Trend of uneven development of system components

Trend of uneven development of system components is a trend of engineering system evolution according to which as an engineering system evolves, development is concentrated on the operating agent first, and on the rest of the system later.

Overview

Alongside the trend of increasing controllability, the trend of uneven development of system components serves as a mechanism of the trend of increasing coordination.

This trend in a way bridges technology and philosophy. The evolution of a system is driven by resolving contradictions, while contradictions themselves arise from the uneven development of the system’s components. So, when one part of the system evolves faster than the others, a mismatch occurs between the components – this discrepancy triggers further developments, and the cycle continues.

This trend is directly tied to the S-curve of development:

A good example illustrating the trend is the evolution of the automobile.

In early cars, the engine was the most advanced component. Over time, gaps began to emerge between the development of the engine and other sub-systems of the vehicle. These discrepancies drove the advancement of systems such as the drivetrain, transmission, body design, air conditioning, and more – all in response to the uneven pace of the development.