Introduction to Business

Science/Tech Trends WebQuest Links

The Green Revolution

http://oregonstate.edu/~muirp/greenrev.htm
This study guide, developed for a college course in biology, gives detailed information on the development and agricultural practices of The Green Revolution.
Oregon State University , The Green Revolution. Patricia S. Muir, 1998 (updated 2002).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_Revolution
Wikipedia offers a detailed, well-researched article on the history of The Green Revolution, including hyperlinked cross-references and definitions.

http://www.agclassroom.org/gan/timeline/index.htm
Growing a Nation: The Story of American Agriculture is an online resource developed by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and Utah State University Extension.

http://www.actionbioscience.org/biotech/borlaug.html
A 2002 interview with Norman Borlaug, Ph.D., often considered "the father" of The Green Revolution. (Borlaug received the 1970 Nobel Peace Prize for his work.)

Finding Natural Resources

http://geology.com/satellite/
Geology.com provides a wealth of global satellite images, including a "Beginner's Guide to Landsat Satellite Images" in order to help in understanding what you're seeing.

http://www.mining-journal.com
World Mining Stocks Online provides recent news in the world of mining. Short articles provide information on current events involving various mining companies.

http://www.icmm.com/
The International Council on Mining & Metals is made up of 15 of the largest mining and metal companies, and 24 national mining and global commodities associations, which are listed on their member pages.

http://www.nma.org/
The membership directory of the National Mining Association lists companies in the United States involved in mining activities.

Jobs In Your Future

http://esa.un.org/unpp/index.asp?panel=2
The United Nations website has an interactive population trend projector that can be tailored by year, country, and specific data needed.

http://www.census.gov/ipc/www/usinterimproj/
As well as offering past census data, the U.S. Census Bureau offers population projections through 2050 broken out by age and sex, as well as by race and Hispanic origin.

http://www.census.gov/population/www/projections/ppl47.html
U.S. Census Bureau report breaks down and briefly discusses a wealth of projected population data for the United States for the years 1995 to 2025.
U.S. Bureau of the Census, Population Projections Branch, Population Projections for States by Age, Sex, Race, and Hispanic Origin: 1995 to 2025. Paul R. Campbell, October 1996.

http://www.prb.org/Articles/2004/USGrowingBiggerOlderandMoreDiverse.aspx
For over 75 years the Population Reference Bureau has gathered statistics and articles on population trends. This article discusses general projected population trends in the United States.
Population Reference Bureau , U.S. Growing Bigger, Older, and More Diverse. Paola Scommegna, April 2004.

Biotechnology

http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/!ut/p/_s.7_0_A/7_0_1OB?navid=BIOTECH&parentnav=AGRICULTURE&navtype=RT
The U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Agricultural Biotechnology Website offers a glossary of common terms used in biotechnology and a list of Frequently Asked Questions and their answers.

http://www.fao.org/biotech/stat.asp
The United Nations' Biotechnology in Food and Agriculture site offers a formal statement on the uses of genetic engineering in regards to food and agriculture, as well as links to relevant news and current events.

http://www.bio.com/
Bio.com is a site devoted to news and information on the use of biotechnology in the pharmaceutical industry.

http://www.greenfacts.org/gmo/index.htm
GreenFacts offers an unbiased summary of current scientific thought on genetically modified crops in straightforward and clear terms.

The Technology Sector

http://biz.yahoo.com/p/tops/st.html
Yahoo Finance provides a regularly updated list of the top ten performing mutual funds in the technology sector.

http://www.smartmoney.com/sectormaps/index.cfm?sector=Technology&story=topfunds
SmartMoney gives a list of the top twenty-five technology sector mutual funds, updated as the stock market changes.

http://www.mfea.com/GettingStarted/LearningTopics/GlossaryTerms.asp
The Mutual Fund Education Alliance offers a basic glossary of terms used in describing mutual finds

http://www.firsthandfunds.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=education.basics
FirstHand offers a guide to Mutual Fund Basics, explaining the concepts of mutual fund investing in clear, direct terms.

The History of Information Technology

http://www.computerhistory.org/exhibits/
The Computer History Museum is dedicated to preserving and presenting the history of computers to the general public through both real and virtual exhibits.

http://vmoc.museophile.com/
The Virtual Museum of Computing offers links to various web resources on the history and development of modern computing.

http://www.cbi.umn.edu/
The Charles Babbage Institute is a research center at the University of Minnesota dedicated to promoting the study and preservation of the history of computing and information processing.

http://photos.si.edu/infoage/infoage.html
Photographs and links from the exhibition "Information Age: People, Information & Technology" in the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, display how electrical information technology has changed our society over the last 150 years.

Decision Science

http://levine.sscnet.ucla.edu/general/whatis.htm
David K. Levine, a professor in the Department of Economics at UCLA offers a clear discussion of economics and game theory.

http://www.gametheory.net/professionals.html
GameTheory.net offers resources to for applying game theory to everyday business decisions.

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/game-theory/
The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy's entry on game theory

http://www.mgmtguru.com/mgt301/301_Lecture1Page13.htm
ManagementGuru.com has a short article on "Applying Math To Management: Management Science".

Contamination Crisis

http://www.iddeas.com/339.html
This site gives a basic understanding of the theory and practice behind flash pasteurization.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-18914234.html
This BusinessWire article from December 5, 1996, describes Odwalla's change to a flash pasteurization process in response to the crisis.

http://www.mallenbaker.net/csr/CSRfiles/crisis05.html
Mallenbaker.net's Corporate Social Responsibility section has a series entitled "Companies in Crisis - What to do when it all goes wrong". Their fifth example addresses "Odwalla and the E-coli outbreak".

http://www.odwalla.com/freshology.asp?p=freshology&id=0
At the end of this Frequently Asked Questions List is a brief explanation of the flash pasteurization process from the Odwalla company itself.

High-Tech Clothing

http://www.d3o.com/
Information direct from the company that is manufacturing and experimenting with this new material.

http://www.businessweek.com/innovate/content/oct2006/id20061013_166852.htm
This BusinessWeek article describes some of the current uses of d3o and includes and interview with its inventor, Richard Palmer.

http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn8721
This article specifically describes the planned use of d3o in the 2006 Winter Olympic Games.
NewScientist.com , US and Canadian skiers get smart armour. Will Knight, February 14, 2006

http://www.azom.com/details.asp?ArticleID=2555
The d3o entry in AZoM.com: "The A to Z of Materials".

Motoring Technology

http://www.motortrend.com/future/
Motortrend provides a collection of information on future and concept cars.

http://education.guardian.co.uk/higher/news/story/0,9830,1674780,00.html
Some engineers are looking into creating stackable, customizable cars for the future.
The Guardian, Robot car: streets ahead in cities of the future. Alok Jha, December 29, 2005.

http://www.automobilemag.com/future_cars/
AutomobileMag.com offers a rundown of the new innovations planned for the next few model years.

http://money.cnn.com/2006/11/01/autos/green_concepts/index.htm
CNNMoney.com reports on the results of an L.A. Auto Show competition that asked designers to dream up the ultimate environmentally friendly car.

Commercial Space Travel

http://www.space.com/news/beyond_spaceshipone_041006.html
An article on the possibilities of commercial space travel written in the wake of SpaceShipOne's historic flight.
Space.com, Brave New World? Next Steps Planned for Private Space Travel. Leonard David, October 6, 2004.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/space/06/18/ssone.flight.history/index.html
Another article discussing the effects of SpaceShipOne's flight on the development of commercial space travel.
CNN, Commercial space travel next leap for mankind? Michael Coren, June 20, 2004.

http://www.thespacereview.com/article/705/1
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which regulates regular air travel, is starting to concern itself with the safety of commercial space flights.
The Space Review, Implementing the FAA's commercial space flight safety and training guidelines. Alex Howerton, September 18, 2006.

http://www.virgingalactic.com/
Virgin Galactic is already planning (and booking) commercial space flights for 2009.

Digital Cash

http://www.compinfo-center.com/tpsmrt-t.htm
This site provides a basic description of smart card technology and a wealth of online resources and articles on the subject.

http://www.cardtechnology.com/
The online site of CardTechnology ("The Global Magazine of Smart Cards and Personal Identification") maintains a list of relevant breaking news articles on the subject.

http://www.howstuffworks.com/question332.htm
HowStuffWorks' basic entry on "What is a smart card?".

http://www.smart.gov/
The U.S. Federal Government maintains a site describing smart card technology and its uses.

Flat-Screen TVs

http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/defineterm.jhtml?term=lcd&x=0&y=0
TechWeb's descriptive Encyclopedia entry on LCD technology.

http://www.lcdvsplasma.com/
This site aims to give a direct comparison of LCD versus Plasma technology in flat-screen TVs.

http://www.cnet.com.au/tvs/0,239035250,240036500,00.htm
CNet's comparison of the virtues of plasma vs. LCD technology for TVs.
CNet.com, Plasma vs LCD: Which is right for you? Randolph Ramsay, January 31, 2006.

http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/living/16072586.htm
Article on the aggressive marketing of flat-screen TVs for the 2006 holiday season.
Philly.com, Flat-screen TV price wars heat up early. Jonathan Takiff, Nov. 22, 2006

Sensory Branding

http://www.iht.com/articles/2003/12/04/rsense_ed3_.php
An article on the emerging use of scent, touch, sound and even taste in marketing.
International Herald Tribune, Luxury In A Cold Climate: Brands turn on to senses. Katie Weisman, December 4, 2003.

http://www.clickz.com/showPage.html?page=1464261
This article questions why more businesses are not appealing to all five senses in their brand management.
ClikZ Experts, Sensory Brand Management: It Makes (Five) Senses. Martin Lindstrom, September 17, 2002.

http://ezinearticles.com/?What-The-Holidays-Teach-Us-About-Branding&id=360272
An article using the multi-sense appeal of holidays as a template for branding. EzineArticles.com, What The Holidays Teach Us About Branding. Phillip Davis.

http://www.marketresearchworld.net/index.php?option=content&task=view&id=241&Itemid
This article explores the ways marketers can use the five senses to create an intense experience for their customers.
Research International, In The Realm Of The Senses. Karam Slassi, March 1, 2005.

Human Resource Management Systems

http://www.work.com/human-resources-software-763/
A how-to guide to using various programs to manage benefits, attendance, recruiting and performance reviews.
Work.com, Guide to Human Resources Software. Charles Dervarics.

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3870/is_8_19/ai_104331528
A discussion of ways that software is changing the way HR departments work.
CFO: Magazine for Senior Financial Executives, Precious resources? Technology is already reshaping the human-resources function, mostly through cost-cutting. Some say it can do more - human-capital management trends - What are Your People Worth? Peter Krass, Summer 2003.

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FXS/is_9_81/ai_91913081
A discussion of methods for updating and reworking existing Human Resource Management Systems.
Workforce, Recharging your HRMS - Special Report: HR in a Time of Caution - human resources management software. Maryann Hammers, September 2002.

http://dmoz.org/Computers/Software/Human_Resources/
A directory listing a great number of individual human resource management software sites.

Adaptive Technologies

http://www.abilityhub.com/
AbilityHub describes and links to adaptive equipment and alternative methods available for those with physical disabilities to access computers.

http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/ATBasics.php
The University at Buffalo Assistive Technology Training Online Project describes a wide variety of adaptive technologies.

http://www.indiana.edu/~iuadapts/
The Indiana University Adaptive Technology Center specializes in assistive technologies for reading, writing, studying, and information access..

http://soap.stanford.edu/show.php?contentid=41
Stanford University 's Online Accessibility Program has a section dealing specifically with the use of adaptive technologies.

EDI

http://business.enotes.com/small-business-encyclopedia/electronic-data-interchange
The Encyclopedia of Small Business' descriptive article on Electronic Data Interchange.

http://www.seagate.com/support/edi/whatised.html
EDI basics in Frequently Asked Questions format.

http://www.allbusiness.com/technology/services-electronic-data-interchange/355580-1.html
An early article on the first uses of EDI in the healthcare industry.
Healthcare Financial Management, Improving the claims process with EDI. James J. Moynihan, January 1993.

http://www.edissweb.com/cgp/train/terminology.html
A list of common EDI terminology, acronyms, and definitions.

Ergonomics

http://www.hfes.org/web/
The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society maintains a list of current news articles related to ergonomic design.

http://www.ergonomics.ucla.edu/
The Ergonomics Division of UCLA's Office of Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) offers solutions to a variety of work-related problems.

http://ergo.human.cornell.edu/
CUErgo presents information from research studies conducted through the Cornell Human Factors and Ergonomics Research Group (CHFERG), at Cornell University .

http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/ergonomics/index.html
The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) of the U.S. Department of Labor's site on ergonomics.

Heads-Up Display

http://www.gizmag.com/go/2430/
A retro-fit HUD system for motorcycle and bicycle helmets

http://www.marlow.com/Applications/DSP/cadillac_night_vision_system.htm
Cadillac is utilizing HUD technology in enhanciung night vision while driving.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/4607449.stm
HUD are now being used in multiplayer virtual reality games.
BBC News, Pacman comes to life virtually. Lakshmi Sandhana, June 6, 2005.

http://techon.nikkeibp.co.jp/english/NEWS_EN/20050606/105475/?ST=english/
Designed as an attachment to eyeglasses, this HUD is designed for everyday wear.
Tech-On, Olympus Prototypes Head Mount Display Wearable Any Time. Tadashi Nezu, June 6, 2005.

Job Stress and Healthy Careers

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/work-stress/SR00019
Articles on work-related stress from the Mayo Clinic's website.

http://www.stress.org/job.htm
The American Institute of Stress offers this article on the causes and results of workplace stress.

http://health.yahoo.com/topic/stress/overview/article/healthwise/tp21125
Tips for understanding and managing job-related stress.
Healthwise, Managing Job Stress. Stuart J. Bryson and Ellie Rodgers, June 2, 2005.

http://www.workhealth.org/
The Job Stress Network (home page of the Center For Social Epidemiology) brings together information about and related to job strain and work stress.

Becoming An Astronaut

http://liftoff.msfc.nasa.gov/academy/astronauts/wannabe.html
NASA's answer to "So You Want To Be An Astronaut".

http://nasajobs.nasa.gov/astronauts/
A direct link to NASA's requirements and selection process for astronauts.

http://people.howstuffworks.com/question534.htm
HowStuffWorks answers "How do I become an astronaut?".

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/generalscience/space_health_011205-1.html
Space.comn reports the results of a NASA study on the effects of space travel on health.
Space.com, NASA Report: Space Travel 'Inherently Hazardous' to Human Health. Leonard David, December 5, 2001.

Asteroids

http://www.solarviews.com/eng/asteroid.htm
A basic primer on asteroids.

http://www.nineplanets.org/asteroids.html
A more detailed introduction to the topic of asteroids.

http://near.jhuapl.edu/
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory's page on the NEAR Shoemaker mission, including images.

http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/near.html
NASA site on the NEAR Shoemaker mission, including images sent back.

Eco-Friendly Packaging

http://lepton.marz.com/ncga/comm_dev_center/product_detail.asp?product=Packaging+materials
The National Corn Growers Association lists a number of biodegradable packaging materials derived from corn.

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/01/qa_ecopackaging.php
Discussion of various biodegradable packaging options.

http://multichannelmerchant.com/opsandfulfillment/ecofriendly_operations_112006/
Tactics taken by a number of businesses to become more ‘earth-friendly', including use of biodegradable packaging.
Multichannel Merchant, Eco-Friendly Operations. Christine Blank, November 1, 2006.

http://beveragedaily.com/news/ng.asp?id=56127&n=wh48&c=%23emailcode
Two beverage companies have adopted natural biodegradable packaging to help them stand out in the marketplace.
BeverageDaily.com, Brand awareness driven by natural packaging. Anthony Fletcher, November 17, 2004.

Safety Belts

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/seatbelt.htm
A basic overview of how seatbelts work.

http://www.rospa.co.uk/roadsafety/advice/motorvehicles/seatbelt_technology.htm
Technology advances used in modern seat belts.

http://autos.msn.com/advice/article.aspx?contentid=4019915
Carmakers consider a hybrid belt that combines the best of a seat belt and an airbag.
MSNAuto.com, In Search of the Perfect Seat Belt. Tom Lankard.

http://www.autotrader.com/research/shared/article.jsp?article_id=2309&refpage=safetyinfo&restype=sell
A discussion of the safety trade-offs between new seat belt and airbag designs.
AMI Auto World Magazine, The New Airbags: Big Decisions, Messy Politics. Janet Braunstein, 1998.

Smart Cards

http://www.compinfo-center.com/tpsmrt-t.htm
This site provides a basic description of smart card technology and a wealth of online resources and articles on the subject.

http://www.cardtechnology.com/
The online site of CardTechnology ("The Global Magazine of Smart Cards and Personal Identification") maintains a list of relevant breaking news articles on the subject.

http://www.howstuffworks.com/question332.htm
HowStuffWorks' basic entry on "What is a smart card?".

http://www.smart.gov/
The U.S. Federal Government maintains a site describing smart card technology and its uses.

Online Security

http://www.idtheftcenter.org/index.shtml
The Identity Theft Resource Center offers information and resources for consumers.

http://www.usdoj.gov/criminal/fraud/idtheft.html
U.S. Department of Justice site on Identity Theft and Identity Fraud.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/idtheft//
The Federal Trade Commission's site on Identity Theft.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8359692/site/newsweek/
The role businesses play in preventing identity theft for their customers.
Newsweek, Grand Theft Identity. Steven Levy and Brad Stone, July 4, 2005

Becoming a Credit Scientist

http://www.khake.com/page53.html
A thorough list of math and science careers, each linked to informational resources.

http://www.venturescholar.org/resource/mathscience.html
A reference to learning about math and science careers from the Venture Scholars Program.

http://www.phds.org/jobs
Links to resources for both academic and nonacademic careers in science, math, and engineering.

http://www.collegejournal.com/aidadmissions/financialissues/20030825-cullen.html
A discussion of the costs and financing options for attending graduate school.
The Wall Street Journal, How to Tackle the Cost Of Graduate School. Terri Cullen.

Budgeting for IT Productivity

http://www.rand.org/pubs/research_briefs/RB9136/index1.html
Looks at ways Health Information Technology may be able to lower costs and improve quality.

http://www.networkcomputing.com/1404/1404f3.html
Considers ways of determining Return On Investment (ROI) in terms of information technology.
NetworkComputing.com, Technology ROI: The Siemens Formula. Klaus Stegemann, March 5, 2003.

http://www.electronic-school.com/199909/0999sbot.html
A look at determining IT costs for schools by using a traditional business model.
Electronic-School.com, Technology's Real Costs. Sara Fitzgerald, September 1999.

http://www.rms.net/lc_faq_other_roi.htm
Frequently Asked Questions (and answers) about IT and budgeting in business.

Biometrics

http://www.epic.org/privacy/biometrics/testimony_071802.html
Statement presented by the Executive Director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center on the relationship between biometrics and identity theft.
Special Committee on Aging , United States Senate, Joint Hearing on Identity Theft Involving Elderly Victims. Statement for the Record of Marc Rotenberg, July 18, 2002.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/07/19/pf/security_biometrics/
How biometrics are already being used in consumer transactions.
CNNMoney.com, Cash or plastic? How about fingerprint? Grace Wong, July 20, 2005.

http://www.nationalbiometric.org/
The National Biometric Security Project (NBSP) works to support the use of biometrics in anti-terrorist and homeland security uses.

http://www.biometrics.gov/
Provides a central source of information on the biometrics-related activities of the Federal government.

Nanotechology

http://www.nano.gov/
Homepage of the National Nanotechnology Initiative, a federal Research and Development program established to coordinate the multiagency efforts in nanoscale science, engineering, and technology.

http://www.nanomednet.org/
Resources and news articles on the uses of nanotechnology in medicine.

http://crnano.org/
The Center for Responsible Nanotechnology discusses the benefits, risks, and possible uses of nanotechnology.

http://www.nanotech-now.com/
Nanotechnology basics, news, and general information.

Stock Tickers

http://www.tickertech.com/sticker.mpl
An online stock ticker.

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/01/070401.asp
A guideline to understanding the symbols and abbreviations used on stock tickers.

http://www.free-stock-ticker.com/
Site that offers a free, downloadable internet stock ticker.

http://www.stocktickercompany.com/history.html
A history of traditional stock tickers.

Eco-Friendly Building

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=76&#3
The US Green Building Council maintains a list of links regarding different eco-friendly building materials.

http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/
The US Environmental Protection Agency's site on "green" building.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11991403/
A look at the recent trends in eco-friendly home construction.
Associated Press, Eco-friendly homes multiply across U.S. Susan Montoya Bryan, March 27, 2006.

http://www.buildinggreen.com/
The website for Environmental Building News offers news and resources on all aspects of environmentally friendly building.

Air Bags

http://www.cars.com/go/advice/Story.jsp?section=safe&story=techAir&subject=safe_tech&referer=&aff=national
A history of the technology and controversy surrounding airbags.
Cars.com, Advances in Airbag Technology. Jeremy Rosenberg, March 29, 2005.

http://www.edmunds.com/ownership/safety/articles/45863/article.html
A thorough history of airbag technology and controversy.
Edmunds.com, The Evolution of Front Airbags. Tara Baukus Mello.

http://www.safercar.gov/airbags/index.html
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's information on airbags.

http://www.sciencenews.org/pages/sn_arc98/9_26_98/bob3.htm
New technology designed to remedy safety problems with air bags.
ScienceNewsOnline, Curbing Air Bags' Dangerous Excesses. Peter Weiss, September 26, 1998.

Autonomous Underwater Vehicles

http://auvlab.mit.edu/
MIT Sea Grant's AUV Lab is a leading developer of advanced unmanned marine robots.

http://www.cs.nps.navy.mil/research/auv/auvframes.html
The U.S. Navy's Center for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Research.

http://www.auvsi.org/competitions/water.cfm
Results of the AUVSI and ONR's 9th International Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Competition

http://www.oe.fau.edu/AMS/auv.html
Florida Atlantic University 's Department of Ocean Engineering homepage.

Medical Technology

http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2006-11/uosc-btm112006.php
Medical professionals can now exchange high-resolution images instantly and securely.

http://www.eweek.com/category2/0,1738,1478354,00.asp
Links to current news articles on developments in health care technology.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/sections/medical_devices/
Medical News Today offers headline news articles about medical technology advances.

http://www.military-medical-technology.com/
The online site for the Military Medical Technology journal.

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