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In this issue. . .

* Ford's New Engine Sensor
* Big Spending in Child-Free Households
* Gateways to Critical Business Information
* Ahoy, Solar Fans
* Employee Power
* Better Viewing via Fluorescent LCDs
* The Protective Government
* Genetic Blueprints
* High Tech and High Touch in Recruiting
* The New Conglomerate
* The Big Business of Mobile Data


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(Full text of SRIC-BI publications is available to
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sponsor, please visit http://www.sric-bi.com/info.shtml.)
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Ford's New Engine Sensor

Ford researchers have figured out how to mount a
piezoceramic sensor in spark plugs to measure engine
combustion directly. If the novel sensor proves to be
commercially attractive, which is by no means certain, it
will improve control within the combustion chamber and bring
higher efficiency and lower emissions. (November Smart 
Materials Viewpoints)
http://www.sric-bi.com/Explorer/SM.shtml


Big Spending in Child-Free Households

Households without children have less debt than other
households do and conduct fewer financial transactions--but
they also spend more. Financial institutions should consider
the distinct financial habits of these 7.5 million U.S.
households when they design new products, services, and
marketing materials. (Child Free: Financially Uninvolved or
Financially Underserved?)
http://www.sric-bi.com/CFD/MRsummaries/MR.IV-8.shtml


Gateways to Critical Business Information

Companies that implement enterprise portals can expect major
headaches. Nonetheless, an increasing number of companies
are willing to tackle the task because of the technology's
potential payoffs: faster and better decision making, more
efficient operations, and better communication. (Enterprise 
Portals: Gateways to Business Excellence)
http://www.sric-bi.com/BIP/Bulletin/B290.shtml#R853

Ahoy, Solar Fans

Sometime in 2001, passengers will be able to hop aboard a
solar-powered vessel to cross Lake Biel in Switzerland. The
$800 000 boat will be the largest vessel of its kind,
storing energy in 180 square meters of crystalline silicon
solar cells on its roof.  (November Photovoltaics Viewpoints)
http://www.sric-bi.com/Explorer/PV.shtml


Employee Power

Companies suddenly find themselves in an employees' market
in which they must expend ever-more energy and money to
attract talent. As the balance of power shifts, employers
are offering numerous blandishments to applicants and
employees, including new ways to balance personal lives and
work. (Talent Management in an Employees' Market)
http://www.sric-bi.com/BIP/Bulletin/B290.shtml#R854


Better Viewing via Fluorescent LCDs

An inventor at FPD Technologies hopes to eliminate the poor
viewing angle of liquid-crystal-display screens and reduce
the displays' energy consumption. The new technique coats
the front of a screen with a fluorescent material and
replaces the conventional white backlight with a precision
single-wavelength blue light source. (November Flat-Panel 
Displays Viewpoints)
http://www.sric-bi.com/Explorer/FPD.shtml


The Protective Government

Recently, high-profile firms have stepped forward to give
their blessing to online-privacy legislation. Clearly, the
companies hope to minimize the influence of
consumer-protection bills now working their way through the
U.S. Congress--all of which have major implications for
online and offline businesses.  (Online Consumer Privacy: 
The Government Steps In)
http://www.sric-bi.com/BIP/Bulletin/B290.shtml#2301


Genetic Blueprints 

Biotech companies are neck and neck in the race to provide
proprietary platforms for manufacturing microarrays. Today's
key application is gene expression in pharmaceutical
research, but next-generation devices will move the
technology into toxicology screening, genetic-variation
analysis, and protein analysis. (DNA Chips: Technology Update)
http://www.sric-bi.com/BIP/Bulletin/B290.shtml#2300


High Tech and High Touch in Recruiting

Cisco Systems and other top performers make savvy use of the
Internet and information-systems technology to snag the best
talent. But these companies recognize that innovative
thinking and personal attention continue to be important in
attracting and keeping the best employees. (New Strategies
in Recruiting: Combining High Tech and High Touch)
http://www.sric-bi.com/BIP/Bulletin/B290.shtml#2299


The New Conglomerate

How can big companies compete with nimble new competitors in
today's network economy? The cluster conglomerate--a
strategic mix of spin-offs, acquisitions, and
subsidiaries--is one of the more promising business models
for the future. (The Cluster Conglomerate)
http://www.sric-bi.com/BIP/Bulletin/B290.shtml#scan


The Big Business of Mobile Data

Talking on the phone will generate more than $1 trillion in
revenue in 2000. Moreover, mobile voice services have driven
growth in the sector since 1996. Smart players recognize
that new wireless offerings--including Internet access,
audiovisual entertainment, and transactions--call for new
business models. (Mobile-Data Business Models)
http://www.sric-bi.com/DF/oldMFsummaries/MobBizMdlsToC.shtml


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