Bao Mei Mei

Innovation is a very important stage for any type of business nowadays, we are kind of fed up to hear everywhere innovate or else die, innovation is closely related to technology, there is a time when we face somewhat like a dilemma in the innovation curve. no matter if it is a product, service, marketing, application, potential or lateral.

What is really hidden in the very core of this concept? we must answer several questions, of course many questions arise when we are talking about this, however we can summarize these: How can you make an economic decision about technologies? How to transfer a technology into an innovation? What distinguishes sustainable from disruptive technologies? Which factors decide about the innovations to pursue? What is characteristic for successful innovations? How can you successfully design the process of innovation? How can you accelerate the product development process successfully (within an innovation cooperation)? What determines the change from closed to open innovation? How to enhance the creativity of a company and include knowledge from the outside? Once we have asked ourselves these questions we have to understand what stage are we into now? where are we focusing our efforts, are we using peacemaker technology, key technology, basic technology, or a former technology?

Sustainable technologies improve the performance of established products, along the dimensions of performance that mainstream customers in major markets have historically valued in the other hand Disruptive technologies bring to market a very different value proposition than had been available previously. They have features that a few fringe (and generally new) customers value, based on this we can say that Disruptive technologies are typically cheaper, simpler, smaller, and, frequently, more convenient to use, by introducing a new performance dimension to the product and therefore creating a new market among non-consumers or by providing a clearly less expensive solution – often in trade off for reduced performance, say, targeting customers who do not value the extra features/high performance of the existing product or simply cannot afford it (low-end disruptive innovation).

Disruptive technologies are only applicable in insignificant or new existing markets result in worse product performance, at least near-term under-perform established products in mainstream markets, are afflicted with a high level of uncertainty and risk.The result of this is the incumbents abide by the established technology and avoid to cannibalize their income by disruptive technologies or respectively to enter unprofitable markets. Thus, they block themselves the access to new growth markets or miss the development (incumbent inertia), this bring forth what is called the innovator dilemma.

Advices for innovation management goes to three very important levels, first from the Executive level, there hast to be an adjustment of the organizational structure, second, application of the Discovery Based Planning, and preparatory management of the portfolio with strategic options. After we set up the Executive level, we should strive our attention to the Disruptive Technology Scanning, what we mainly do here is a definition and analysis of the value chain competition industry cost structure, an Evaluation of a new technology towards disruptive characteristics and a Trajectories mapping Evaluation relating the existing value chain.

And the third level is Developing the Opportunities and Business Models and this consist on Mapping of the new value networks, Identification of opportunities and development of adequate business models and the Formulation of a portfolio with strategic options. Doing so our innovation curve will not experience damage or critical alteration which will result on many problems.

By: Henry Alzamora

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Ever since the beginning, efforts have been made to introduce more and more innovative technology to support lives of the people. In the initial days technology was invented to fulfill the major needs of the human beings, later on it went to creating technology to make lives of the people easy and simple. Now, technology is created worldwide for the purpose of providing luxury to the people.

A lot of efforts including time and money are put in to create more and more innovative technology. Technology has enable people to reach and unveil many things that we unknown to the world before like flying all they way to the moon or not only discovering stars but also analyzing and studying them. Like all good things on this planet, even technology has its good and bad sides. On one hand, if it helps people in making their lives easy so on the other hand, it creates many harmful effects on the environments. Therefore, it is both beneficial and harmful.

As more and more harmful effects of the technology have come forth, green technology is being massively produced and invented. Just like the name suggests green technology comes with the ability of keeping the natural environment and precious world resources safe and secure as far as possible. Green technology helps in reducing the harmful effects technology that has caused harmful effects to the environment. With green technology you repair the damages done to the nature to a great extent. It helps in maintaining the environment and preserving the natural assets like it keeps the water pure in the rural areas. Green technology also absorbs the harmful chemicals in the air thus making it pure for the people to breathe in without any worry at the back of their mind.

With time, green technology has become very famous, many companies and firms once realizing the advantages of the green technology have put it to wise use. However, the issue with green technology is that its energy giving ability is very limited which becomes a major problem if it is being used to operate machines. The companies that have installed environmental technology have done so because they wish to not only to reduce their budgets but also to help the environment in any way possible.

With eco-friendly technology, the entire world can be saved from a global financial crisis as it cuts down the consumption of energy to a great extent. Green technology is also simpler to use compared to complex conventional technology. If you own a company, then it is your choice to make. Do you want your machinery to be based on difficult technology that is also harmful to the workers and to the environment or go for green technology that is not only simpler to operate but also helps in keeping the environment safe.

By: Henry Jeon

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Is the United States and her top researchers in solar technology on the verge of an efficiency breakthrough in solar efficiency? I believe so, and believe that it is just over the horizon and the Sun is rising along with the prospects of a bright future in solar energy. Let me explain. Recently, I’ve been attending talks, reading research papers, and listening to the chatter in the industry. It seems Universities, Corporate R and D, and privately funded start-ups are working furiously to develop this future.

An interesting article in Technology Review published on September 30, 2010 entitled; “Upping the Limits on Solar Cell Efficiency – Nanomaterials could help solar cells convert more sunlight into electricity than once thought possible,” by Kevin Bullis has some rather intriguing findings and comments on new solar efficiency experiments which could lead to a break-thru.

Indeed, I’d say that this a brilliant use of this technology. Just imagine where that might go in the future as such an application hits the market place and as new discoveries are made and new applications stumbled upon by entrepreneurs. That company and companies like it are on the verge of a game-changer.

The article above has some rather intriguing findings and comments on new solar efficiency experiments which could lead to a break-thru. And I’d like to add my own mind’s eye and two-cents to such technology, and propose another potential innovation after thinking on this for a few moments. This is my invention idea.

Okay so, well what if we used – Uneven Vertical Carbon Nanotube Arrays with Quantum Dots on Top for Increase Solar Cell Efficiency, with hairline gaps between them and quantum dots along the sides too, thus all the photons coming in could be converted, rather than just some. I think that could work better than layered or multi-coat strategies to do the same thing, still, it would be a rather thin material in all “sheet of paper +” in width, and still viable for roll on coatings or, if we used another strategy, mix it into “latex paint” then align all the nanotubes with a electronic pulse or magnet as it was applied, then hook up electrodes to the paint.

The carbon nano-tubes would be slightly protruding due to being pulled up by the magnet during the aligning process. And the ammonia atoms in the latex paint would be a great conductor and allow easy capture of the energy to transfer, also ammonia atoms and carbon are best friends in the lab, and for good reason, and great applications as well. Meanwhile the adherence of the quantum dots on the carbon nanotubes prior to mixing the paint, means we could make it happen.

Indeed, I am quite confident we could play around with mixtures of paint to make this happen. Weak link being the current technology in carbon-nanotube manufacturing, but I just bet the labs doing high-tech government work already have that figured out. Anyway the transfer of such technology once proved; well, imagine the possibilities;

Coating the top of Buses

Commuter Trains

Bridge girders for powering up lighting

Warehouse Roofs

Humvees

Hybrid delivery trucks

Heck it has basic military applications as well, we could coat mini-UAVs or MAVs with the stuff and fly them in swarms indefinitely, and capture radar energy from the enemy on the bottom and solar power on top?

There are many great aspects to my concept here, you see, Latex Paint can get wet too, without problems. Paint it on or roll it on, or whatever you want, and if you are a global warming alarmist, or worried about Urban Heat, you could paint the top of nearly everything?

In fact, cleaning it off could be done by the rain. All you need is a surface exposed to sunlight. How about between all the taxiways and runways at airports, power up the whole thing on solar during the day, generate pressure for storage strategies with excess for evening use.

Would you have any thoughts on this comment? Email me, let’s talk!

By: Lance Winslow

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The Timex Triathlon watch gains another impressive new technology and breaks new ground again as one of the world’s first sports watch to feature tap screen technology.

Timex sports watches have always been on the leading edge of innovation and the new 150-Lap TAP screen Ironman continues Timex’s legacy, combining leading edge technology will the tried and tested features of the Ironman watch. Developed in conjunction with some of the best athletes worldwide, the new TAP screen technology is sure to put Timex at the head of the next generation of sports watches.

To use this new Timex watch, an athlete simply has to tap on the screen to activate the stopwatch timers, take lap splits or control any number of other features supported in this leading-edge watch. But tap screen technology is not the only new feature from Timex.

Modern sports science research has, for years, emphasized the importance of refueling during a competitive endurance event. The Sleek 150 Lap watch includes a configurable nutrition and hydration alarm that alerts an athlete when it is time to take extra nutrients on board.

Coupled with products like the Shotz Sports Nutrition Electrolyte Tables and Shotz Carboshotz Energy Gels, the Triathlon 150-Lap Sleek Ironman TapScreen guides you to optimal performance during marathon-effort events.

A Target Time Pacer is also included in the long feature list of innovations that athletes can take full advantage of. The pacer provides real-time progress reports based on pre-configured goals and will sound an alarm based on split times to indicate if you are on track, ahead of track or must improve your pace, allowing you to be fully aware of where you stand relative to your goals.

Real-time feedback on your performance is also presented to you, allowing you to sustain your momentum without the need to break stride. With a comfortable ergonomic fit, the Triathlon 150-Lap Sleek has a durable, yet breathable wrist strap that ensures your watch feels great on your wrist, even throughout the most arduous workouts. The watch comes in a range of colors and the digital display is in an easy-to-read, oversized format.

The watch also allows you to create advanced training routines thanks to the inclusion of three customizable workouts that can include up to 16 labelled intervals. With an impressive 150-Lap memory recall and dated training log, you can easily check your backdated sessions and compare them against current results.

Of course Timex have not forgotten any of their old tricks in this new and improved sports watch. With “standard” Ironman features such as an INDIGLO night-light with NIGHT-MODE feature, 100 meters water resistance, 100 hour chronograph stopwatch with dual line display and lap/split logging, the TapScreen watch does not sacrifice any of the traditional power that has made the Timex Ironman watch the leading sports watch of all time.

An exciting and innovative new blend of style mixed with a heavy dose of substance, the 150-Lap TapScreen Timex Triathlon Watch makes it simpler to review and measure valuable training and performance information without ever breaking stride. The new Timex sport watches with TAP screen technology are due to be released in February 2010.

By: Rod McAnally

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Total knee and hip replacement implants have been used with success for years, but ankle implants have had a long history of failure. In the late ’70s and early ’80s the ankle implants wore out, popped out or collapsed into the bone. Ankle implant surgery disappeared, for the most part, for almost two decades, with surgeons recommending an ankle fusion for those patients with severe pain and disability due to ankle arthritis. In the earlier part of this decade, ankle implants have started to make a resurgence with the new emerging technology.

Why the failures? Early ankle replacement devices were fixed to the bone with cement. The fixation was lost with the excess shearing forces causing the bone support to fail. Compared with the hip and knee joints, the ankle joint has a much smaller surface with much greater weight to support and greater shearing forces.

An ankle fusion, the current standard of care for surgical treatment of chronic ankle pain due to arthritis, is limiting because of the lack of motion at the ankle after the procedure. The newer ankle implant devices have higher success rates than the older models. There are many two component implants on the market and currently being used, including the Inbone Total Ankle Replacement (Wright Medical Technology), Agility Total Ankle System (DePuy), the Eclipse Total Ankle Implant (Kinetikos Medical, Inc.) and the Salto-Talaris Total Ankle Prosthesis (Tornier).

Mobile bearing, three component ankle replacement systems have been under review and in clinical trials. Entering the market, but still under review, are the Buechel-Pappas Ultra Total Ankle Replacement (Endotec) and Hintegra Total Ankle Replacement (Integra). The S.T.A.R. (Small Bone Innovations, Inc) total ankle replacement system was approved by the FDA in May, 2009, for ankle joint replacement due to osteoarthritis, post-traumatic arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis. The advantage of the mobile bearing system is the third component, made of polyethylene, a medical grade plastic. This insert allows for translation and rotation and decreases excess shearing and breakdown of the polyethylene, common in the two-component systems. Excess shear and stress on the interface between the metal component and the bone can lead to implant failure.

Small Bone Innovations, Inc. (SBi) notes that the S.T.A.R.