Interdisciplinary Studies

Dilution of expertise in the rise and fall of collective innovation

S. Duran-nebreda, M. J. O'brien, et al.

This fascinating research by Salva Duran-Nebreda, Michael J. O'Brien, R. Alexander Bentley, and Sergi Valverde delves into how popular cultural domains can outpace expert knowledge, resulting in increased imitation and reduced diversity. Through compelling case studies, they illustrate the dynamics of expertise dilution in the realms of personal computing, social media, and cryptocurrencies.

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Abstract

This paper explores how a popular cultural domain can rapidly expand beyond the capacity of its expert community, leading to a shift from invention to imitation. The authors hypothesize that this "dilution of expertise" causes a decrease in diversity and an increase in information redundancy. This hypothesis is tested using three case studies: early personal computers and home consoles, social media posts, and cryptocurrencies. Each case study shows a departure from standard diffusion models during exponential growth, supporting the dilution of expertise hypothesis. A model is presented that recreates observed diversity, complexity, and boom-and-bust dynamics.

Publisher

Humanities & Social Sciences Communications

Published On

Oct 12, 2022

Authors

Salva Duran-Nebreda, Michael J. O'Brien, R. Alexander Bentley, Sergi Valverde

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