Supplemental Information for the USMS Measurement Needs Template
This page is to provide some background information and guidance for those who will summarize, following the one-page template format given on the next page, those measurement needs for assessing bone health that they deem to be among the most critical. Such inputs will be invaluable in NIST’s quest to produce a credible document that deals with important measurement needs and is well-crafted, based on sound information, and authenticated by stakeholders outside NIST. The completed individual one-page template should have that character.
Background
It follows that an assessment of the state of the USMS can then begin with a broad survey of industry measurement needs relative to technological innovation— hence the need for the completed Measurement Needs templates. From the results of this survey, inferences may be drawn about the overall state of health of the USMS and an assessment made.
Guidance
To aid in composing a “Measurement Need” document, a template is attached with some “cues and clues.” Information within brackets is intended as a further explanation of the requested information, while the un-bracketed entries are multiple examples of potential responses.
The following are working definitions which are particular to the NIST USMS effort:
Technological Innovation: the introduction into the marketplace of: products incorporating new technology; processes (for producing products) incorporating new technology; and, for the purposes of this assessment, specifications, codes, and standards governing new product and process technologies; and methods for the characterization of such new products and processes relative to specifications, codes, and standards.
Measurement: the process of quantitatively comparing a variable characteristic, property, or attribute of a substance, object, or system to some norm. [Note that the measured characteristic, property, or attribute is taken to include characteristics of materials and objects, logical states of information systems, and functional behaviors of systems. A norm is taken to be whatever practically establishes the reference for that which is being measured, including a designated physical artifact or phenomenon, data set, mathematical or logical model, test pattern, performance specification, functional requirement, or the like].
Measurement Need: a measurement problem that poses a technical barrier to an economically significant technological innovation. [Note that for this study the measurement problem that poses a technical barrier to technological innovation can be one that appears at any stage of the overall innovation cycle from creation of a new product or process technology, through its production, its marketing, to and including its effective use].
Thank you in advance for your effort on this important task. If you have a problem, please contact Herbert Bennett, phone 301-975-2079, FAX 301-975-6021, and email: herbert.bennett@nist.gov. Email is preferred. Comments to improve on this guidance are welcome.
Measurement
Need Datum (MN) With Some Cues and Clues on Types of Responses
(This completed template is to be not more than one-page.)
Click here for a blank Measurement Need Datum Form
Author
Date Basis (choose): Sector_____, Technology,
Discipline-____, SI Unit_____
Jane
Researcher 10-26-05
Technology at Issue [2-3 words: as broad or as narrow as fits situation], e.g. one of following: Nanotechnology; Molecular Assembly; Spectroscopy of Proteomics; Construction Automation
Technological Innovation at Stake [What the specific technological change, i.e. new technology, that is being anticipated, considered, or attempted, by whom, in what field, firm, sector to what end?] Pharmas anticipate the use of molecular assembly for their manufacture of Z-type nanoparticle drug delivery systems; early-adopters in construction industry have begun using GPS-guided robotic graders
Economic Significance of Innovation [What costs will be incurred if innovation inhibited. What is the return on investment for the implementation of the innovation? Some examples might be quantifications of cost savings, product development time, acceleration of innovation that opens a lucrative window of opportunity…] Acceleration of process time enables a cost reduction to industry, and because of the cost competitive nature of the industry, the cost reduction will be passed to the consumer. This will also enable the ability to produce more targeted drugs in smaller batches …
Technical Barrier to the Innovation [Why can’t the innovation be reasonably implemented now or when desired? What technical barrier is in the way?] The basic phenomenon of self-assembling in this particular class of macromolecules is only partially understood with unpredictable variations of behavior occurring; absence of technical data on performance of materials in cantilevered MEMs devices inhibiting development of desired new type of sensor; uncertainty on parts of customers on unverified capabilities of competing types of first generation laser-mapping-guidance systems
Stage of Innovation Where Barrier Appears (R&D, Production, Marketing, End Use) [choose one]
Measurement-Problem Part of Technical Barrier The investigation of the not-well-understood interactions of constituents in self-assembling macromolecules requires time- and spatial-resolutions of measuring instruments beyond current SOA; there is an absence of a trustworthy reference measurement protocol for evaluation of performance the new-generation laser-mapping-guidance systems
Potential Solutions to Problem R&D to find practical way to finesse the capabilities of current measurement instrumentation; Development and commercial introduction of new class of instruments; …
Potential Providers of Solutions [please be as specific as possible]
Sector X, Y; Instrument Makers X, Y; consortium industrial firms, University X,Y, Z, NSF, Fed Agency
Role for NIST if Any [What NIST-appropriate work might be feasible?] None, i.e. no role for NIST; instrumentation development (be more specific); design, develop, or deliver measurement data, standard; facilitate cooperation-collaboration among firms.
[Please explain why it is inappropriate for industry to pay for this work on its own. Industry quotes might support your response] nonappropriability of profits (i.e. inability of a single investor in the solution to recover that original investment); extreme high technical risk; need for cross-cutting team to produce a useable solution; as well as specific issues for the public good (requires explanation), such as the ability to share the solution openly.