‘service studies’, this question occupies an important place in library and information science, but is all too often approached in a way that is factual and descriptive. Drawing on advances in service economics and management, this article adopts a perspective of the library as an ‘architectural’ or ‘assembled’ service bringing together a number of core and peripheral services, and mobilizing competences and different types of technology to collaboratively generate, utilities for the user or community. We discuss how such a representation of the product can systematically account for the full complexity of the forms and dynamics of innovation in libraries. We have thus identified and empirically illustrated three general innovation logics (horizontal, vertical and diagonal), which differ according to the components of the library service on which they act, and which operate according to different modalities, reflecting different innovation trajectories.

The role of local institutional quality for the digital and environmental transitions in Italy

In this paper we analyze the effect of institutional quality on the so-called Twin transition at provincial level in Italy. To carry out the analysis, we use two proxies for the ecological transition, namely waste management and air pollution, and two proxies for the digital transition, namely ultra-wide band connections and provincial innovative start-ups. All the models are estimated on a panel of 103 provinces with a time dimension that varies for the different dependent variables. We employ Spatial Durbin Model estimator to take into account spatial dependence across provinces. Our findings indicate that the quality of local institutions may have an important role for the ecological transition, but not for the digital transition. Higher levels of institutional quality increase the performance in waste management and reduce the level of local air pollution. Conversely, the estimated coefficient of institutional quality is not statistically significant neither for ultra-wide band nor for innovative start-ups. Institutional quality turns to be significant but negative for the digital transition when dummy variable controlling for the presence of science-oriented university is added in the model specification. These results confirm that the green transition is largely policy-driven and the local ‘institutional environment’ is an essential ingredient for its effectiveness. The driving forces of the digital transition, instead, can be better found in socio-economic factors that depend on the ‘economic quality’ of the local system and its propensity to innovate within larger-scale innovation trajectories.

Trajectory & maneuver design of the NEA Scout solar sail mission

The Near-Earth Asteroid Scout (NEA Scout) mission aimed to deliver a 6U CubeSat to a slow flyby of a Near Earth Asteroid using a solar sail as the primary propulsion system. NEA Scout was launched as a secondary payload aboard Artemis I, on November 16, 2022, but communication with the spacecraft was not achieved. This paper describes the target asteroid selection and the innovative trajectory and maneuver design for the NEA Scout mission, including cold gas maneuvers, multiple lunar flybys, solar sail thrusting, and design margins for solar sailing. The resulting trajectory design tools, solutions, and analyses are potentially applicable to future solar sail missions.

Bibliometric analysis of AI and Fintech: Mapping the intersection of artificial intelligence and financial technologies

This paper presents a comprehensive bibliometric analysis aimed at mapping the convergent landscapes of artificial intelligence (AI) and financial technology (Fintech), fields poised for significant disruptive potential in global financial services. Given the rapid integration of AI within financial operations, this research investigates the publication trends, key contributing nations, and prevalent themes within this intersection, crucial for understanding the trajectory of Fintech innovations and their alignment with AI advancements. Employing a robust methodology utilizing VOSviewer and the Scopus database, the analysis distilled insights from 298 selected papers, focusing on co-authorship, bibliographic coupling, and keyword occurrences to highlight the global influential works and primary research hubs. Key findings reveal that AI and Fintech are not only predominant themes but are also the nucleus of emerging scholarly discussions, with the United States, China, and India leading in contributions. These nations, alongside others like France and the United Kingdom, form critical nodes in our analysis, indicating a robust interconnection of global research efforts. This study introduces the novel application of advanced bibliometric techniques to dissect dense academic outputs, offering a granular view of how AI influences financial technologies. The implications of this research are manifold; it provides a strategic blueprint for academics, industry practitioners, and policymakers to understand the focal areas of AI in Fintech, suggesting an amplified focus on collaborative innovations and policy-making that aligns with technological advancements. Future research should expand the analysis to include diverse databases and explore the integration of AI across various financial sectors, emphasizing the socioeconomic impacts, ethical considerations, and regulatory challenges posed by AI-driven financial services. This extended focus will enhance our understanding of AI’s role in shaping the future of Finance, ensuring comprehensive coverage of this dynamically evolving field.

Navigating dual official pressures: State-owned shares and the green innovation trajectory of private enterprises

Previous research regarding the role of state-owned shares in fostering private enterprises' green innovation has yielded ambiguous findings, sparking intense debate. This study examines this impact and considers the 2013 reform of local officials' promotion assessment mechanism to explore how officials' promotion pressure affects green innovation in private enterprises with expanding administrative boundaries. Examining a research sample of Chinese A-share listed private enterprises covering 2009–2022, the findings uncover an inverted U-shaped relationship between state-owned shares and private enterprises' green innovation. Officials' economic pressure weakens this relationship, while environmental pressure significantly enhances it. Further analyses reveal that the influence of state-owned shares is notably stronger for private enterprises with an entrepreneurial orientation and high level of environmental awareness. Our study makes valuable theoretical and practical contributions in understanding the relationship between officials' dual pressures and private enterprises' green innovation by assessing the influences of the mixed economy on private sector behavior and offering insights for advancing global private enterprises’ sustainability.

Adversity breeds ingenuity: exploring the enduring effect of historical Yellow River flooding on family firm innovation

ABSTRACT Historical natural disasters could leave deep imprint on family firms’ innovation trajectory. Drawing upon the well-established link between geographic characteristics, institutions and innovation dynamics, this study investigates the effect of historical natural disasters on family firm innovation, focusing specifically on the impact of the historical Yellow River flooding. By leveraging the both sides of the Yellow River floodplain areas (YRFA) and employing the regression discontinuity design (RDD), we find compelling evidence that the historical Yellow River flooding significantly promotes family firm innovation in the affected areas. Meanwhile, the mechanism shows that the Yellow River flooding increases family firms’ risk-taking propensity and fosters the concentration of ownership, thereby leading to a higher engagement in innovative activities. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the positive impact of the YRFA on family firm innovation is mainly attributed to the cumulative effects of the historical flood, rather than individual flood events. Overall, this study underscores the enduring historical legacy that shape the dynamics of family firm innovation.

Do talent housing policies foster regional innovation? An analysis based on labor force heterogeneity

Human capital plays a crucial role in regional innovation and economic progress, which has increasingly been highlighted in research. However, rising housing costs in cities can push talent away, causing brain drain and hindering local innovation. Within this context, China has seen widespread adoption of talent housing policies (THPs) aimed at providing housing assistance for the high-skilled labor force, although the ramifications of these initiatives remain largely underexplored. Based on labor force heterogeneity, this study investigates the effects of THPs targeted at high-skilled labor on the mobility of both high- and low-skilled workers and their consequent impact on regional innovation. Our findings reveal that while THPs bolster the local pool of highly skilled human capital and attract more low-skilled workforce, enhancing regional innovation through labor–skill complementarities, they concurrently elevate housing costs for low-skilled laborers, reducing their long-term settlement intensions and potentially hindering a city's innovation trajectory.

Inventor CEO involvement and firm exploitative and exploratory innovation

AbstractResearch SummaryThis study extends recent findings that inventor CEOs increase innovative output in large established firms by examining how their involvement in the innovative process influences the nature of innovations produced. Our theory suggests that inventor CEOs who take a hands‐on approach to innovation lead their firms to engage in more exploitative rather than exploratory innovation. We further posit that this effect is particularly strong for insider inventor CEOs, and especially founders, but weaker for outsiders and when the firm's board has broader industry experience. Using a sample of S&P 1500 firms from 1994 to 2010 and inventor CEOs' engagement in patenting as an indicator of hands‐on involvement, we find considerable support for our predictions.Managerial SummaryCEOs with hands‐on experience innovating can substantially increase innovative output in large established firms. Yet, we show that inventors who remain directly engaged in their firms' innovation activities as CEO can limit their scope to incremental innovations that exploit existing technologies as opposed to more radical innovations that result in novel product or service offerings. These tendencies are stronger for inventors who come to the CEO position from inside the firm, especially founders, but weaker when the firm's board has broader industry experience. Overall, our study reveals an important tradeoff for large firms of having an inventor as CEO, how hands‐on involvement by inventor CEOs may narrow their firms' innovative trajectories, and how or when these tendencies can be mitigated.

Smart platforming in automotive manufacturing for NetZero: Intelligentization, green technology, and innovation dynamics

Green technology innovation is integral to fostering sustainable economic development and environmental conservation. The application of smart product platform has emerged as a transformative force in shaping the trajectory of green technology innovation. Drawing on the foundation of knowledge theory and utilizing a sample of 1240 valid cases from listed Chinese automotive manufacturing enterprises between 2013 and 2022, this paper employs a mixed regression method to explore the relationship between smart product platform usage and green technology innovation. Additionally, it analyzes the mediating role of corporate innovation input in this relationship and the moderating effect of intelligentization level on the association between smart product platform usage and green technology innovation. The research reveals the following key findings: (1) Corporate smart product platform usage and innovation input significantly and positively drive green technology innovation. (2) Innovation input acts as a complete mediator in the relationship between smart product platform usage and green technology innovation. (3) Corporate intelligentization level positively moderates the relationship between smart product platform usage and innovation input. (4) Considering regional and ownership attribute disparities, the impact of smart product platform usage on green technology innovation is asymmetric. This study, as one of the few empirical examinations of the effects of smart product platform, enriches research in the areas of smart product platform and green technology innovation. The study, contributing to the empirical understanding of smart product platforms, offers valuable insights for automotive manufacturing enterprises to strategically leverage these platforms for advanced and flexible operations, aligning with the imperative of achieving global environmental goals such as NetZero. As indicated in COP28, the findings underscore the urgency of integrating smart technologies into the automotive industry to advance these crucial environmental objectives.

Agriculture climate change resilience in sub-Saharan Africa: the Badolo scientific framework AgricultureResilience.

Abstract The climate is, in sub-Saharan Africa, one of the main obstacles to the development of agriculture, which is essentially rain-fed. Extreme climatic events have significant impacts on agricultural production, reducing its contribution to economic and social development. Climate change, which will increase the frequency and intensity of extreme climatic events, poses multiple threats to agriculture in sub-Saharan Africa that include loss of development gains, alteration of development prospects and regression dynamics. A response to these threats is an innovation in agricultural resilience policies to accelerate the achievement of agricultural resilience configurations to climate change. In this article, we propose the Badolo AgricultureResilience scientific framework for improving the relevance, efficiency and impact of resilience policies in the agricultural sector to climate change. This framework implements the approach, tools and resilience schemes of the ClimResilience theoretical framework to establish innovative trajectories of resilience to climate change in sub-Saharan Africa for the agricultural sector. It suggests an approach to resilience governed by climate change resilience configurations. It includes families of impacts, vulnerability and resilience solutions that determine the relevance, efficiency and performance of the proposed scientific framework. It integrates an agricultural resilience function to climate change to establish agricultural resilience trajectories, taking into account resilience needs, resilience capacities and contextual specificities. For the agricultural sector in sub-Saharan Africa, the Badolo AgricultureResilience scientific framework is a decision support tool for innovating resilience policies, accelerates the achievement of agricultural resilience configurations and preserve the contributions of agriculture to social and economic development.

Tied islands: The role of organizational members in knowledge transfer across strategic projects

Transferring knowledge across strategic projects is challenging. This study investigates how informal practices of members of the parent organization shape the transfer of knowledge across strategic projects. This was addressed through an in-depth case study of strategic projects in an innovation trajectory of a large public organization aiming to accelerate to transition towards circular construction. We identified five disabling practices: shaming and blaming, disconnecting, holding onto the department and project boundaries, fostering one-way relationships and avoiding internal conflict. Furthermore, we identified three enabling practices: supporting circular projects, sharing similarities across projects and integral visioning. The results contribute to the cross-project knowledge transfer literature by showing how members of partner organizations can enable or disable knowledge transfer across strategic projects. Furthermore, the results contribute to the strategic project literature by illuminating the importance of informal practices of members of the parent organization.

Cultivating Dignity in Intelligent Systems

As artificial intelligence (AI) integrates across social domains, prevailing technical paradigms often overlook human relational needs vital for cooperative resilience. Alternative pathways consciously supporting dignity and wisdom warrant consideration. Integrating seminal insights from virtue and care ethics, this article delineates the following four cardinal design principles prioritizing communal health: (1) affirming the sanctity of life; (2) nurturing healthy attachment; (3) facilitating communal wholeness; and (4) safeguarding societal resilience. Grounding my analysis in the rich traditions of moral philosophy, I argue that these principles scaffold sustainable innovation trajectories that consciously center shared welfare advancement over detached technical capabilities or efficiency benchmarks alone. Elucidating connections with pioneering initiatives demonstrates fragments of this vision taking embryonic shape, yet pervasive adoption remains largely aspirational to date. Fulfilling dignity-based artificial intelligence demands ongoing collective commitment beyond firms’ profit motives or governance proceduralism. My conclusions urge technology policies and priorities directed toward empowering the vulnerability of people rather than controlling the optimization of systems.

Reveal the Evolutionary Trajectory of Digital Innovation in Small and Medium-sized Enterprises

The continuous maturation and advancement of information technology and digital technology are compelling enterprises to embark on the journey of digital transformation. Numerous large enterprises have successfully undergone digital transformation. However, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), as the largest group in the business world, face challenges in their digital transformation due to constraints in capital, technology, talent, and other aspects. This paper aims to summarize the obstacles hindering SMEs by reviewing relevant literature. The challenges faced by SMEs during the process of digital transformation include limited product portfolios, high capital costs, environmental fluctuations, inadequate understanding of digital technologies, limited human resources availability, and a need for standardized practices. Technological challenges also exist within this context due to resource limitations and insufficient knowledge about information management among SMEs. Nevertheless, these companies can leverage their relatively small scale and flexibility to achieve successful digital transformation through improved management capabilities. The objective of this article is to overcome these challenges effectively with sustainability at its core focus on driving innovation compliance with regulations/guidelines employee upskilling is crucial for SMEs' success in achieving balanced growth while undergoing sustainable digital transformations. Lastly, this paper emphasizes the complexity and diversity involved in SMEs' journey towards digitization providing feasible strategy suggestions based on reflection discussion combined with case analysis.

Comparative review of advanced seatbelt detection: Infrared sensors vs. image-based systems

The seatbelt, often heralded as the first line of defense in vehicular safety, plays an indispensable role in mitigating the risks associated with traffic incidents. Consequently, the push towards enhancing transportation safety has led to the emergence of sophisticated seatbelt detection systems. In this study, we undertake a comprehensive examination of four cutting-edge detection methodologies: RF (Radio Frequency), Infrared Marker Vision, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN), and the You Only Look Once (YOLO) approach. Each method is dissected to understand its efficacy in determining if a passenger has properly donned their seatbelt. Beyond just immediate detection, this paper also casts a vision towards the horizon of seatbelt detection advancements. We explore how such detection systems might seamlessly integrate with advanced vehicle safety infrastructures, and postulate on their pivotal role in the burgeoning domain of autonomous vehicles. As self-driving cars become an imminent reality, the importance of reliable seatbelt detection mechanisms will only magnify. Thus, through this paper, we not only shed light on current methodologies but also endeavor to chart the trajectory of future innovations in the realm of seatbelt safety detection.

Perspectives and a plethora of New Educational and Entrepreneurial Approaches between 2020–2023 in Andhra Pradesh, India

COVID-19 has pushed 75 million Indians back into poverty; the risk-control decisions to slow down thevirus by the Indian government have adversely affected the education system in the country and led studentsinto temporary 'home-schooling' situations in 2020–2021. The present study focused on the inconveniencecaused to students living in Visakhapatnam, identifying the technology that has prompted new examples ofeducational innovation and its impact on the trajectory of learning innovation and digitization in the Indianeducation system, on a random sample of 309 students from 8 schools under the public, private, and unaidedcategories. The sample size calculated on a sample of 'n' student beneficiaries is n = z2*p q /d2 (calculated onn = the desired sample size, z = the normal standard deviation, p = the proportion in the target population, andd = absolute precision or accuracy). The data was analysed using a mixed methodology, using a quantitativesampling method by sending an online questionnaire and qualitatively measuring the responses of the targetgroup by percentage. The centuries-old, classical, or lecture-based approaches to teaching methodology,entrenched institutional biases, and outmoded classrooms are still prevalent in some poverty-strickenregions and developing states like Andhra Pradesh in India. In 2023, the education system continued topractice learning anywhere, at any time. Learning outcomes with digital education in various formatspositively impact education. The classical in-person classroom can complement new learning modalities,from live broadcasts to 'educational influencers' to virtual reality experiences. Bridging the gap betweenclassical and contemporary teaching methods, improvising learning, and heading towards lifelong learningby making it a habit integrated into daily routines is valid and should be made a lifestyle.

Enhancing Maritime Navigational Safety: Ship Trajectory Prediction Using ACoAtt–LSTM and AIS Data

Predicting ship trajectories plays a vital role in ensuring navigational safety, preventing collision incidents, and enhancing vessel management efficiency. The integration of advanced machine learning technology for precise trajectory prediction is emerging as a new trend in sophisticated geospatial applications. However, the complexity of the marine environment and data quality issues pose significant challenges to accurate ship trajectory forecasting. This study introduces an innovative trajectory prediction method, combining data encoding representation, attribute correlation attention module, and long short-term memory network. Initially, we process AIS data using data encoding conversion technology to improve representation efficiency and reduce complexity. This encoding not only preserves key information from the original data but also provides a more efficient input format for deep learning models. Subsequently, we incorporate the attribute correlation attention module, utilizing a multi-head attention mechanism to capture complex relationships between dynamic ship attributes, such as speed and direction, thereby enhancing the model’s understanding of implicit time series patterns in the data. Finally, leveraging the long short-term memory network’s capability for processing time series data, our approach effectively predicts future ship trajectories. In our experiments, we trained and tested our model using a historical AIS dataset. The results demonstrate that our model surpasses other classic intelligent models and advanced models with attention mechanisms in terms of trajectory prediction accuracy and stability.

Digital technology and Nollywood film industry

Film also known as the 7th Art is a medium for education, information and entertainment which has over the years undergone a series of technological innovations. This paper examines the evolution of cinema from the ‘silent era’ to the ‘new age era’ characterized by a trajectory of innovations and improvements due to technological developments. The paper adapts the Diffusion of Innovations Theory (DIT) propounded by Everett Rogers in 1962 to assess the extent to which innovations in digital technology have altered the old traditional film production landscape. The paper seeks, among others, to determine and highlight the significant areas technology has impacted on the development of motion pictures globally with particular emphasis on the Nigerian film industry popularly known as Nollywood. Our major point of interest is on the roles, impacts, challenges and prospects of digital technology in the areas of production, distribution, marketing and exhibition of films. By using the assumptions of DIT which seeks to explain how, why, and at what rate new ideas and technology spread. The paper further reviews relevant literature and some empirical results from scholars to justify its claims. We are able to establish in our findings that digital technology is the driving force of film development which has contributed enormously to world cinema. Furthermore, the rapid development and emergence of Nollywood film industry as the second largest producer of films in the world next to Bollywood of India is attributable to the emergence of digital technology.