Human-Machine Technology Research Service

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This Service Covers the Following Technology and Market Issues:

  • Retail and financial technology applications
    • Kiosks and self-service technology, Point of Sale (POS) technologies
  • Consumer ownership and use of technologies
    • PC accessories, e-book readers, personal robotics
  • Business/Industrial use of technologies
    • 3D printing, biometrics

Perspectives

Technology, at its most basic, is the application of some level of knowledge for a practical purpose. The National Academy of Engineering describes technology as "the process by which humans modify nature to meet their needs and wants." It's the means to an end, where that end can be wanting to speak with someone a great distance away, wanting to make a financial transaction without using cash, or even cleaning your home without spending all day vacuuming.

Consumers and businesses alike take advantage of technologies on a daily basis. As you're reading this, you're using a computer packed with electronic components, each one of which is a technological marvel. Your computer is connected to a coaxial or fiber-optic cable, which connects to the Internet in order to access this web site; at each stage, you're utilizing one or more technologies. Perhaps your computer has a wireless mouse; perhaps your connection to the Internet is a wireless one as well.

The more sophisticated these technologies become, the simpler they are for the end-user to master, requiring minimal training. The technologies with which we interact are aimed at helping us achieve our goals more easily and efficiently, whether those goals involve financial transactions, cleaner homes or access to published content.

This Research Service includes coverage of consumer-facing technologies, as well as those that can be utilized by individuals for business purposes.

Forecasts in this Service

Companies

  • 20th Century Fox
  • 3Degrees
  • 3dRobotics
  • 3D Systems Inc.
  • 3M
  • 7-Eleven Inc.
  • AB Electrolux
  • ACCO Brands Corp.
  • Acer America Corp.
  • Acreo AB
  • Adesso Inc.
  • Adobe Systems Inc.
  • Alamo Rent A Car
  • Aldebaran Robotics
  • Alfred Kärcher
  • Alps Electric Co. Ltd.
  • Amazon.com Inc.
  • American Power Conversion Corp.
  • Amitek Prototyping
  • Anybots Inc.
  • Apple Inc.
  • Arcam AB
  • ArcaTech Systems
  • Astak Inc.
  • AU Optronics Corp.
  • Autodesk Inc.
  • Avis Rent A Car System LLC
  • Axiatec France
  • Babies "R" Us
  • Barnes & Noble
  • Barrett Technology Inc.
  • BeatBots
  • Belkin International Inc.
  • Belrobotics S.A.
  • Best Buy
  • Blockbuster
  • BlueAnt Wireless
  • Bluefin Robotics
  • Bookeen
  • Brendamour Moving and Storage
  • Bridgestone Corp.
  • Buy.com
  • Cables Unlimited
  • Cadventure
  • CardTronics Inc.
  • Carrefour
  • CCS Robotics
  • ChoicePay
  • Cirque Corp.
  • CoinStar Inc.
  • Concept Laser GmbH
  • CoroWare Inc.
  • Costco Wholesale Corp.
  • Crate & Barrel
  • Creative Evolution
  • Creative Labs
  • Creoso
  • Cubic Technologies
  • CVS
  • Cyberbotics
  • Cyberpower Systems
  • D&H Distributing Co. Inc.
  • Dasatech
  • Dassault Systemes
  • Dell
  • Denford Inc.
  • Desktop Factory Inc.
  • Dialight
  • Diebold Inc.
  • Dimension 3D Printing Group
  • DIYDrones
  • D-Link Corp.
  • Dr Robot
  • DSM Somos
  • Dynasty Electric Vehicles Ltd.
  • Eastman Kodak
  • eInk Inc.
  • Electrone
  • Endless Ideas
  • EnQii
  • EnvisionTEC GmbH
  • EOS GmbH
  • e-Play
  • Evolution Robotics Inc.
  • Festo AG
  • First Data Corp.
  • fischertechnik
  • Flextronics
  • Floorbotics International
  • Ford Motor Credit Co.
  • Foster-Miller Inc.
  • Frank Mayer & Associates
  • Freescale Semiconductor
  • Friendly Robotics
  • Fry's Electronics Inc.
  • Fujifilm Holdings America Corp.
  • Fujitsu Ltd.
  • Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc.
  • Gamma-Dynamics LLC
  • Gear Head LLC
  • Gene Pranger
  • General Motors Acceptance Corp.
  • General Vision Inc.
  • Genius
  • Geomagic Inc.
  • Gillig
  • GN Netcom/Jabra
  • Gostai
  • GrandTec USA Inc.
  • Hanson Robotics
  • Hearst Interactive
  • Hertz Corp.
  • Hewlett-Packard
  • Hitec RCD
  • Hofmann Innovation Group AG
  • Honda Motors
  • Hulu
  • Husqvarna AB
  • Hydroid
  • Hyosung Nautilus
  • IBM Corporation
  • Idealab
  • IER
  • I-Inc.
  • IKEA
  • Independent Robotics
  • Infinuvo/Metapo
  • Ingram Micro Inc.
  • Inland Products Inc.
  • Innovation First Inc.
  • Insight Enterprises Inc.
  • Intel Corp.
  • Interead
  • INUS Technology Inc.
  • IOGear Inc.
  • IREX Technologies
  • iRobot Corp.
  • IZ3D Inc.
  • J.P. Morgan Chase & Co.
  • JD Events
  • Jetta Co. Ltd.
  • Karto Robotics
  • Kensington Computer Products Group
  • Kent Displays Inc.
  • Kiosk Information Systems
  • Kondo
  • Kumotek LLC
  • Kyodo Co.
  • Kyosho
  • LabTech
  • La CIE
  • Laser Lines Ltd.
  • Leading Edge
  • LEGO
  • Lenovo Group Ltd.
  • LG Display
  • LG Electronics
  • Liquavista B.V.
  • Liquid Robotics
  • Logitech International
  • Macy's
  • Mad Catz Inc.
  • Materials Modification
  • Matsutek Enterprises Co.
  • Mattel
  • McDonald's
  • MCOR Technologies Ltd.
  • MCP-HEK Tooling GmbH
  • MDBC LLC
  • Meccano/Erector
  • MediaPort
  • Metapo Inc.
  • Metro Group
  • Microboards Technology LLC
  • Microbric
  • Micro Electronics Inc.
  • Microfabrica Inc.
  • Micro Innovations
  • Microsoft Corp.
  • Mix & Burn
  • MobileRobots Inc.
  • Mobipocket SA
  • Modiv Media
  • MOD Systems
  • MovieMate
  • MTT Technologies Group
  • Multistation SA
  • N.V. Eneco
  • Nanocrystal Imaging Corp.
  • NCR
  • NEC Corp.
  • Nemoptic
  • Netflix
  • Nextep Systems
  • NEXXO
  • Nintendo
  • Nokia
  • Norazza Inc.
  • NPC Robotics
  • NTERA
  • Objet Geometries Ltd.
  • OCBC Bank
  • Oestkraft
  • Ologic Inc.
  • Opalux Inc.
  • Opinionmeter
  • Optomec
  • Orion Corp.
  • Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
  • Palm Inc.
  • Pal Technology Robotics
  • Pan-Oston
  • Pantel Systems
  • Parallax
  • PARO Robots U.S. Inc.
  • Pay-Ease
  • PC Connection Inc.
  • PC Mall Sales Inc.
  • Phenix Systems
  • Philips Research
  • Philips Semiconductors
  • Phoenix Kiosk
  • Physical Digital Ltd.
  • Pixel Qi
  • Plantronics Inc.
  • Plastic Logic Ltd.
  • Player
  • Precise Path Robotics
  • Premier Retail Networks
  • Primera Technology Inc.
  • Prime View International
  • Protouch Manufacturing Ltd.
  • QinetiQ
  • Qualcomm Inc.
  • Razer USA Ltd.
  • Readybot
  • Redbox Automated Retail LLC
  • Revell
  • Ricoh Corp.
  • Rimage Corp.
  • Rise Vision
  • RMS Touch
  • RoadNarrows Robotics
  • Robobuilder
  • Robolabs
  • ROBOSOFT
  • Robotica Zucchetti
  • Robotis
  • Sabrent
  • Samsung
  • Samsung Electronics
  • Samsung SDI
  • Scala
  • Schneider Electric
  • Segway Inc.
  • Seiko Epson
  • Shadow Robot Co. Ltd.
  • Shenzhen Sang Fei Consumer Communications Co. Ltd.
  • Shutterfly
  • Sibco Inc.
  • Siemens PLM Software Inc.
  • Silyte LLC
  • Sintermask Technologies AB
  • SiPix Imaging Inc.
  • SITA
  • Smart Robots
  • SMK-Link
  • Snapfish
  • Solidtek USA Inc.
  • Soligen 2006
  • Sony Corp.
  • Sony-Ericsson
  • Source Technologies
  • Speecys Corp.
  • Sprint Nextel
  • STRATACHACE
  • Stratasys
  • Sun Microsystems Inc.
  • Sunpe Prototype (HK) Co. Ltd.
  • Super Vision International
  • Sur La Table
  • Surveyor Corp.
  • Synnex Corp.
  • Systemax
  • Target Corp.
  • Targus Group International Inc.
  • Tesco
  • The Droid Works
  • Think Computer Corp.
  • Tianjin Jinke Electronics
  • TigerDirect
  • Tiger Electronics
  • TIO Networks
  • TiVo
  • Tmsuk
  • Tomy
  • Toshiba America Inc.
  • Toys "R" Us
  • Tranax
  • Triton Systems
  • Tritton Technologies
  • Trossen Robotics
  • Trumpf GmbH and Co.
  • Tyntek
  • Ultra Products
  • Universal Studios
  • Valeo Management Services
  • Vcom
  • Verizon
  • ViewSonic Corp.
  • Virtuu USA LLC
  • Voxeljet Technology GmbH
  • Voxstone Technologies
  • Wacom Co. Ltd.
  • Walgreens
  • Wal-Mart
  • Wany
  • Western Union
  • White Box Robotics
  • Wild Planet Entertainment
  • Willow Garage
  • Wincor-Nixdorf
  • Wirespring Technologies
  • Wizpac
  • WowWee Group Ltd.
  • Xantrex Technology Inc.
  • Xerox/Gyricon LLC
  • Xerox Corp.
  • Yujin Robot Co.
  • ZAP
  • ZBD Solutions Ltd.
  • Z Corp.
  • Zimmer Holdings Inc.
  • ZN Technology
  • Zucchetti