High-tech Center Research Articles

Praxitèle: Preliminary Results from the Saint-Quentin Station-Car Experiment

The Praxitèle system is the first large-scale, operational, public individual-transportation system—or station-car system—using self-service electric vehicles. It was developed in France by a consortium of industrial companies and research institutes, formed in 1993. Its operation started in the city of Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, a high-tech center near Paris, at the end of 1997 with 50 electric vehicles from Renault. At midterm in the experiment, close to 500 participants were using the system. This is the first report on the experiment, which continued until the end of 1998. Preliminary conclusions show that users have expressed a high level of satisfaction and a desire to expand the system. However, no conclusion can be drawn yet on the economics of such a system, which remains expensive and underutilized.

Matters of the mind, heart, and soul

D r Martha Rogers is a Canadian nurse-futurist whose research re- veals that adult responses to learning about the future can be classified 3 ways. Accord- ing to Dr Rogers, learning about the future involves patterns of the mind, heart, and soul. 1,2 Future thinking requires a keen mind that understands and appreciates the complexity of systems thinking; taken se- riously, future-oriented discussions and consequences of human action generate strong feelings; and finally, learning and wondering about the future taps existen- tial anxieties and confronts people with questions of meaning, purpose, and soul. scenarios. Dr Rogers suggests use of the fol. lowing questions 3 to aid reflection: How plausible does the scenario seem? What thoughts does it bring to mind? What feel- ings does it generate? What are the impli- cations for society, health care, and nurs- ing? If parts of the scenario are desirable, what actions need to be taken to increase the chances of the scenario happening? If parts are undesirable, what actions need to be taken to prevent them from happening? The first 2020 scenario is Technology Eclipses Care. In this story, health care is driven by technology. Hospitals become high-tech centers. Sensors, monitors, voice-activated equipment, and smart ma- chines monitor and adjust care param- eters. Genetic engineering decreases or eliminates disease development. A cast of health supporters develops, which in- cludes massage therapists, palliative care assistants, elder care assistants, health communication specialists, and child de- velopment specialists. Nursing disappears. Analysis reveals that the reason for nursing's disappearance was that nursing was defined by skills and tasks rather than by knowledge. The second 2020 scenario is Control, Manage, and Measure. In this scenario, social programs are eliminated because of debt. The business of health care is orga- nized around programs of managed care. Health activities are centralized. Genetic fingerprints result in predicted illness pat- terns. People are given personalized care maps based on genetic analysis. Compli- ance with the care maps is monitored via personal health record smart cards. Persons who do not follow the care map are re- quired to finance their own health care. Doctors choose whom to hire. i The num- ber of nurses on the teams decrease because others are cheaper to employ. A small band of nurses who believe in the power of nurs- ing continues to exist.

High-technology and regional development policy: An evaluation of Korea's technopolis programme

This study aims to identify the role of High-Tech Centres for regional development. It assesses the experience of Korea's Technopolis programme with regard to its potential for the regional development. After defining the concept of High-Tech Centre, the roles of High-Tech Centre policy are described. In addition the context in which these have been developed is considered with reference to high technology and regional development policy. The experience of a successful site, Taedok Science Town, is examined in detail and evaluated in relation to several key conceptual issues such as growth, the role of universities and its impact on regional development.

Boston College Opens High-Tech Center

With activity at Boston College's Eugene F. Merkert Chemistry Center officially in full swing following the facility's recent dedication, the faculty is able to start assessing what has been created. The center, says chemistry professor and department head David McFadden, Boston College's commitment to science at the undergraduate and graduate levels. It also represents a commitment to build BC into a nationally recognized research university. The $31 million center more than doubles BC's space for chemistry research and increases space for teaching by 20%. It is named for a philanthropist who built a multimillion-dollar food service business from scratch. The philosophy underlying its design is to draw students deeper into chemistry and spark their interest in pursuing advanced degrees. Among the center's features is its thorough computerization. We're absolutely in the forefront, says McFadden. I don't know of any other department that ...

High-Tech Center Planned for Illinois

The University of Illinois is moving along with plans to build a major new high-tech in DuPage County, just west of Chicago. The Illinois Board of Higher Education has recommended $25 million in state funds to establish the campus and it appears likely that the legislature will go along with the recommendation. According to project director Irving F. Miller (who is also head of the chemical engineering department at UTs Chicago Circle campus), the new center should be in operation by the fall of 1993. DuPage County officials boast that the county is among the fastest growing industrial/technological areas in the U.S. Its population grew from about 450,000 in 1970 to 660,000 in 1980 and is projected to reach 920,000 by 2005. ranks among the top 10 counties in the U.S. in terms of income and educational levels. Moreover, Miller points out, It has Argonne National Laboratory at one end and Fermilab at ...

Communication and the National Interest

The Commonwealth government in Australia recently funded some new high-tech research centres, including the Human Communication Research Centre at Melbourne University.

中部ハイテクセンターの「短期専門研修」

中部ハイテクセンターの「短期専門研修」