Emerging Business Technologies

1
Emerging Business Technologies

• Jordan Firari
• Senior Seminar
• 11/28/2007

2
Outline

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

3
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

4
Why Adopt New Technology?

• Increase Productivity
• Cost Efficiency
• Time Efficiency
• Customer Service
• Higher Level of Information Sharing

5
Radio Frequency Identification
6
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.)

7
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

8
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

9
RFID Drawbacks

• Costly Upgrade
• Breach of Privacy for Consumers?
• Technology Not Quite Perfect

10
Wireless Area Networks (WAN)

• Business Applications
• Hoppable Wireless Networks

11
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

12
WAN Application

• Mitsubishi Electronic Company and East Japan
  Railway
• Downloadable Information Service
• Train Schedules, Routes, Delays, Etc.
• Automatic and Up-to-Date Information

13
Other WAN Applications

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

14
WAN Drawbacks

• Diminishing Connection Quality
• Vulnerability
• SPAM

15
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

16
Hoppable WAN Benefits

• Constant Connection
• Mobility
• Convenience

17
Hoppable WAN Issues

• Legal Issues
• Not All Companies Have the Legal Right to
  Broadcast Certain Materials
• Tower Usage
• Does ATT Want to Let US Cellular Costumers Using
  Their Tower?

18
Microsoft Surface

• Video
• http//www.popularmechanics.com/technology/industr
  y/4217348.html

19
Surface Recap

• Touch Screen Display
• Multiple Interaction Points
• Five Cameras Mounted Below
• Modified Version of Windows Vista

20
Initial Implementations

• Hotel Restaurants
• Cell Phone Stores (T-Mobile)
• Printing Stores
• Inspiration to Other Businesses

21
Surface Drawbacks

• Expensive
• Impractical for Most Businesses
• Identify Theft?

22
Data Storage

• Holographic Disks
• Flash Memory

23
Holographic Disks

• Gel-Like Film
• Laser Burns Pattern at Different Angles
• First Waves Store Approximately 300GB
• Terabyte Disks Coming in 2009

24
Holographic Disk Benefits

• Massive Storage Space
• Quick Read/Write Speeds
• 20-120 MB/Sec Transfer Rate
• Milliseconds to Read

25
Holographic Disk Drawbacks

• Expensive
• 18,000 for Drive
• 180 per Disk
• Consumer Version Still Years Away
• Write-Once Format

26
Flash Memory

• Hard Drive Replaced by Flash Memory
• Data Chips Similar to Those Found in Digital
  Cameras and other Electronic Devices

27
Flash Memory Benefits

• Compact
• No Moving Parts (Durability)
• Quick Access Times
• More Energy Efficient
• Green Technology (Eco-Technology)
• Longer Battery Life

28
Flash Memory Drawbacks

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

29
Mobile Devices

• Iphone Effect
• Greater Number of Functions
• Becoming More Computer Like
• Connects More than Just Two People Now

30
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)

31
Mobile Phones Evolution
32
New Mobile Device Features

• Global Positioning System (GPS)
• Streaming Media Capabilities
• Screen Projection
• Advance Voice Recognition Software
• Touch Screen Controls
• Digital Credit Card

33
Mobile Device Benefits

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

34
Mobile Device Drawbacks

• Expensive (But Still Competitive)
• iPhone 400
• Slow/Difficult Web Browsing and Other Basic
  Functions

35
Conclusion

• Success Factors
• Initial Cost
• Return on Investment
• Technological Capabilities/Needs
• Implementation Requirements
• Early Adopters Finance Mainstream Success
• Cheaper Manufacturing Costs
• Advertising

36
References

• Phelps, 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,cellph
  ones/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/Wireless2
  0Network_Full.png
• Accessed Nov. 3, 2007. Last updated 2007.
• Songini, Marc, Walmart Shifts RFID Plans,
  http//www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?com
  mandviewArticleBasicarticleId284115
• 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.

37
References (Cont.)

• RFIDUDA.com, Jett RFID P-9220,
  http//rfidusa.com/superstore/images/jett-rfid2.jp
  g
• 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.j
  pg
• 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/industr
  y/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.