Innovations have to challenge the existing relation between man and men and man and the machine
If innovation is defined as the process of bringing any new problem-solving idea into use, then that process has to disrupt the status quo. Innovation as a process can take place in different realms of the human society and the nature. For example, innovation can be purely technical or it can be purely social. However, it cannot escape the fact that it has to challenge the existing relation between man and men in the latter and man and the machine in the former. Convenience can be the guiding force behind innovations. But then we have to find out whose convenience innovations are serving when they are at work. Though initially innovation serves the individual, slowly it percolates down and challenges the existing social norms before it becomes a law unto itself. Once this process is completed, innovation starts to assert itself and dictates how the social relationship should function. Questioning its authority can lead to revolutions or mankind needs another innovation, which can bring out more convenience, to beat it. And less surprisingly, if someone tries to beat it with the ideas and the innovations used by the earlier generations it will meet with failure as they cannot complete the aspirations and hopes of the current generation. Thus, all the innovation contains in itself the possibility and the limit at the same time. That is the reason, certain innovations are died/killed just after their birth.
Once the society is forced to embrace the goodies springing out of an innovation, it is no more is known by its first name. It is then called culture. Now, do not forget the fact that there was already another culture preceding it. It is with this culture, the new innovative culture in fighting. Once the battle lines are drawn, supporters line up on each side. But the victory lies with the new one due to its superiority (more conveniences). However, the latter, which had become part and parcel of the society will not yield without a fight. In the case of technological innovations, which is more of vocational in nature, many old guards are rendered jobless and thrown out of the job market as what they are holding on becomes obsolete. The new innovation supports and takes forward the production and the means of production at the same time. Thus, it is a win-win situation for the people who are advancing new technological innovations. Had it been one-sided, it would not have got the backing of both the employer and the employees at the same time. For the employee, the innovation helps him to be more sophisticated with his less energy being used for production and as for as the employer is concerned, innovation helps him to reap more profits by starting new business ventures thereby making new demands for goods and services from the people who have already forced to declare their new-found love for this new innovation.
In the case of a social innovation, the old guards, who owe their allegiance to the existing culture (old innovation), try their best to suppress the new ways of living advocated by the innovation. They even evoke the name of the God and terms it blasphemous to drive their point home. So, like-minded old guards come together and form pressure groups in the society so as to keep their flocks intact and to prevent them from crossing over to their opponent’s camp. But their followers are bound to desert them in the due course of time due to the pressure and superiority of the new innovation. This forces the old guards to take up arms or turn to spirituality, according to their mental inclinations. In the melee, which is followed later, much blood is shed, mostly by the adherents of earlier culture as they are on the defensive side. And those who turn to spirituality, becomes mendicants and aggressive.
Once the innovation is socialised, the human beings becomes part of it with their social roles conditioned. The much-acclaimed innovation, which promised them moon in the beginning, becomes a chain around their neck. His thoughts, social actions and relations are guided by it. Then they cannot escape it and are buttonholed, till another innovation hits the road, again promising a better moon.