Scan Monthly No. 053July 2007 |
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Signals of Change
Neurotronics
SoC249
The term neurotronics refers to the convergence of electronics, neurology, and cognitive science that researchers and product developers currently are exploring for both health care and human augmentation. Advances in neurotronics will result in assistive cognitive technologies that augment human memory and sensory capabilities and in smart prosthetic devices that use direct sensory-deviceinterface technologies to allow artificial limbs to function as well as or better than natural limbs.
Provenance in the Spotlight
SoC250
Consumers are becoming increasingly concerned about the provenance of the products they buy as they discover what they've given up in exchange for low prices. A new premium on provenance is emerging as consumers reprioritize their purchase patterns around health, safety, authenticity, and environmental and political concerns.
Consumer Health-Care Informatics
SoC251
Although the U.S. health-care system has been the recipient of considerable bad press of late, one aspect of the forces at play in U.S. health care that are generating considerable interest worldwide is the development of consumer-centric information services and tools that provide individual consumers with the means not only to access and control their personal health and wellness information but also to use that information in seeking more effective and efficient health-care goods and services.
Untangling the Food- and Drug-Supply Chain
SoC252
The product that one buys may not come from China, but its ingredients might. China has become the world's principal supplier of apple juice, garlic powder, and cocoa butter. China also supplies 80% of the world's ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), one-third of the world's Vitamin A, and significant amounts of other vitamins and supplements.
Human Resources 2.0
SoC253
A more diverse workforce, expanding pools of potential talent, rising expectations on the part of prospective employees, and increasing competition for talent are some of the factors requiring companies to rethink human-resources strategies and procedures. Human Resources, version 2.0 is the result.
Timing Is Everything in Going Green
SoC254
Public interest clearly exists in "greening" the energy and manufacturing sectors, and new technologies make affordable, clean practices seem within reach. But just how sustainable current efforts and initiatives are remains unclear. Successful investors in green technologies will be aware of which investments have near-term payoffs, which have long-term payoffs, and which run the risk of going dormant for extended periods on the road to profitability.
Insights
| Near-Field Communication Commercialization Issues | View full summary |
| D07-2554 | Download this Insight |
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Near-field communication (NFC) technology is a short-range wireless-communications technology that is remarkable in that it could provide one platform to enable convergence of a large number of applications. Unfortunately, any attempt to combine all these applications inherits all the problems of and competitors in these various application areas. NFC technology is unlikely to fulfill all the promises that industry participants and market researchers have predicted for it, however. The technology will easily take a decade to become widespread as a common payment mechanismits most likely successful commercial applicationif it is able to overcome the hurdles at all. A much more likely scenario is that it will become an additional wireless technology that will carve out its niche for certain applications. Author: Martin Schwirn. 15 pages. |
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| Scan Meeting Digest: 20 June 2007 Meeting | View full summary |
| D07-2555 | Download this Insight |
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This document is a digest of the Scan abstract clusters that participants in the 20 June 2007 Scan meeting identified. The digest includes a description of the Scan process for people who have never attended a Scan meeting, a list of the clusters that meeting participants identified, and a one-page description of each cluster's premise and supporting abstracts. The document has active links that allow the reader to access the supporting abstracts for each cluster in Scan's online abstract database. The document also has links to previously published Scan documents relating to the particular cluster. Clusters of abstracts for this June meeting include provenance moving up the hype curve, good bacteria, Second Life runs into problems, tipping point in the green wave, state ownership gains importance, human resources 2.0, bio-building blocks, China factor in food trade, surveillance scare, the drive to be superhuman, neuro-interventions, multifunctional phones target niches, regulation.com, smaller time is more money, risky retail, and neurotronics. Compiler: Martin Schwirn. 43 pages. |
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Calendar
Scan Abstract Meetings
Scan abstract meetings (in which SRIC-BI [now SBI] staff participate in a free-form discussion of current Scan abstracts) are open for client observation/participation on:
- 19 September 2007 at 9:00 am
- 17 October 2007 at 9:00 am
- 23 January 2008 at 9:00 am
- 19 March 2008 at 9:00 am
- 21 May 2008 at 9:00 am
- 23 July 2008 at 9:00 am.