Alfred North Whitehead referred to 'the fallacy of our own historical epoch'. Winston, in presenting a veritable archaeology of ICTs, attempts to show that the 'communications revolution' is such a fallacy in that many 'new' technologies have long histories. The novelty of technology is seductive, existing in the 'here and now', eliding its development. Both science and technology exist within the social sphere which, as we shall see, is crucial for the development trajectories of innovations. Winston discusses the process of ideation - innovation within the 'grammar' of science produces testable 'performances' in the shape of prototypes.
Ideation is, then, the process of transforming competence to performance.
Just as an understanding of the grammar of English enables one to produce new sentences, so innovations arise from a competence in science. Of course not all prototypes make it to the shops and some get delayed en route. Winston suggests that this is because of 'supervening social necessity'. In short, if there is no apparent use for the product or no social movement to take it up, then the product may remain a prototype. While inventions might well be taken up, it is equally important to consider the manner in which societies 'suppress' the radical potential of new technologies.