This study, based on a presentation by Senior Industry Analyst David Rader, discusses how e-commerce will come to the world of SMEs. Rader identifies barriers to access, investment costs, and which industries will see early implementation. A cornerstone of the research has been the development of polymer electrolytes-electroactive materials capable of ion conduction in their solid state. This study briefly introduces polymer electrolyte science and details the issues and markets that the industry and the academic world are addressing, including those areas that require more active attention if the science is to achieve its full commercial potential. The final section provides estimates of the timing and commercial maturity of polymer electrolyte-based devices by application.
Wild cards are ideas and events well off the current trend lines in the business environment.
Some traditional forms of authority are in for a bruising as consumers turn to distributed-trust networks on the Internet for product ratings, reviews, and recommendations. Voice and Data at the Crossroads examines the impact of a disruptive technology on the telecommunications industry, its suppliers, and its business and residential customers. At first, VOIP will be invisible to most end users, but over time, information technology will increasingly enrich the voice-communications experience. Us Copyright 2001 SRI Consulting Business Intelligence.