14-693 Special Topics - Insights Into Technology Innovation Through Competition

6 units, Carnegie Mellon University

In this course students will learn about today’s technologies by looking at the competing technologies and innovations that got us to where we are today. They say that history is told by the winners, but there is at least as much to learn from the losers. We will look at both the winners and losers that influenced the underlying system architecture for the platforms we all benefit from today. In this course students will critically analyze historical and current technologies to identify system architecture trade-offs and design principles. Students will gain a better understanding of the business and market influences on a product's success and the role of pioneering entrepreneurs in driving innovation. The course will also help students appreciate the history of our tech industry and the colorful companies and individuals that created it.

Prerequisites: none listed

Offered: Spring 2027, Spring 2026

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