There are some innovations whose long-term impact far exceed those envisioned by the innovators. To wit, a product so ubiquitous that over two billion people use it daily: the elevator.
In 1854 Elisha Otis introduce the first practical elevator. Like the railroads before it, the elevator was initially feared due to safety concerns. But engineering advancements and the sheer utility of not climbing steps soon made elevators wildly successful.
The elevator is great example of how an invention combined with another one can create remarkable value and significant change in other arenas not contemplated by the innovator...Steel had been around for centuries, but the cost prohibited its use as a structural framework for buildings which as a result were rarely more than a few stores in height. Even when this new material permitted taller buildings, most tenants would not climb more than five stories to reach their residence or place of business. As a result, landlords found that higher floors commanded the lowest rents.
Structural steel combined with the ease of access provided by elevator turned the economics of tall buildings upside down. Higher floors now commanded higher rents. If you think urban sprawl is bad now, imagine how big the New York, Chicago or LA metro areas would have to be if buildings were still restricted to five stories or less….and the consequent impact on the cost of real estate not only for commercial purposes, but residential as well. How much longer would the typical commute be if your metro area was limited to building without elevators?
If you want a great story about innovation, synergy with other innovations, and second order effects, the story of Otis elevator is instructive on several levels.
