Reconciling institutional interests and technical functionality: the advantages of loosely-coupled systems

A characteristic of intelligent vehicle highway system (IVHS) technology that has contributed to the success of the US IVHS program is identified. IVHS technology is loosely-coupled, that is, the many different subsystems in the overall IVHS system are largely insulated from one another, so that changes to subsystems or additions of entirely new subsystems have little effect on other subsystems. This loose coupling resolves a tension that is present in every technology program: the tension between institutional interests of participants and the functionality of the new technology. The loose coupling of IVHS allows for the interests of participants to be met without undermining the functionality of the technology.