The word "revolution" is used frequently in news about technology. Promising discoveries and inventions are always on the horizon. There is a difference, however, between new technology and a product that immediately impacts society. Revolution is not the technology itself, but the effect it has on the world. If not widely adopted, even something with great potential can fail to leave its mark; it may only be considered as an example for its successors. Apple's latest updates promise a revolutionary digital wallet; Google Wallet was introduced several years ago. Few retailers support Google's version, while preparations are already underway to meet the demands of Apple's customers. Both use roughly the same idea, but one release has a larger sphere of influence and demand than the other, marking that one as revolutionary.
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/11/opinion/the-digital-wallet-revolution.html
I think it's interesting how some technologies cause revolutions while others don't. Often it's not about the technology, but rather the community and how they use it. It will be interesting to see if Apple Pay takes off.
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