Trucking Technology Alert - Dec. 4
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Both the online report and e-mail are sponsored by @Track Communications, a supplier of wireless communications and dispatch services.
Today's Technology Headlines:
- New Graphics Planned for Phones
- Transportation Technologies May Aid in Defense
- Newgistics Offers Fast Handling of Returns
- Transportation Technologies May Aid in Defense
New Graphics Planned for Phones
A new generation of mobile phones will be launched next year by 3G Lab -- designed with software that facilitates a wide range of interfaces using high-quality full-color graphics and video techniques.Trigenix, developed by the Cambridge-based multimedia software firm separates what the user sees on the screen from the technical design of the phone, which means independent content developers can create their own designs. 3G Lab's chief executive, Steve Ives, says an associated new generation of mobile data services is also in the works, which they anticipate will attract a huge customer base. He says the new software will offer marketing opportunities for all sides of the industry, including the ability for phone makers to create and sustain unique on-screen identities and for operators to offer different themes, like sports events, to market associated services. Financial Times (12/04/01) P. 15; McCartney, Neil
Transportation Technologies May Aid in Defense
The Intelligent Transportation Society of America says that innovative technologies that already assist government officials in managing the flow of traffic and track vehicles could play an important role in dealing with terrorist attacks.The organization recently went to Washington D.C. to show local, state, and federal officials how intelligent transportation system technologies could form an important element of Homeland Defense by improving disaster prevention and response. Intelligent transportation systems cover a broad range of technologies, ranging from global positioning system satellites, to electronics, control, communications, and information processing. Such technologies can help provide security at checkpoints, control and monitor the flow of traffic, and track the movement of motor vehicles.
According to industry officials, one particularly promising area where intelligent transportation systems for homeland security could be used, is in the tracking of hazardous material shipments. Michael Huerta, senior vice president of transportation systems and services for Dallas-based Affiliated Computer Services, warns, however, that a hazardous material tracking system does raise a number of important policy questions.
First, if a national hazardous materials tracking system were to be set up, then the federal government would be expected to pay for it. Second, the trucking industry would need assurances that whatever information is obtained would be released in any way that would place the firms at a competitive disadvantage. In particular, Huerta said, companies in the trucking business would expect the government to keep confidential any information about load composition, the destination and origin of those loads, and the company's customers. Washington Technology (12/03/01); Welsh, William
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Newgistics Offers Fast Handling of Returns
The Spiegel Group, which includes apparel retailers Spiegel, Newport News, and Eddie Bauer, recently began testing a new logistics system in New York, Los Angeles, Dallas-Fort Worth, Chicago, and Atlanta that is designed to speed the handling of returned items.Newgistics' ReturnValet system provides bar-coded mailing labels that shoppers can use to use to return their purchases. Customers drop off returns at one of 4,000 pre-approved parcel and private mail centers around the United States. Employees at the centers scan the bar code and input the reason for the return into Oracle's iPortal, which connects the retailers to the mail and processing centers.
According to Newgistics, retailers can expect to save between 36% and 50% of the cost of processing returned goods. InformationWeek (11/26/01) P. 32; Heun, Christopher T.
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