Andino R. Ward

Over the last few months of 2009 into 2010, I have been following the increasing developments in globalized information technology research, development and innovation. In looking at this, it has become quite clear, to me, that the global structure of IT research, development and innovation are in transition. One would think that since the USA is thought to be the leader in technology and its innovation, or should I say was, that we would be at the top of the list. Well, unfortunately that is not so.

In looking at the development of globalized information technology research, development and innovation it is obvious that the absolute growth of the aforementioned is squarely taking place in the country's that make up the acronym BRIC. Now for those of you who are not familiar with BRIC, each letter represents a specific country, Brazil, Russia, India and China. Together, they have become the fastest growing economies in the world and have done so because of their dogmatic endeavors in the field of scientific and technological research, development and innovation. Some of the main elements that support their developments are the increasingly knowledge driven pursues that they apply to innovation and their constant attention to keeping up with the quickly changing realm of research, which is motivated by information technology collaborations and the unselfish sharing of knowledge.

They also keep a vigilant eye on changes in markets as well as the competitive environment, and of course, the technology that is being created from it all. When you combine all of this, you can see that there is a pretty significant globalization of IT research, development and innovation. The internationalization of IT research, development and innovation is by no means a new phenomenon, but it is occurring at a much faster pace today and as previously indicated it is spreading faster and more widely to emerging economies throughout the world as they are heavily focused on technology that can be applied to the service sector to include a growing interest in non-technological innovation and the mobility of highly skilled people so that they are acquiring the best and the brightest to keep the innovation coming.

The USA has expended a great deal of time and energy as well as money in its efforts to establish affiliations with foreign firms, in industries, pertaining to IT research, development and innovation who are acquiring local firms through mergers and acquisitions or who are establishing new subsidiaries. These affiliations can really be seen in the areas of pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical, health, and the automotive sectors. There are so many areas of information technology that are being researched and developed and the list continues to grow more each day.

As the world, we live in, continues to evolve, such is also the case with information technology and the advances being made in the research and development of new technology. There is and has been an increasingly globalized information technology initiative that is emerging and has an agenda centered around eight broad IT priorities, which are: Physical foundations of computing, Computing systems and architectures, Converging technologies and scientific disciplines, Network infrastructures, Software engineering and data management, Digital content technologies, Human-technology interfaces IT and Internet security and safety.

The concrete foundations of computing, computing systems, and software engineering have been in the IT research and development agenda for some time and encompass research involving areas of optical and quantum computing, robotics, and artificial intelligence all of which are important in dealing with identifiable long range challenges that it is thought our society will be facing in the near future. As you can see, the areas of emerging IT research and development, as previously listed, are quite extensive and will avail incredible creations for our use or just shear amazement in the ongoing future.

Research and development, in the IT world, is directly linked to the release of new and exciting discoveries that are changing a lot of the devices and software that will be coming onto the market for you and I too partake of. If you aren't familiar with just how much research and development is being done in the realm of information technology, consider the speed with which semiconductors are being made smaller and how their miniaturization is making nanotechnology research a key part of the nucleus of IT research and development. We know that the making of smaller semiconductors is evident in just how small the IT hardware that we now us is and continues to become. Just look at the ipod, so small, yet it can old 8 GB and more. Smaller laptops and desktops, all having increased power, speed and storage capacities and then, there is nanotechnology.

If you are not familiar with nanotechnology, put simply, it is the study of controlling matter on an atomic and molecular scale. As a hardcore sci-fi buff, the aspect of nanotechnology is really fascinating and cool. Think about sci-fi movies, that you may have seen, where tiny little nanobots are deployed into a human and once inside proceed to regenerate damaged tissue, cells and then completely regenerate the organ or body part until it is healed and restored. So, you lose an arm, the doctor injects nano's into your body and like magic, the arm is regenerated as if it was never destroyed. Farfetched you may say, but I bet that is one of the things being worked on as you read this column.

Consider the ongoing research and development that we constantly see taking place in regards to high-speed broadband. This is being fueled by the direct and mounting demand, by you and me for faster internet connections that can bring us information quicker and in a shorter period of time. Thus we see fiber optics, optical computing, optical networks and high speed modems. When you consider the advances that IT research and development innovations are bringing to the areas of biotechnology, nanotechnology and the cognitive sciences, it can't go without mentioning the fact that these disciplines are heavily vested in creating new and exciting means and methods that will aid in resolving many socioeconomic challenges, that the world now sees as being international in their scope and reach. Some of the most familiar examples of these concerns are: climate change, health care, and our aging societies and the list goes on.

Information Technology research, development and innovation, although costly, is very necessary as we move forward in becoming a global society that has an interdependence on one another and a need to have the ability to communicate over wide ranges of space and distance in faster and more stable connective and inexpensive methods. With the continuing advances in IT innovation, the saying and song, "IT's A Small World After All" is oh, so true and we need to learn to live in peace and love with one another each and every day. Hopefully, the world of information technology will help play a part in that movement.

This month's business spotlight is on Design Home Interiors of Montgomeryville, Pennsylvania. Design Home Interiors is the most distinquished, creative and professional design establishment in Pennsylvania. The organization offers Home Furnishings and Full Room Design that is specifically designed to meet the personalities and tastes of their discriminating clients.

Design Home Interiors has very strong and unique partnerships with over 40 manufacturers, of home furnishings, which allows them to create the Interior Designer that embody the full flavor and design direction that gives everyone of their clients the most incredibly designed rooms too match their dreams. Mark D. Little, is the Senior Designer and Co-Owner of Design Home Interiors. His talents lie in capturing a client's vision and then melding form and function to create spaces that reflect their motivation and lifestyle. Mark consistently states the organizations philosophy as, "At Design Home Interiors, we spare no expense in securing the best home furnishings and interior designs that will meet our client's motivation, needs and lifestyle, while at the same time being affordable".

Design Home Interiors has a very diverse range of interior design services that specialize in providing interior designs for commercial spaces, residential spaces, professional office spaces and spaces in the financial industry. The organization prides itself on having a great educational platform that seeks to help its clients, perspective clients and the public, at large, better understand the wonderful world of interior design, through their monthly newsletter and displays of work that are published in various national and regional publications. If you have a place or a space that needs to be redefined, contact Mark D. Little and his team at Design Home Interiors, 215 361-9100 or http://www.DesignHomeInteriors.org.

"Refined Interior Designs That Will Make Your Space or Place Oh, So, Devine!"

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