Emerging Business Technologies

Jordan Firari

Senior Seminar

11/28/2007

Outline• What is Technology• Why Adopt New Technology• Radio Frequency Identification• Wireless Area Networks• Surface• Data Storage• Mobile Devices• Conclusion• References

What is Technology?

• “The Use of Scientific Knowledge to Solve Practical Problems”

• Broad in Scope– Covers the Use of Fire to Shape Metals– Covers the Latest Processing Chips

American Heritage Student Dictionary

Why Adopt New Technology?

• Increase Productivity

• Cost Efficiency

• Time Efficiency

• Customer Service

• Higher Level of Information Sharing

Radio Frequency Identification

How Does RFID Work?

• Small Chips Transmit Radio Frequency

• Reader Device or Unit Receives Transmission

• Data Sent from Reader to Station(i.e. Computer Terminal, Mainframe, Server, Specific Database, etc.)

http://www.rfidjournal.com/faq

RFID and Wal-Mart

• Wal-Mart Begins RFID Testing in April of 2004

• Wal-Mart Demands All Suppliers Adopt RFID

• Wal-Mart, “Missed Goal”– Only 3% Actively Resisting– Most Firms Achieving 100% Read Rate– Shifting Efforts to Stores

http://www.mindbranch.com/Wal-Mart-RFID-R627-0002/

RFID Benefits

• More Efficient than Barcode Scanning

• High Level of Automation

• Cheaper Than Initially Expected– Estimated Average Implementation Cost =

$500,000– Actual Average Implementation Cost =

$200,000

http://www.mindbranch.com/Wal-Mart-RFID-R627-0002/

RFID Drawbacks

• Costly Upgrade

• Breach of Privacy for Consumers?

• Technology Not Quite Perfect

Wireless Area Networks (WAN)

• Business Applications

• “Hoppable” Wireless Networks

How Do Wireless Networks Work?

• Hybrid of Technologies– Wired Connection into Host– Host Transmits/Receives Wireless Signal

• Transmission on Radio Frequency

• Area of Transmission is a Hot Spot

• Communication between Host and Client within Hot Spot

WAN Application

• Mitsubishi Electronic Company and East Japan Railway

• Downloadable Information Service– Train Schedules, Routes, Delays, Etc.

• Automatic and Up-to-Date Information

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,138004-c,cellphones/article.html

Other WAN Applications

• Implications in Other Businesses– Sale Information– Detailed Production Specifications– Advertising– Digital Tour Guides

WAN Drawbacks

• Diminishing Connection Quality

• Vulnerability

• SPAM

“Hoppable” Wireless Area Networks

• “Hop” From One Network to Another

• Allows Users to Maintain Connection Regardless of Location

• Utilizes Cell Phone Towers from Different Companies

• Useful for Streaming Media and Other Constant Downloads

Hoppable WAN Benefits

• Constant Connection

• Mobility

• Convenience

Hoppable WAN Issues

• Legal Issues– Not All Companies Have the Legal Right to

Broadcast Certain Materials

• Tower Usage– Does AT&T Want to Let US Cellular

Costumers Using Their Tower?

Microsoft Surface

Video

http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4217348.html

Surface Recap

• Touch Screen Display– Multiple Interaction Points

• Five Cameras Mounted Below

• Modified Version of Windows Vista

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18936536

Initial Implementations

• Hotel Restaurants

• Cell Phone Stores (T-Mobile)

• Printing Stores

• Inspiration to Other Businesses

Surface Drawbacks

• Expensive

• Impractical for Most Businesses

• Identify Theft?

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18936536

Data Storage

• Holographic Disks

• Flash Memory

Holographic Disks

• Gel-Like Film

• Laser Burns Pattern at Different Angles

• First Waves Store Approximately 300GB

• Terabyte Disks Coming in 2009

Holographic Disk Benefits

• Massive Storage Space

• Quick Read/Write Speeds– 20-120 MB/Sec Transfer Rate– Milliseconds to Read

Inphase-technologies.com

Holographic Disk Drawbacks

• Expensive– $18,000 for Drive– $180 per Disk

• Consumer Version Still Years Away

• Write-Once Format

Inphase-technologies.com

Flash Memory

• Hard Drive Replaced by Flash Memory

• Data Chips Similar to Those Found in Digital Cameras and other Electronic Devices

http://www.news.com/Bye-bye-hard-drive,-hello-flash/2100-1006_3-6005849.html

Flash Memory Benefits

• Compact

• No Moving Parts (Durability)

• Quick Access Times

• More Energy Efficient– Green Technology (Eco-Technology)– Longer Battery Life

Flash Memory Drawbacks

• Less Storage Space– First Laptop Model(Dell) – 8 GB– Current Capabilities Around 64 GB

• More Costly

http://www.news.com/Bye-bye-hard-drive,-hello-flash/2100-1006_3-6005849.html

Mobile Devices

• “Iphone Effect”

• Greater Number of Functions

• Becoming More “Computer Like”

• Connects More than Just Two People Now

Cellular Phones: A Brief History

• Concept Dates Back to 1947

• Technology Achieved in 1977

• Dr. Martin Cooper Credited with Invention of Cellular Telephone

• 1982 – Cell Phones Become Available to Public

• Analog Service (Think FM Radio)

http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa070899.htm

Mobile Phones Evolution

New Mobile Device Features

• Global Positioning System (GPS)

• Streaming Media Capabilities

• Screen Projection

• Advance Voice Recognition Software

• Touch Screen Controls

• Digital Credit Card

Mobile Device Benefits

• Convenience

• Versatility

• Connectivity (To Web, To Business Networks, To Home)

Mobile Device Drawbacks

• Expensive (But Still Competitive)– iPhone $400

• Slow/Difficult Web Browsing and Other Basic Functions

Conclusion

• Success Factors– Initial Cost

– Return on Investment

– Technological Capabilities/Needs

– Implementation Requirements

• Early Adopters Finance Mainstream Success– Cheaper Manufacturing Costs

– Advertising

ReferencesPhelps, Martha; Cremans, Donna; Patwell, Joseph, The American Heritage Student Dictionary, Boston/New York, 1993,

pg. 967.

Williams, Martyn, “Cell Phone Alerts Keep Travelers on Track”,

http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,138004-c,cellphones/article.html

Accessed Nov. 3, 2007. Last updated Oct. 3, 2007.

PC.IBM.com ,“Wireless Local Area Networks (LANS)”, http://www.pc.ibm.com/ww/healthycomputing/lan.html

Accessed Nov. 3, 2007. Last updated Nov. 2, 2007.

Edrawsoft.com, “My Home Wireless Network”, http://www.edrawsoft.com/images/network/Wireless%20Network_Full.png

Accessed Nov. 3, 2007. Last updated 2007.

Songini, Marc, “Walmart Shifts RFID Plans”, http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=284115

Accessed Oct 25, 2007. Last updated Feb. 26, 2007.

RFIDJournal.com, “RFID Journal FAQ”, http://www.rfidjournal.com/faq

Accessed Oct 25, 2007. Last updated 2007.

References (Cont.)RFIDUDA.com, “Jett RFID P-9220”, http://rfidusa.com/superstore/images/jett-rfid2.jpg

Accessed Oct 25, 2007. Last updated 2007.

 

Mintz, Jessica, “Microsoft Unveils Table Top Computer”, http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18936536

Accessed Nov. 2, 2007. Last updated May 30, 2007.

 

Rediff.Com, “Microsoft Surface”, http://specials.rediff.com/money/2007/jun/01sld5.jpg

Accessed Nov. 2, 2007. Last Updated 2007.

 

Bellis, Mary, “Celling the Cell Phone”, http://inventors.about.com/library/weekly/aa070899.htm

Accessed Nov. 4, 2007. Last Updated 2007.

PopularMechanics.com, “Surface Demo”, http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industry/4217348.html

Accessed Nov. 20, 2007. Last Updated 2007.

Incucomm Inc. , http://www.mindbranch.com/Wal-Mart-RFID-R627-0002/

Accessed Nov. 20, 2007. Last Updated Jan. 2006.