Final answer:
The tragic past of the sailing vessel Thomas W. Lawson is comparable to the S-curve of technological substitution. The ship faced challenges due to its size and design, and advancements in maritime technology made it obsolete. This example demonstrates how older technologies can be replaced by newer ones over time.
Step-by-step explanation:
The terrible background of the sailing vessel Thomas W. Lawson is comparable to the S-curve for technological substitution. The technology substitution S-curve refers to the gradual replacement of an older technology with a newer one over time. In the case of the Thomas W. Lawson, the ship was a seven-masted schooner, which was a relatively new and innovative design at the time. However, it faced numerous challenges and was ultimately not successful in the long run.
Despite its initial promise, the ship faced difficulties due to its extreme size and design. It was difficult to find skilled crew members to navigate such a large vessel, making it challenging to operate effectively. Additionally, advancements in maritime technology, such as the development of more efficient engines and larger container ships, made the Thomas W. Lawson obsolete. The ship's ill-fated history can be seen as an example of how technological advancements can lead to the substitution of older technologies.
In the S-curve of technology substitution, there is an initial period of slow adoption, followed by a rapid growth phase, and then a plateau as the technology reaches its peak. Eventually, a new technology emerges and starts the cycle again. The Thomas W. Lawson can be seen as part of this cycle, where it was initially adopted and had some success, but ultimately was overtaken and replaced by newer and more efficient maritime technologies.