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St. Louis Business & Technology News
www.slfp.com/SLFPBIZp.htm "When you think Saint Louis, think Saint Louis Front Page," a weekly publication covering the news and events in the greater St. Louis area. 
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Tech Boom Pays Off: Americans Are Not Techno-Phobes, Says New Study GREENWICH, Conn., (PRNewswire), March 15, 2002 - Americans not only know how to operate the high-tech gadgets they own, but are embracing new products such as digital cameras, DVD players and even CD burners with open arms. A new study by NFO WorldGroup, one of the world's leading providers of research-based marketing information and counsel, found that home entertainment products (TVs, VCRs and stereo systems) ranked the highest in terms of ease-of-use and understanding, while mobile phones scored the lowest. Key findings of the national survey of nearly 3,000 participants, include:
Adults younger than the age of 35 are masters when it comes to their television, VCR, stereo, remote control, mobile phone, answering machine microwave and computer, while older adults are only better with their home security systems. The study also found that in most instances, men, especially African American men, are better than women when it comes to understanding how to operate gadgets, with the exception of the microwave and answering machine. Additionally, Americans are not hesitant about purchasing new gadgets that they have little knowledge of operating, with home security systems leading the list at 72.6%. And, when consumers are attempting to learn how to use their new gizmo, 86.9% of them will turn to the instruction manual for guidance, as opposed to teaching themselves or having someone else teach them how to use their new electronic item. This study was conducted January 10-22 by NFO WorldGroup and was weighted to be representative of U.S. households based on key Census demographics. NFO WorldGroup also conducts the monthly surveys for The Conference Board's Consumer Confidence Index.  Airports Test Face Recognition Technology for Passenger Security BOSTON, (BUSINESS WIRE), Feb. 20, 2002 - Logan International Airport has been selected by the U.S. Government to be a "laboratory" to incubate, develop and implement new security processes and technologies for deployment at other airports across the country. An initiative spearheaded by the Massachusetts Port Authority (Massport), Logan International has become the third airport in the nation to use face recognition technology, developed by Viisage Technology, Inc. The technology is currently being used at Fresno International Airport and St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport. The system works to identify known criminals and terrorists. Viisage's approach to security is unique because it does not focus on "things" that could cause harm, but rather on "people" who are known to pose a threat. The system has proven to be the most non-intrusive and effective method of improving passenger safety, without adding delays, by focusing on the identification of wanted criminals and other individuals known to be high security risks. Tom Colatosti, CEO and President of Viisage Technology, said in a announcement, "We are extremely pleased to be working with State and Federal officials at Logan to improve passenger safety and security. The system is performing very well. So well, in fact, that we identified a planted wanted individual just as I was providing a tour of the system to Massachusetts Governor Swift and U.S. Deputy of Transportation Jackson." "Our face recognition performance and accuracy is unmatched in the industry. We believe our face recognition technology provides an important additional security tool, as an integral part of an overall layered security system that privately and conveniently improves passenger security," explained Colatosti. In addition to the patented, biometric face-recognition technology, originally developed at MIT, Viisage provides a full family of face recognition products.
DALLAS, TX, (PRNewswire), Feb. 13, 2002 - The Hilton Hotels, Hyatt Corporation, Marriott International, Six Continents Hotels and Starwood Hotels have joined forces with Pegasus Solutions to form Hotel Distribution System (HDS), LLC, a new venture that will market hotel rooms over the Internet through multiple online sites. Utilizing the technology leadership of Pegasus, HDS plans to provide the link to allow Internet sites to sell hotel rooms via direct connections to hotel reservation systems. Other features of HDS' state-of-the-art technology will include real-time rate and inventory availability, rich hotel content, and enhanced city search capabilities. The end result will benefit both online shoppers and hotels by providing better information for consumers, greater accuracy in reservations and customer service, more reliable efficiency in reservation system connectivity to Internet retailers, and enabling participating hotels to better manage inventory. "We believe our technology platform will be more efficient than competitors, ultimately resulting in better prices and more hotel deals," said Joe Humphry, interim CEO of the new venture. "Through HDS, participating hotels will offer deals using a 'merchant' business model, similar to the existing hotel retailers on the Internet." HDS plans to distribute its hotel offerings through multiple Internet sites that affiliate with HDS. HDS is already in discussions with several Internet travel sites and has signed an agreement with Orbitz. Humphry said that the ultimate goal is to increase competition for the sale of hotel rooms online. This will benefit consumers through better and more consistent prices and reduced distribution costs for hotels. In addition, HDS will include a direct consumer site at some time in the future. "Hotel brands will not be limited to those affiliated with the original investing hotel companies, and in fact, HDS will be seeking both independent hotels and properties affiliated with any and all other chains that may wish to participate. More importantly, hotel operators that sell through HDS will be free to enter into agreements with all competitors," said Humphry. Mr. Humphry is a long-time travel industry veteran who has been employed by the founding participants to lead the development of HDS. HDS will be conducting an executive search to identify the venture's permanent CEO and management team in conjunction with the company's launch, and for the time being, will be headquartered in Dallas, Texas. HDS is an independent company, and is privately owned by the six founding participants. Return to St. Louis Front Page 
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