We have helped with product planning for such organizations as AITech International, Apple Computer, Bell Atlantic, and Sun Microsystems. Earl Sacerdoti has developed strategies that brought several advanced technologies to market. These include machine vision (in industrial inspection systems and vision-guided robots), understanding English-language queries (in Symantec's Q&A product), and expert system technology (for several software vendors). Recent projects include applying image tracking to multimedia production, constraint-based scheduling to semiconductor manufacturing, SGML-based internet techniques to Human Resources self-service, and scientific visualization techniques to financial analysis.
Our perspective on high-tech products is simple--they are purchased and adopted despite their advanced technology content, not because of it. The advanced technology must be useful before it's perfect, and must provide so much value that customers are willing to put up with the increased risks that advanced technology imposes.