Hughes divides the inventions that make up technological systems into two groups.

These two groups are conservative and radical.

Conservative:

Conservative inventions usually add to and improve existing inventions and are usually financed by larger corporations. 

Radical:

Radical inventions are usually done by independent inventors on much less funding because larger companies find them too risky to invest in.

The scholarly journal article "Cold War and Hot Physics: Science Security, and the American State, 1945-56" by Daniel Kevles discusses the technological system responsible for atomic technologly and especially nuclear weapons in the United States. 

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 The development of atomic technology quickly became a conservative invention.



This was because it became important to improve on the beginnings of  the atomic idea to develop it for weapon and power usage.  The development of atomic technology  was funded with a huge investment of money, largely by the United States government.