Technology Roadmap Project Harold Flescher VP-Elect, Technical Activities August 2008, Region 1 Meeting

Goals of a Technology Roadmap Bring together collective IEEE knowledge to understand: –Where are we today? What technologies are we in? –How do we match|meet it? Link our science/engineering based work to a shared market language –We need a tool to enable industry, government, and potential new members to view their path through IEEEs knowledge/activities Create opportunities for growth –We need a tool in which Society/Councils (S/Cs) can identify new and expanding trends in areas such as conferences, publications, people, and collaborations –Places where expanded membership can play

Emerging Outcomes of TRM Project 1. We need to better leverage todays strengths Where can the convergences be found? What technical programs bridge across multiple S/Cs and multiple sectors? Who covers what, to what depth, and how can we collaborate and launch new products and services? 2. We need to better anticipate tomorrows market needs What is emerging? Where is the white space? How can we collaborate and launch new research initiatives? 3. We need to communicate to internal and external audiences What is the scope of Technical Activities (TA) S/Cs and TA programs? How do TA programs intersect with other IEEE activity? How do TA programs translate to industry and market topics? 4. We need to provide relevance for individuals and companies as they seek products, services and communities within the IEEE Where do I belong? What is IEEE doing in my industry? What conference or publication should I target? Where do I find the people in my field?

Tagging strategy Tags are descriptive terms or keywords used to describe content –Users can use or re-use their own terms without adhering to a controlled vocabulary –The current approach for managing large distributed sets of content with diverse audiences Tagging works well for IEEE TA because: –TA serves a very large, distributed, diverse audience and must be able to find a match between languages (industry, technical expertise, culture) –TA has an enormous data set that is always changing. Specific automated keywords cant keep up and may lack meaning for the user. Tags lack hierarchy. So, we make up for this by: –Encouraging re-use of existing tags –Using hybrid models - grouping and clustering like terms –Leveraging automated tools, matching indexed keywords to tags

2008 To Date 14 Industry Sectors Defined S/Cs Defined 1,000+ Tags/Keywords Remainder of 2008 –Create Framework & Navigation Tools –Map Tags/Keywords & S/Cs to Periodicals, Conferences, Standards –Analysis of data visualization –Initial hot spot and white space discussions Whats Next? –2009 Operational Project Planning

Tagging Outputs Snapshot tags 14 Industry Sectors

Snapshot Conclusions from a Tag Cloud Strong in Applications of Technology Weak in Market Area Topics More bottom-up from technology, not top-down from industry

Step back and think about this... Right now think of yourself as: An IEEE member working in a new field An engineer/scientist looking for –Where in IEEE Id have a home –Where in IEEE I can get specific information A company looking for particular information, an expert, products, etc. An engineering student A University Professor

1. The Brain Example Navigation Sample: Sectors & Tags/Keywords

+ Add IEEE Products/Services Conference Proceedings Distinguished Lecturers Periodicals Publications Standards Societies/Councils

Navigation Sample: Sectors & Tags/Keywords + Add connections to even one... Conference Proceedings Distinguished Lecturers Periodicals Publications Standards Societies/Councils

Future Improvements Member/Geographic Activities Involvement –Geographic Conferences –Member Authors –Entrepreneurs Network –Consultants Network Insert others Ideas from Hal here???? Whats Missing? –Feedback Appreciated!