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In this issue. . .

* Nanotechnology: A New Topic for Explorer
* One-Stop Smart Cards
* Cheaper Lithium Batteries
* Changing Views of Retirement
* Child Androids
* Business Implications of the Digital Divide
* Realistic Displays for Designers and Modelers
* Next-Generation eLearning Content
* Tough Decisions in Online Security
* Signs of Change in Europe
* Learning by Playing
* WLANs in the Office


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Nanotechnology: A New Topic for Explorer

Explorer, SRIC-BI's system for monitoring critical
technologies, has added nanotechnology to its list of
Technology Map topics. The new Technology Map looks at 
scientists' ability to create new structures, atom by 
atom. Materials and systems that use these nanoscale
structures offer novel and improved properties.
http://www.sric-bi.com/Explorer/NT.shtml


One-Stop Smart Cards

Visionaries foresee a day when people will carry around one
credit-card-size smart card that serves as ID, acts as a
debit/credit card, doubles as a transit ticket, allows
electronic and mobile commerce, and unlocks doors at home 
and at work. However, in the short term, card issuers, not
cardholders, will be in the driver’s seat, offering a much
more limited array of smart-card functions. (Multiapplication 
Smart Cards)
http://www.sric-bi.com/BIP/Bulletin/B295.shtml#2323


Cheaper Lithium Batteries

Researchers at the University of Montreal have formed a new
company to commercialize an electrode material for
lithium-ion and lithium-polymer batteries. The new material,
which uses lithium iron phosphate, will cut battery costs, 
both by enabling use of cheaper and nontoxic liquids for the 
electrode and by being more readily available than conventional 
electrode materials. (May 2001 Portable Batteries Viewpoints) 
http://www.sric-bi.com/Explorer/PB.shtml


Changing Views of Retirement

Today’s lock-step path to retirement at age 65 is rapidly
giving way to new ideas about work and retirement.  As
people live longer, healthier lives, have more money to 
play with, and see less turmoil in the world, they will 
need a range of new financial products and services to meet 
their needs in their older years. (Redefining Retirement)
http://www.sric-bi.com/CFD/MRsummaries/MR.V-4.shtml


Child Androids

Kitano Symbiotic Systems has two androids "growing up" in
its labs.  Thanks to neural-network "brains," Pino can
process visual data and kick a small football, and SIG can 
integrate auditory and visual data. The androids’ developers 
hope that their creations will eventually interact with the 
world much as children do as they develop. (May 2001 Neural 
Networks Viewpoints)
http://www.sric-bi.com/Explorer/NN.shtml


Business Implications of the Digital Divide

The much-discussed divide between information haves and
have-nots stems from entrenched conditions that began well
before the new economy took hold. For this reason, product
designers and marketers are wise to look beyond users’
demographics to their mind-sets and purchase behaviors. (The 
Digital Divide: Insights for Business)
http://www.sric-bi.com/BIP/Bulletin/B295.shtml#2324


Realistic 3-D Displays for Designers and Modelers

Until recently, only large companies like General Motors and
Boeing could afford to equip their product designers and
modelers with 3-D stereo displays. Now, however, realistic
visualization is available to many more scientists and 
engineers as technology developments make 3-D immersive
displays more affordable and easier to use. (3-D Immersive
Displays)
http://www.sric-bi.com/BIP/Bulletin/B295.shtml#2325


Next-Generation eLearning Content

Companies are increasingly creating their own eLearning
content, and content developers are eager to provide the
tools to help them do so. An emerging product category,
learning-content-management systems, promises to bridge 
the gap between content developers and previous-generation 
learning-management systems. (Next-Generation Content
Development: Opportunities in an Emerging Market)
http://www.sric-bi.com/LoD/bulletins.shtml


Tough Decisions in Online Security

Because computer security and network security use different
cryptosystems, companies need to analyze carefully what
parts of the business they need to protect. For example, as
wireless demands increase for many companies, new 
elliptic-curve cryptosystems may be preferable to the
more-established digital-signature algorithms.
(Cryptosystems: What Kind of Security Do You Need?)
http://www.sric-bi.com/BIP/Bulletin/B295.shtml#2326


Signs of Change in Europe

A recent Scan meeting of European analysts focused on hints
of change at the office. The current gray workforce—employees 
older than 50—may continue to work past traditional retirement 
age, some because they want to and others because pension 
investments fall short. Attendees also discussed increased 
incidents of office rage and new threats to companies’ brands. 
(Europe Scan: March 2001)
http://www.sric-bi.com/BIP/Bulletin/B295.shtml#2327


Learning by Playing

Games and simulations (G&S) can make learning fun, provide
realistic environments in which to practice skills, and hold
the attention of Generation X and Net Generation employees.
However, the price of customizing G&S for effective
eLearning must come down for companies to embrace the
technology. (Games and Simulations in eLearning)
http://www.sric-bi.com/LoD/summaries/LoDRpt07.shtml


WLANs in the Office

Information-technology officers are beginning to see
wireless local-area networks as a viable alternative to
in-building wired networks as they seek to free workers from
their desktops. Although a short time ago WLANs could 
not compete with wired LANS, their data-transfer performance
is now acceptable, and the cost of deployment has dropped.
(May 2001 Portable Intelligence Viewpoints)
http://www.sric-bi.com/Explorer/PI.shtml


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Copyright 2001 by SRI Consulting Business Intelligence.