Disruptive Technology

What Does Disruptive Technology Mean?

Disruptive technology refers to any enhanced or completely new technology that replaces and disrupts an existing technology, rendering it obsolete. It is designed to succeed similar technology that is already in use.

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Disruptive technology applies to hardware, software, networks and combined technologies.

Techopedia Explains Disruptive Technology

Because disruptive technology is new, it has certain advantages, enhancements and functionalities over competitors. For example, cloud computing serves as a disruptive technology for in-house servers and software solutions. It has slowly been adopted by organizations and individuals with the main objective of completely removing traditional computing.

As an unused, unapplied and untested alternative, it takes time for disruptive technology to be dominantly deployed, ultimately degenerating existing technology.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…