Angle is convinced that the past 12 years have merely served as a ramp-up for iRobot, in terms of developing underlying technologies, locating a viable commercial offering and introducing the public to one of the first truly mainstream home robots.
e360: Do you have any concerns regarding the pitfalls that lay ahead in terms of developing this technology?
However, even if he is proved right in terms of developing the technology, there are two other big barriers to overcome: regulatory approval, and drivers' nervousness at ceding control entirely to a computer.Carmakers have had to become adept at handling mountains of regulations and fending off liability lawsuits.
"And it is killing us in terms of developing radical new technologies.
Japan is the most advanced country in terms of developing fuel-cell technology, Kikkawa said, but "we are lagging on infrastructure because we don't yet have a mass market". California, he said, has done a better job of promoting other fuel-cell powered vehicles, including buses and forklifts used in warehouses, ports and airports.
In terms of developing apps and other technologies beyond M-Pesa, Loew believes while there is potential to build other technologies, it's premature to expect anything on par with the technologies coming out of Silicon Valley.
This program has been successful in terms of developing and translating locally relevant technologies, as well as training for entrepreneurs and establishing linkages between public and private sector partners.
I wonder, taking off the topic that you were just addressing, what learnings did you have as head of GE's India technology center in terms of developing ideas, developing new innovative products and services, and leveraging the tremendous technology wherewithal that India has to be exploited more broadly and globally?
As it moves increasingly to Internet technology, America Online should prove an excellent partner for Sun in terms of developing and using Sun's Java, an Internet programming language.
"The technology has come a long way since the early Star Wars days in terms of developing lasers that could in the future destroy a ballistic missile," Colonel Lehner said.
