Technology Roadmap Project

Harold Flescher

VP-Elect, Technical Activities

August 2008, Region 1 Meeting

Goals of a Technology RoadmapBring together collective IEEE knowledge to understand:– Where are we today? What technologies are we in?– How do we match|meet it?

Link our science/engineering based work to a shared “market language” – We need a tool to enable industry, government, and potential

new members to view their path through IEEE’s knowledge/activities

Create opportunities for growth– We need a tool in which Society/Councils (S/Cs) can identify new

and expanding trends in areas such as conferences, publications, people, and collaborations

– Places where expanded membership can play

Emerging Outcomes of TRM Project1. We need to better leverage today’s strengths

• Where can the convergences be found? What technical programs bridge across multiple S/Cs and multiple sectors? Who covers what, to what depth, and how can we collaborate and launch new products and services?

2. We need to better anticipate tomorrow’s market needs• What is emerging? Where is the white space? How can we

collaborate and launch new research initiatives?

3. We need to communicate to internal and external audiences• What is the scope of Technical Activities (TA) S/C’s and TA programs?

How do TA programs intersect with other IEEE activity? How do TA programs translate to industry and market topics?

4. We need to provide “relevance” for individuals and companies as they seek products, services and communities within the IEEE

• Where do I belong? What is IEEE doing in my industry? What conference or publication should I target? Where do I find the people in my field?

“Tagging” strategyTags are descriptive terms or keywords used to describe content

– Users can use or re-use their own terms without adhering to a controlled vocabulary

– The current approach for managing large distributed sets of content with diverse audiences

Tagging works well for IEEE TA because:– TA serves a very large, distributed, diverse audience and must be able

to find a match between “languages” (industry, technical expertise, culture)

– TA has an enormous data set that is always changing. Specific automated keywords can’t keep up and may lack meaning for the user.

Tags lack hierarchy. So, we make up for this by:– Encouraging re-use of existing tags

– Using “hybrid” models - grouping and clustering like terms

– Leveraging automated tools, matching indexed keywords to tags

2008 To Date

14 Industry Sectors Defined

S/Cs Defined 1,000+ Tags/Keywords

Remainder of 2008

– Create Framework & Navigation Tools

– Map Tags/Keywords & S/Cs to Periodicals, Conferences, Standards

– Analysis of data visualization

– Initial hot spot and white space discussions

What’s Next?

– 2009 Operational Project Planning

Tagging Outputs Snapshot

1000+ tags

14 Industry Sectors

Snapshot Conclusions from a Tag CloudStrong in Applications of Technology

Weak in Market Area Topics

More bottom-up from technology, not top-down from industry

Step back and think about this . . .

Right now think of yourself as:An IEEE member working in a new field An engineer/scientist looking for– Where in IEEE I’d have a home– Where in IEEE I can get specific

information

A company looking for particular information, an expert, products, etc.An engineering student A University Professor

1. The Brain Example

Navigation Sample: Sectors & Tags/Keywords

Navigation Sample: Sectors & Tags/Keywords

+ Add IEEE Products/ServicesConference Proceedings

Distinguished Lecturers

Periodicals

Publications

Standards

Societies/Councils

Navigation Sample: Sectors & Tags/Keywords

+ Add connections to even one. . .Conference Proceedings

Distinguished Lecturers

Periodicals

Publications

Standards

Societies/Councils

Future Improvements

Member/Geographic Activities Involvement

– Geographic Conferences

– Member Authors

– Entrepreneurs Network

– Consultants Network

Insert others Ideas from Hal here????

What’s Missing?

– Feedback Appreciated!