Novelty is always present.  Without it the evolutionary landscape of the possible would be barren.  But, it is the selection process that determines the direction, the path of society through this landscape of the possible.  Inherent in this, but not specifically identified by Basalla, is the process of combination and recombination.  Running throughout his text with many excellent examples we see that the successful innovations are not so much entirely novel creations, but more often a recombination of old components.  It is always a combination of things that is adopted.  It was not the wheel but rather a mode of transportation that was adopted where the wheel was a critical component.  It was not the personal computer as a computing device that was adopted but rather the combination of the home computer, games, and the internet.  This point on combination we will see very explicitly in memetic theory.

There is a very important issue that must be raised regarding Basalla's work.  He properly identified selection as one of the central themes of technological evolution.  He identified several factors that he found to the selection of technological innovation.  However, I believe he is asking the wrong question.  He appears to be asking, "What factors in the social, political, cultural, and economic environment causes the development of novelty and the selection one technological innovation over another?" I believe a better question to ask is, "What factors within the cognition of individual brains operating within a social, political, cultural, and economic environment causes technological innovation?" The organization environment influences memetic selection, but only through the cognition of individuals.

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