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In this issue:

* From B-I-P to Scan
* The Power of Multicultural Marketing
* The Connected Car
* An Important Role for Wireless LANs in Pervasive Computing
* New Forms of Payment in E-Commerce
* Predictions for the Digital World in 2003
* Computer Scoring of Essay Exams
* Nanoscale Analytical Tools in the Life Sciences
* Financial Services in the Next Decade
* Mobile Solutions for Enterprises
* Strong Demand for Image Sensors
* A Mixed Bag for eLearning in 2002
* The Challenges of Launching New Technologies
* High Stakes in Programmable Mobile Phones
* A First Look at MacroMonitor Data for 2002


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(Full text of SRIC-BI publications is available to
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>From B-I-P to Scan

On 1 March 2003, SRIC-BI's Business Intelligence Program 
became the Scan program. The shift is more than a name 
change, marking a new focus on early awareness of changes 
in the business environment and on more interaction with 
customers to convey the relevance of such changes for their 
organizations. The new Scan Monthly, which replaces the 
B-I-P Bulletin and the quarterly Scan document, will contain 
timely Signals of Change writeups as well as the Insights 
that clients have come to depend on from B-I-P. 
http://www.sric-bi.com/Scan/


The Power of Multicultural Marketing

The multicultural marketplace has reached a critical mass 
and continues to grow. In a recent study, analysts in 
SRIC-BI's VALS Program report that although cultural 
identity rarely predicts most forms of consumer behavior, 
multicultural marketing--which leverages cultural identity 
in advertising messages and the focus of product features 
and benefits--can be a powerful tool for reaching specific 
cultural groups of consumers. (Multicultural Marketing)
http://www.sric-bi.com/BIP/Bulletin/B314.shtml - 2415


The Connected Car

The car is a natural location for entertainment and 
information services, and companies are readying a number 
of products and services for this market. A battle is under 
way between auto companies that want to rely on embedded 
dashboard devices and manufacturers of mobile devices for 
stand-alone services. Portable devices that plug into the 
auto platform or activate via wireless technology such as 
Bluetooth are less costly than embedded solutions and appear 
to have better market prospects. (The Connected-Car Concept: 
Hype and Reality)
http://www.sric-bi.com/DF/summaries/ConnectedCars0103.shtml


An Important Role for Wireless LANs in Pervasive Computing

Though the popular press is full of stories about smart 
appliances' taking over our kitchens, bathrooms, and living 
rooms, a wide gap still exists between research into networked 
appliances and adoption of such products in U.S. homes. 
Similar hype exists about pervasive computing, where, most 
likely, communications will be the first application, thanks 
to rapid growth of wireless local-area networks, which will 
drive increased communication among computer and network users.
(February 2003 Pervasive Computing Viewpoints)
http://www.sric-bi.com/Explorer/PVC.shtml


New Forms of Payment in E-Commerce

Though previous forms of digital payment have failed to take 
hold in the world of e-commerce, mobile and micropayments 
now have a shot at increasing transaction share to the point 
that commercial players cannot ignore them. The new payment 
solutions unlock opportunities that were not feasible before, 
and they will support new forms of commerce, such as 
location-based commerce, small-application commerce, 
opportunity commerce, and peer-to-peer transactions.
(Mobile and Micropayments: Changing the Nature of Commerce)
http://www.sric-bi.com/BIP/Bulletin/B314.shtml - 2414


Predictions for the Digital World in 2003

The beginning of every year sees a flurry of predictions by 
journalists, analysts, and industry participants. A new 
report from the Digital Futures group takes aim at some of 
the published predictions for digital technologies and 
services in 2003, offering unconventional perspectives on 
topics such as broadband adoption, which many analysts say 
is weak but statistics show is strong, and growth of 3G 
mobile services, which is unlikely to be as robust as many 
people believe. (Predictions for 2003)
http://www.sric-bi.com/DF/summaries/Predictions0203.shtml


Computer Scoring of Essay Exams

U.S. educators are beginning to use sophisticated computer 
programs to score secondary students' essays, and proponents 
claim that the systems can now grade essays faster, more 
efficiently, and more accurately than humans can. The 
systems, which incorporate artificial-intelligence and 
knowledge-based technologies, recently underwent pilot 
testing with thousands of students in Indiana and 
Pennsylvania, and educators in other states are watching 
these experiments closely. (February 2003 Knowledge-Based 
Systems Viewpoints)
http://www.sric-bi.com/Explorer/KBS.shtml


Nanoscale Analytical Tools in the Life Sciences

Nanoscale analytical technology platforms--the next 
generation of array technology--will allow researchers in 
the life sciences to fabricate arrays with features more 
than 1000 times smaller than those in conventional DNA 
microarrays. The platforms will improve the speed and 
accuracy of analytical tools, first in major genomics 
applications and later, upon proof of concept and 
performance benefits, in personalized medicine and in the 
agriculture, food, and environmental markets. (Nano-Based 
Array Systems: Ultraminiaturized Analysis Formats)
http://www.sric-bi.com/BIP/Bulletin/B314.shtml - 2416


Financial Services in the Next Decade

In the next decade, marketing to divided generations with 
different needs--the Boomers and the Echo Boomers--will be 
a challenge for financial institutions. Other challenges, 
according to a recent report from the Consumer Financial 
Decisions group, include contending with time-starved 
consumers, holding onto customers amid a complex array of 
payment systems, and integrating information networks and 
automating basic information and transaction processes. 
(Megatrends and Financial Services)
http://www.sric-bi.com/CFD/MRsummaries/MR.V-14.shtml


Mobile Solutions for Enterprises

Facing a general slump in the consumer market for mobile 
products and services, vendors of PDAs and mobile phones 
and providers of mobile data services see the enterprise 
market as an opportunity to shore up near-term revenue 
growth by supporting business-to-employee applications of 
mobile technology. Long-term prospects are even brighter 
because most employees who spend a lot of time away from 
their desktop workstations do not yet have enterprise-class 
mobile solutions. (Mobile-Enterprise Applications)
http://www.sric-bi.com/DF/summaries/MobileEntApps0103.shtml


Strong Demand for Image Sensors

After years of steady and healthy growth, the market for 
image sensors now exceeds $1 billion and is set to expand 
rapidly in the next few years. Consumers' embrace of digital 
cameras has been a significant driver of this growth. Now, 
thanks to improved quality and dropping costs, image sensors 
are also gaining acceptance in medical applications, 
communications, and machine-vision systems. (February 2003 
Optoelectronics/Photonics Viewpoints)
http://www.sric-bi.com/Explorer/OP.shtml


A Mixed Bag for eLearning in 2002

In 2002, a continuation of the 2001 downturn in technology 
spending undermined growth prospects for the eLearning 
market, and eLearning vendors struggled to improve their 
balance sheets. Nonetheless, a few bright spots emerged, 
such as continuing improvements in eLearning technologies, 
increased use of interoperability standards, a greater 
emphasis on content quality, and a growing body of 
return-on-investment testimonials by eLearning adopters. 
(eLearning Industry Update 2002)
http://www.sric-bi.com/LoD/summaries/eLearnIndUpd2002-12.shtml


The Challenges of Launching New Technologies

Taking new and emerging technologies to market is considerably 
more difficult than introducing improved products or services 
in existing markets. Consumer issues, standards issues, 
potential threats to the revenue streams of existing businesses, 
and interest groups all determine the type of reception a new 
product receives. Companies that identify roadblocks early have 
an opportunity to refocus limited resources or pursue more 
promising opportunities. (Preparing the Market Introduction of 
Emerging Technologies)
http://www.sric-bi.com/BIP/Bulletin/B314.shtml - 2417


High Stakes in Programmable Mobile Phones

Deciding which handheld software platforms to support is a 
critical--and even a make-or-break--decision for handset 
manufacturers, providers of mobile services, and developers 
of content and applications. For example, vendors that create 
software for one platform face high costs in adapting content 
to other platforms. Moreover, though mobile services can be 
agnostic in theory, the reality is that alliances, comarketing 
arrangements, and other proprietary relationships have a 
powerful influence in the industry. (Programmable Mobile 
Phones: The Battle over Platform Software)
http://www.sric-bi.com/DF/summaries/ProgMobPhones0103.shtml


A First Look at MacroMonitor Data for 2002

Despite all-around turmoil in the 2000-02 period, most 
meaningful movements in financial-product ownership or use 
were in the expected directions, according to early analyses 
of MacroMonitor data for 2002. Beneath the surface, however, 
instability is evident in certain demographic segments. A 
series of client reports, presentations, and other analyses 
will present these and other conclusions as the Consumer 
Financial Decisions group mines the rich data coming out of 
the 2002 MacroMonitor survey. (First Peek at the 2002 Data)
http://www.sric-bi.com/CFD/MRsummaries/MR.VI-01.shtml


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Copyright 2003 by SRI Consulting Business Intelligence.