Friday, January 22, 2010

Patents: A Tool for Technological Intelligence

Patents are the largest source of technological information. Patent are given to the inventor as a reward for its innovation in the form of the exclusive right of the monopoly for a period of 20 years from the priority date of the invention. Due to advancement in the IT sector and internet, now these valuable documents are in the reach of the general public. Any person skilled in the art can go through various patent databases and after a search can get the patent document of their need. There are different patent databases viz, USPTO, EPO, JPO, etc freely open for the public access. If we go through the patents related to a specific technological area, we will be able to find the lots of information about the life cycle of the technological innovation viz.,

• evolutionary path of a specific technology,

• technological development,

• technological diversification,

• technology merges,

• major players in specific technological area,

• key points of the specific technology,

“The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) revealed that 90% to 95% of all the world’s inventions can be found in patented documents.”

Patent analysis can reveals very valuable informations, which is not available anywhere. After patent search the crucial part is the patent analysis, and one have to be very concise about their objective of the study. The information in the patent documents can be utilized in different form according to the need and mapped accordingly to get the picture of the entire analysis in snapshots.

Patent data can be used for the preparation of technological landscapes. Logistic mathematics and circle mathematics can be very useful in the plotting of the technological landscape. It can reveal the evolutionary trend of a technology, how it is evolved from a basic technology, along with the period of the technological diversification and its nature. These maps will also give the detailed overview of the merging of the different technologies to give rise to break-through technologies. These types of maps will be very useful for the R&D personals to evaluate the position of their research and technology, and also they will find way to more innovate more advanced and valuable technology.

In the today’s global context firms need to know what technologies can competitors choke easily, and may be attempting to. They also need to know the spaces in technologies where competition is intense, and the areas where competitors are concentrating their IP development and their R&D efforts. They need to be able to track patent acquisition and development strategies and chart out the competitive landscape. To evaluate technology before making any investment decision, firms need to know the pace of patenting activity in the technology, which patents embody fundamental ideas in the technology and how vulnerable the firm’s technologies are to patent infringements. This will give them much needed information in deciding between technology development and technology acquisition.

The ability to extract relevant information from patent literature is a crucial success factor for anyone involved in technological innovation. The technology mapping technique’s that can be used to transform patent information into knowledge that can influence decision-making.

Patents are an important source of technological intelligence that companies can use to gain strategic advantage. Technology Intelligence is a can be used for gathering, analyzing, forecasting, and managing external technology related information, including patent information. Computational patent mapping is a methodology for the development and application of a technology knowledgebase for technology and competitive intelligence. The primary deliverables of patent mapping is in the form of knowledge visualization through landscape and maps. These maps provide valuable intelligence on technology evolution/revolution, nature of various types of pioneering; big; pure; and emerging players, state-of-the-art assessment, etc.

These types of technological maps will prove to be a valuable multiplier in R&D and commercialization activities, in various ways including the following:

• Developing further insights in response to strategic requirements and policy formulation in the organization

• Forecasting and identifying technological activities and trends in the industry

• Aiding in the visualization of alternative development and growth paths available to the organization

• Enabling pre-emptive recognition and action on potential licensing opportunities

• Identifying prospective partners and clients

• Identify technology discontinuities and areas of opportunities in their chosen technologies

• Monitor and evaluate the technological process of competitors and potential competitors

• Support decisions on foray and investment into particular technologies and sub-technologies

• Surveillance of technological progress of competitors as well as to alert oneself to new entrants to the field

• Spotting of white spaces or opportunity areas within a dense technological domain

• Creative tool to simulate new ideas and create new IP

• Complementing corporate IP filing strategies

• Support technology proposals for large scale national and international level projects

• Support investment and technology due diligence on companies

Patent mapping can be an integral part of IP management. It can uncover valuable information hidden in patents and can provide useful indicators for technical trends, market trends, competitors changes and technological profile and innovation potential of a company. Patent maps are visual representations of patent information that has been mined and aggregated or clustered to highlight specific features. There is a high degree of flexibility in visualization, which may be in the form of time-series or as spatial maps. We provide a more market and technology oriented analysis of the complete set of patent portfolio assets via our patent mapping services. Patent mapping can be used to ascertain the quality of patents with respect to prevailing technology and the extent to which patents affect the technology. This is a valuable input in technology sourcing/development and R&D decisions. Patent mapping can be indispensable for both firms that have an under-utilized patent profile and are looking to license/assign it at the most favorable terms, as well as to firms that are looking at developing patent portfolio strength in a particular technological field.

Mere subject specialization is not enough for this, but analytical thinking and innovations are very essential. Today lots of software resources are available for mapping the patent data, but almost all are confined to bibliographic informations. The machine work cannot be compared with that of human intelligence. Patent mapping requires many skills. First and foremost among these is an ability to understand the complex scientific ideas protected by the patents themselves. Although it is possible to create a patent map by analyzing the relationships between patents without understanding the subject matter, such a map is often useless and needs to be refined by someone who understands the intricacies of the particular scientific discipline that is the basis of the invention. Thus, I expect that the need for people with scientific (and engineering) expertise in the field of patent mapping is on the increase. That’s why today lots of KPO firm are looking for the right individual and there is a huge demand today, which will certainly increase in the near future.

Thursday, December 24, 2009

Computer Speakers

Adding speakers to your computer can increase its functionality and enriches the experience of using it. Computer speakers are functional devices that are attached to the computer and are very much useful for recreation as well as other activities. These not only produce the most exciting sound but also are capable of bringing music, movies or games to life.

In today's scenario where we can find all sorts of multimedia applications, games and MP3 music, it is very hard to imagine a computer without speakers. They have become essential for any computer so that it can be used for all the applications. With time these have seen many changes and are getting better. We can find them for all applications and budgets.

The most popular type of speakers available today are standard, multi-channel surround sound, and USB speakers. Lets learn more about them.

Standard Speakers

Most popular of the lot that can be found easily in most of the households. The standard speakers are normal 2.1 channel or 2 channel output which include a subwoofer in the 2.1 channel version. These produce enough sound required by a home or corporate user. On the price band, these are considered cheap and easily installable with lesser wiring compared to the multi channel models.

Multi-channel Speakers

More advanced is the multi-channel version that can deliver a surround sound effect. In the multi-channel model the channels refer to the output of the device. For instance The 5.1 channel surround sound system means a 5 speaker and one subwoofer included in it which delivers superior sound quality and can bring any PC game or movie to life. These new generation models are exceptional on sound quality but comparatively costly than the standard versions.

USB speakers

Considering the portability issues you will also find USB models that are powered from the 5 volts at a few milliamps provided by the USB port, per the standard. In such speakers, the USB powered amplifier draws the power through a USB cable/plug. For the USB version no batteries or AC power source is required.

Considering your application need and budget you can decide on the type you want to buy. Pro's can opt for multi-channel speakers that allow sound/video editing or gaming in real time delivering the best sound output. For budget conscious these are the best options as they deliver a handsome sound quality and save you money on the device as well as on its installation.

If budget is not a constraint a 5.1 channel surround sound system is the best buy but also has some drawbacks like wiring and high cost. A 2.1 system with 2 speakers and a subwoofer is a decent alternative if compared to the above. Even the 2 would be a great idea for limited sound quality and budget.
[http://chasetaman.googlepages.com/homepage]

Technology Service Bundles Reduce Cost to the Consumer

Most people these days use the Internet for finding information on things, shopping for things and taking care of the mundane chore of paying their bills. They also use it to seek out the best deals on products and services.

Search engines make finding what you're looking for much easier than in the good ol' days of using the yellow pages. Whereas the yellow pages are fine for local listings, the world wide web opens international doors. Simply type in the keyword term, for what you want, and BINGO! you have a wealth of information right in front of you. However, it may take some time to weed through all of that information, to get at what you want out of it.

Consider these technology service related keyword examples and the results they yield on Google:

* Home Office Supplies: 450,000,000 results

* Satellite TV: 61,900,000 results

* High Speed Internet Access: 123,000,000 results

* VOIP: 112,000,000 results

* Long Distance Services: 67,000,000 results

* Internet Conferencing: 40,600,000 results

* Web Hosting: 295,000,000 results

* Home Security Systems: 481,000,000 results

If a person wanted to comparison shop for these technology services, they would spend days, even weeks, going through all of these results, in order to find the best deal on all of these services. And the businesses selling these services are hard pressed to get into the top 100,000 of these listings, because there is so much competition.

Because of the amount of competition for individual keywords, many online businesses are attempting to create an edge over their competitors by offering multiple services, or bundled services, under one roof. By doing this, they can generate more income for themselves, and provide an environment of customer loyalty.

Take for example, insurance companies... Most major insurance companies offer more than a single type of insurance. Allstate insurance doesn't just offer home owners insurance any more. They provide discounts to their customers who purchase more than one type of policy. For instance, you can get your home owners, auto, identity theft and other policies from them, making your life easier, your premiums smaller, and generating a larger account for Allstate. They give you more options; you buy more insurance. It is win-win for both the consumer and the company.

Another example of this is seen in consumer goods purchasing. Consumers can save time and money by going to a discount store, such as WalMart, over a department store. First of all, at the large discount store, a person can buy a wider variety of products, eliminating the need to go from specialty store to specialty store, for what they need. The company itself can buy in greater volume, reducing their own cost, and then pass that savings on to their customers.

This type of service bundling is no longer the exception in business. It is becoming more the rule and it is expanding to cover a whole new realm of consumer products and services, technology services being one of the largest.

Today, the companies who can offer a wide range of services, or access to service providers are going to become the front runners in affordability. Not only that, but they are going to be able to capture more business than their single item competitors, because they will be able to tap into multiple keyword searches, rather than simple searches for individual items.

Taking the keyword examples above; if someone were looking for information on high speed Internet access, satellite TV, and long distance services, individually, most would either give up just because the sheer numbers of results would overwhelm them into just sticking with what they've got, or only looking at the first few pages of results, and opting for the best deal out of those. This is particularly damaging to companies who may have the best deal to offer, but don't appear in Google's indexing until page 100, or so.

To make it easier on consumers and to exercise better SEO, companies are offering multiple services, grouping similar services under one domain. And the large corporations are subbing out services to smaller, independent brokers, to take advantage of the concept themselves.

As an example, there is a companies that has effectively bundled high demand services together, making it easier for consumers to comparison shop from their single location. The services they offer are specific to certain markets without being isolated to a single market.

Find services grouped together technology services such as:

Local / long distance services

High speed Internet access

VOIP

Bundled business services

Internet conferencing

Web hosting

Home office supplies and services

Satellite TV

Home security systems

Wireless / cellular services

By doing this, they have made it easier for the person looking for these services to get them without spending days and weeks pouring through millions of search results. They have everything that a person could possibly be looking for in the area of technology services in one place.

They have taken advantage of the multiple keyword search system and have partnered with other reputable companies to provide both the best in products and customer service.

Let's have a look at some of the technology services they are offering and the companies who they've partnered with.

* Local/ long distance services -- GTC Telecom

* High speed Internet access -- Adelphia, Bell South, Charter, Comcast, Earthlink, to name a few...

* VOIP -- Packet 8 (8x8 Inc.)

* Bundled business services -- Qwest

* Internet conferencing -- Go Solo

* Wireless/ cellular services -- AT&T, Cingular, Nextel, T-Mobile, and others...

* Satellite TV -- Dish Network

* Home security systems -- Protect America Inc.

Remember the individual search results listed above? They were all in the hundreds of millions. Well, if you type this string: home security systems, satellite tv, high speed internet access, voip, long distance services, into a Google box, you will reduce the results to 360,000. That is a significant reduction.

Another benefit that companies like is an opportunity for customers to earn an additional income as an affiliate reseller of these services. Doing business this way not only brings the cost of services down, but also provides a bonus for those who are interested in referring new customers. Pick the right one here and remember it takes many many customers to make any real amounts of money to go on your own. I think ACN was about 5000 customers if I remember it. If you bundle your services pay by a rewards or miles card to earn points / frequent flyer miles for you daily purchases.

Income opportunities like these actually reduce the cost that consumers pay for their services, because it reduces the advertising costs to the company itself.

For the consumer, this new trend in bundled services is a boon. Look for companies who offer multiple services and save time, effort and money.

The choice is yours.
© Robert Carey

Proud Mentor

Saddle River, NJ

201-887-7966

CEO- http://www.Cash-for-You.net

[http://www.LiquidEnergyStore.com]

SKYPE - rcareynj

"Helping people reach their goals is my goal."

Robert Carey has been helping businesses grow, mature and expand for over twenty years. Mr. Carey is now an Business Consultant for one of the Top Consulting firms. He also has several online businesses which provide goods and services making people's lives easier. Mr. Carey uses what Corporate America taught him for over twenty years and uses these same skills with his consulting clients and his home based students. Mr. Carey is a sought after speaker teaching the finer points of running a successful business in our "ever changing" global economy. He also works from home part time marketing Health and Wellness supplements.

Trends In Technology

Technology is a product of science and engineering studying the natural world. It is the process by which humans transform nature to meet their wants and needs. It deals with the usage and knowledge of tools and crafts and how it affects the ability to control and adapt to the environment.

It comes from the Latin word "technologia"-"techne"(craft) and "logia" (saying). In spite of this elusive definition, "technology can refer to material objects of use of humanity, such as utensils, machines, or hardware but it can also encompass broader themes, including techniques, systems, or organizations. The term can either be applied generally or specifically such as "medical technology","space technology", "construction technology", or "state-of-the-art technology".

The trends in technology mirror a market that is in brisk and vague evolution. Contemporary technology trends are always changing and new developments are constantly improving the components of computer. Basic components of computer are: hardware, software and peopleware. Software refers to the set of instructions or programs, example includes: operating system, utilities, compilers or interpreters, and any other software packages. Hardware is the physical equipment of the computer. Hardware of personal computer for example are: monitor, keyboard, system unit formerly known as CPU, mouse, printers, webcam and any other peripheral devices of a PC. Peopleware represents the personnel involved in the systems analysis, operations, maintenance and the likes. Invention in this fields is unstoppable.

Software and Hardware vendors are facing momentous changes to their business model. With new products and an ad blitz, it aims to climb out of the commodity bin. Example of large software companies are: Microsoft, Oracle, First Data, SAP, Accenture, Google, Yahoo, Computer Sciences Corporation, Electronic Data Systems, SoftBank, Symantec, CA, Fiserv, Affiliated Computer Services, Adobe Systems, Capgemini Group, ASML Holding, Electronic Arts, Advantest, Intuit, Autodesk, VeriSign, Check Point Software, DST Systems, The Sage group, Dassault Systemes, CSK, Akamai Tecnologies and many more.

Companies that sell operating system like Windows, Office Applications for making professional documents, financial reports, presentations, IT security (anti-virus, internet protection, and the likes) and other programs spring turning a marketing blunder into a witty field that could change your work and even your life.

Electronic payment services are wooing more and more consumers and merchants, and becoming the silence stars of e-commerce. Companies doing business online to spend the money to create more. Their business growth cycle and are committed to helping them succeed.

Printer, scanner, speaker, headphones, modems, faxes, copiers, and other peripheral devices of personal computer comes in different designs, colors, sizes, and impressive features that would help consumers keep better tabs of their growing collection of documents, photos, music, and videos. 
Cable television companies are rapidly growing changes millions of televisions worldwide.

Computer gaming gradually drawing attention to people of all ages nowadays. It is one of the fastest growing segments which make it a multi-billion pound industry. It has a unique form of entertainment that the world has never seen before.

Now that most business operations and knowledge works are conducted in the digital domain via computers, and because we now have a global data communications network which does not restrict the type of data shared, technology is changing yet again. And it will continuously grows as long as the world needs it.
FOR MORE INFORMATION,SAMPLE TRENDS IN TECHNOLOGY, FREE SERVICES OR PRODUCTS,

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

How Top Performers Use Built-In Technology To Stay On Top

Do you ever wonder how some people consistently get what they want out of life and manage to stay on top? They seem to get the best jobs, the best raises, all the recognition -- the best life has to offer.

What if you could take advantage of a very powerful, built-in technology to reach your most cherished goals? What if, by taking advantage of this gift and practicing a simple technique, you could boost your success and start getting the things out of life you desire. You can.

By divine design, you possess a tremendous power-tool. This tool can make the difference between you achieving unbelievable success or being an unrecognized underachiever. You can use this tool to obtain things you desire or to advance your career. What is this great technology and how can you use it to your advantage? Let’s take a look.

How Does This Mysterious Technology Work?

When you were born, your creator endowed you with mental ‘movie theater technology’. This mysterious gift allows you to show yourself a movie clip of what you want to create or accomplish. This technology also serves as a private workshop within your mind allowing you to create, solve problems, anticipate, navigate and understand the world around you. It enables you to preview and execute the simplest to the most complex plans.

When you create a physical thing, you always do it twice – first in your imagination, then in reality. This two-step process is so natural that you are often unaware of it. Used frequently, skillfully and with purpose, you can direct your imagination to help you create almost anything or to achieve your most cherished goals.

If you shave in the morning, you create a ‘movie clip’ of the steps to get this accomplished. You imagine getting up, walking into the bathroom, turning on the light, running water, picking up the razor and shaving cream, lathering, then shaving. You are able to produce this internal ‘movie clip’ in a nanosecond and then execute it flawlessly in the real world.

You are constantly imagining ahead, creating movies of what you will do next. You can think a few minutes, a few weeks or even a few decades ahead. You can also use your imagination to think thousands of years ahead, imagining places, things and creatures that don’t exist. If you’ve ever seen an episode of Star Trek and witnessed the operation of a ‘holodeck’ or transporter system, these are all things that don’t exist anywhere but in the imagination.

Putting Your Technology Into Action

You get to decide what you want to create or achieve with this powerful technology. If you can visualize what you want in minute detail, this image can serve as a blueprint for carrying out your desires or choices. Here are a couple of the many ways you can use your imagination:

Realizing goals

Let’s say your goal is to acquire a certain car. You can imagine just the car you want, perhaps a new Volvo. You can imagine the color of that car, the new car smell, the windshield, the tires, the trunk, the radio--- all the features you’d like that car to have. You can also imagine when you would like to obtain the car.

The next step is to imagine how you will acquire the car. You could imagine going to work, working diligently, saving ten percent of your salary for three years, and then purchasing the car. Alternatively, you could see yourself taking money from your savings account to make a down payment on the car, and then financing the balance over four years by getting a bank loan. You can visualize yourself on a certain date going to a car dealer, negotiating a price for the car, and then driving the car from the lot.

Once you use your imagination to formulate a plan for acquiring the car, you can break your plan into smaller executable actions to bring the car into your possession. These are the steps you plan to take each day to achieve various parts of your plan. Executing these steps is the next important part of achieving your desire.

This uniquely human process of creating with our imaginations, formulating strategies and plans, then taking the required actions to bring about our desires has served mankind since our beginning. It has enabled our species to rise above all others, eventually fashioning the lives we live today.

Solving Problems

You can use your imagination to solve problems. Recently, I was driving home from work and caught a glimpse of my cell phone shifting in the passenger seat every time I rounded a corner. In one curve, it finally threw itself into an unreachable corner on the front passenger side. All the way home, I thought of ways to secure the phone. I wanted an easier, more reliable way to access my phone while driving. I also wanted to use a method that wouldn’t interfere with carrying the phone in my coat pocket or briefcase.

Because I’m a bit of a cheapskate, my solution needed to be inexpensive. I imagined devices that would mount delicately on the dashboard with screws, adhesives or even strings. Finally, the solution began to take shape. I imagined using simple, inexpensive Velcro. For around $ 2.00, I could buy a swatch of Velcro and attach it to both my cell phone and dashboard. I could fasten my cell phone to the dashboard when not in use. It also wouldn’t interfere with the way I carry the phone around. I had fashioned an inexpensive and effective solution to my problem. However, the first solution was formulated in my mind using my imagination.

Mastering Your Power-Tool To Achieve Results

How do you weld your imagination power-tool to realize maximum results? The key is to learn and practice the steps to effectively harness and direct the power of your imagination. First learn the steps. Then, practice them as often as possible to master this great skill. Here are the basics:

• Set your goal. Choose something you would like to accomplish, obtain, create or realize. Try to make your choices consistent with what you really value. It’s much easier to imagine things consistent with your beliefs and values.

• Make it tangible. Create a clear picture or idea of your desire in your mind. If your goal is abstract, find a way to represent it tangibly. If you want to have career success, define what it means. Is it a certain salary, a position at a company, ownership of a company? Quantify your goal or break it down into tangible aspects.

• See yourself having your desired result and doing the things necessary to obtain it. Paint in as much detail as possible. See it, hear it, feel it, smell it and taste it. This visualization is your imagination ‘movie’.

• Focus on it often. Run your movie frequently. Set aside a few quiet minutes each day in the morning, at mid-day and at night to run your movie clip.

• Give your movie clip positive energy. Think about it in a positive way. Think and say affirmations – positive statements of your intention to have what you want or to accomplish what you desire.

Make these steps a daily routine. Applied consistently and regularly, these steps will help you to master your imagination power-tool. You can use this tool to achieve whole goals or to achieve the individual steps that bring about your goals. Use it liberally.

Top business executives use their imaginations to perfect their performance. They imagine performing each important aspect of their jobs — speeches, meetings, reports, presentations, and even negotiations. In their minds, they practice what they want to accomplish and they see themselves succeeding. They also imagine achieving their longer-term goals.

While imagination is not the only tool for success, it is one of the best. If you are determined and motivated, this built-in technology can often put you over the top in achieving success. Coupled with perseverance, faith, a positive mind-set and a willingness to work hard, skillful use of your imagination can give you a competitive advantage. It can catapult you above the crowd in achieving almost anything.

George Parker is a Director and Executive Vice President of Leasing Technologies International, Inc. (“LTI”). He is responsible for overseeing the company's marketing and financing efforts. One of the co-founders of LTI, Mr. Parker has been involved in secured lending and equipment financing for over twenty years. Mr. Parker is an industry leader, frequent panelist and author of several articles pertaining to equipment financing.

Headquartered in Wilton, CT, LTI is a leasing firm specializing nationally in direct equipment financing and vendor leasing programs for emerging growth and later-stage, venture capital backed companies. More information about LTI is available at http://www.ltileasing.com .

New Technology in Diamond Properties Analysis

Isee2 company has developed a technology that works as a retail selling aid allowing buyers to measure the beauty of a diamond beyond its classically graded properties.

A diamond's beauty is its selling quality and can differentiate between diamonds graded alike is that something that makes an exceptional diamond outshine the others. Isee2 technology can make such detail analysis.

How it works

The technology is based on a software that analyzes the diamond with the help of two devices: one measuring the cut quality aspects while the other is a high power magnifier used to read the ionized inscription on the table of every Isee2 diamond.

The diamond is scanned by a camera that sends the images to a computer which processes 48 different lighting positions during its calculations. Thus are made objective evaluations of: the amount of light returned from the diamond , the degree of contrast between the 57 facets and the quality of the cut (brilliance, scintillation and symmetry).

Diamonds' appearance differ when observed in diffuse/ambient light conditions. Strong light conditions emphasize fire and scintillation whereas in softer light the optical symmetry is emphasised more.

Unlike BrillianceScope, Isee2 performs its analysis in diffuse light conditions. Diamonds that perform well on Isee2 analysis will look smashing in softer light conditions. If the diamond is well graded on the BrillianceScope it will look stunning in direct light conditions.

This technology facilitates the choice decision by permitting buyers to be convinced of the qualities of a stone all by themselves without the help of a layman.

Laura Ciocan is a Web Editor for http://www.loveanddiamonds.com . You may contact her at lauracio@gmail.com.

Technology and Coping with Disaster

Natural disasters come in many shapes. From the incomprehensible carnage of last weekend’s tsunami in the Indian Ocean, to hurricanes and typhoons, to tornadoes and drought, our world deals with the horror of disaster as a normal part of our lives. Throw in a bit of human influence through wars, terrorism, or the threat of weapons of mass destruction, and our need to deal with and overcome calamity almost becomes routine.

Watching CNN and the news channels gives a near real-time view of disasters. While some may find this a bit macabre, it also shows our ability to quickly respond to major events, on a global scale. The same technologies that allow us to view the aftermath of a tsunami also allow us to quickly gather factual data on the extent of a disaster, and use that for disaster planning and response.

Organizations such as the Pacific Disaster Center (http://www.pdc.org/), the Asia Pacific Area Network (http://www.apan-info.net/), try to assist regional nations to build better disaster planning models and response model through training and timely dissemination of critical information. Regional military organizations participate with each other on joint disaster planning (for other than wartime-related disaster) to organize their resources in response to a regional disaster, and can respond within hours to major problems.

While carnage on the scale of the Indian Ocean tsunami cannot be controlled within a day or a few days, the communications and real time information collection on the disaster will most certainly reduce the level of misery experienced by victims at a level that would not have been possible even 40 years ago. As aircraft and on-site persons (using satellite phones or other powerful mobile communicators) collect information on areas of Sumatra, Thailand, and other affected areas, the information is almost immediately being logged, evaluated, distributed, and prioritized among a number of emergency response centers operated by regional governments - as well as international relief agencies.

From the regional and international response centers coordination further occurs among members of organizations such as the Multinational Planning Augmentation Team (http://www2.apan-info.net/mpat/ ). MPAT holds frequent disaster response exercises among member nations to ensure coordination lines and pre-planned responses are quickly executed. All MPAT member nations have access to central databases of planning information, available resources, and a “command center” mobilized when a regional disaster occurs.

Telecommunications and information technology are key components in our ability to respond to disaster. As real time information is collected, it is available immediately to all participants in the relief effort. Other technology – in particular military technology, can easily serve a duel use purpose in a disaster. The same troop transports designed to carry soldiers to war can carry refugees from a disaster. The same photo reconnaissance aircraft used to spy on enemies can provide a clear view of the extent of damage. The same technology used to collect electronic intelligence can locate attempts to use mobile phones, radios, and even audio signals of people stranded in remote areas. Infrared scanning used to identify enemy soldiers in a bunker or building can just as easily locate a family stranded in a jungle.

If you compare the current response to the Indian Ocean tsunami to the effects of tsunami damage following eruption of the Krakatoa volcano in 1883 (http://www.drgeorgepc.com/Vocano1883Krakatoa.html ), you can see the extent of damage from that disaster was not even known for several decades.

In most cases disaster cannot be predicted. We are making progress predicting earthquakes, hurricanes, and eruptions – however science is no closer to effective disaster prediction than we are in fully understanding the human genome. Through effective use of communications, information technology, and duel use military/civilian technology transfer, we are getting much closer to reducing the level of pain following an event.

2005 will be a big year in further exploiting the potential of Internet and communications-related technology. Given the positive moves toward regional cooperation in activities such as MPAT, we should be encouraged our governments understand the need and role of technology in planning – was well as responding – to regional disaster.

(About the Author – John Savageau is a managing director at CRG-West, responsible for managing operations and architecture for several of the largest telecommunications interconnect facilities in the US, including One Wilshire in Los Angeles)