I can't understand the R&D definition in English here

Question

Here is the sentence from online free dictionary :

While R&D is often thought of as synonymous with high-tech firms that are on the cutting edge of new technology, many established consumer goods companies spend large sums of money on improving old products.

Read more: http://www.investopedia.com/terms/r/randd.asp#ixzz1bvv9ylal

What does "cutting edge of new technology" mean? Actually I can't understand the meaning of cutting edge of here.

Rai

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

rai9999What does "cutting edge of new technology" mean? Actually I can't understand the meaning of cutting edge of here.

It means producing the very newest and coolest innovative technology.

Rai9999 · Answer

Hi,AlpheccaStars

Thank you for your quick answers!

May I ask you what does the verb "cut" here mean,please?

Rai

MalRey · Answer

rai9999May I ask you what does the verb "cut" here mean,please?

Here is a link to the definition of "cutting edge."
http://www.learnersdictionary.com/search/cutting%20edge

AlpheccaStars · Answer

I don't know the origin of this phrase.

But, to discover what is inside something, you have to cut it open. To discover buried treasures at archaeological sites, you have to cut into the earth. To discover a medical problem, doctors have to operate, which involves cutting the body of the patient.

The "cutting edge" (as opposed to the blunt edge) of the tool has to be used in these activities.

There is also the phrase "bleeding edge technology." This refers to developers who spend a lot of money on new technology that is not successful and they lose everything.

Rai9999 · Answer

Hi,dear AlpheccaStars:

I like your answer! So detailed!

Cutting edge means a tool!!Which the developers spend a lot of money on this tool!!

Now I can understand!

Thank you very much!;)

Rai

Rai9999 · Answer

Hi MatRey:

Thank you for your lovely rescource.

I have read it,very useful!:)

Rai

CSnyder · Answer

That's definitely not the sense I have of "bleeding edge". In my understanding "bleeding edge" means something even further advanced than the "cutting edge". For example, while extreme ultraviolet lithography is on the cutting edge of silicon fabrication research, nanosphere lithography is on the bleeding edge. I don't understand "bleeding edge" as having a "investors lost everything" connotation.

EFCHolla · Answer

It's the blade's edge that touches or cuts something, the edge part is the furthest part.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

CSnyderThat's definitely not the sense I have of "bleeding edge". In my understanding "bleeding edge" means something even further advanced than the "cutting edge". For example, while extreme ultraviolet lithography is on the cutting edge of silicon fabrication research, nanosphere lithography is on the bleeding edge. I don't understand "bleeding edge" as having a "investors lost everything" connotation.

You are right that I was exaggerating a little bit in losing everything.

But "bleeding" does refer to losing propositions, as in "red ink." I worked in the tech industry, and it was good to be on the cutting edge, ahead of the crowd, but the bleeding edge was something to be avoided as being too risky.

The maturity of technological advancement is divided into the following stages:

Bleeding edge (unproven, risky, experimental)
Leading / cutting Edge (proven, but very new, generally has a price premium, may be difficult to implement)
State-of-the-art (proven, prices have started to drop. Often there is not much time difference between leading edge and state-of-the-art)
Mature (in the mainstream, widely deployed and accepted, competitive pricing, little risk)
Lagging, dated (older things that still work well)
Obsolete (very expensive to maintain)

Rai9999 · Answer

Very good! Explanations! We can learn more from your post!

Thank you very much.

Rai

I can't understand the R&D definition in English here

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