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By: John Vanston, Henry Elliott, Jim Brazell, Eliza Evans, James Irwin, & Michael Bettersworth.

Mechatronics is another way of saying “intelligent mechanical systems” and it is the foundation of many 21st century enabling technologies. Mechatronics involves the integration of mechanical and electrical systems with control systems and information technology.

Mechatronic products and processes are increasingly pervasive across a broad range of industries. These same industries are expressing a clear demand for highly skilled employees capable of excelling in these technologically advanced environments and competent in the multidisciplinary application of technologies associated with mechatronics. Colleges should to respond to these employer demands by updating curriculum and creating new courses and programs to serve this emerging technology workforce need.

The analysis and information resources provided in this report will aid colleges in developing Mechatronic programs and certificates. This publication includes an overview of mechatronic technology and analysis of related occupations and salaries, inventory of existing mechatronic curriculum and considerations for colleges considering developing related programs and lists of industry experts and mechatronics companies.

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A growing number of homeowners and homebuilders are integrating digital technology into residences because the cost of these systems is decreasing. System integrators (employers) indicate a lack of available expertise in the home technology integration (HTI) sector capable of designing, installing and supporting these home subsystems. HTI includes audio, video, networking, control systems, air conditioning, security and computer technology. As the entry cost of HTI solutions and services decreases, the market is expanding beyond large, custom-built homes and into the broader mass housing market.

The analysis and information resources provided in this report will aid colleges in developing HTI programs and certificates. This publication includes an overview of HTI technology, analysis of existing HTI curriculum, descriptions of relevant industry certifications, the nature of HTI jobs and skills, a directory of over 100 Texas HTI companies, and market drivers and constraints impacting the HTI industry and employment.

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This report examines fundamental trends driving advances in biotechnology, includes discussions with leading biotech experts, provides examples of biotechnology curriculum and new courses available in Texas, and makes strategic recommendations to increase the competitiveness of Texas biotechnology companies and educational programs. While there are a number of established biotechnology programs in Texas, industry indicates the required skills for biotechnicians are evolving due to increasing automation, robotics, and instrumentation. According to Janet Varela of Kelly Scientific, “The most significant development in biotech over the next years will be the lack of a qualified workforce to meet the needs of the emerging technologies.” Biotechnology will continue to converge with other developing technologies, such as health care, information technologies, and nanotechnology, and as biotech activities move from research to development to commercialization, the demand and percentage of biotechnicians with two year degrees will continue to increase.

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By: Jim Brazell, Laurel Donoho, John Dexheimer, Robert Hanneman, Ph.D., & George Langdon

M2M is an acronym for Machine-to-Machine computing and both fourth generation and M2M involve networking physical, chemical, biological and neurological objects, systems and environments. Applications of M2M and fourth generation computing span virtually every industry and market. “The most compelling discovery of the report is the emergence of a fourth generation of computing defined as a system on a chip with a single platform for power, communications and computing.” says Jim Brazell, principal analyst.

Highlights of the forecast include recommendations to educators who wish to develop curricula and analysis of the global US$100 billion industry in 2005 forecast to grow to US $700 billion by 2010. The report describes M2M technologies, identifies the emerging and promising markets, and identifies the resources Texas can draw upon to play a leading role in this increasingly competitive arena. Based on more than 100 interviews and an M2M industry survey, as well as secondary sources, the report outlines human capital needs of M2M companies over the next three to five years, and how technical and community colleges can best meet those needs through targeted curricula and transdisciplinary learning environments. By anticipating workforce demands, college curriculum offerings can be a constructive force in attracting high-tech companies to the state and ensuring that existing high-tech companies continue to have appropriately skilled employees.

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This report examines Advanced Digital Manufacturing, Hybrid Vehicles, Micro-electromechanical Systems, and Computer Forensics and related core technical principles, applications, trends, implications, curriculum and potential employment of each of these four topics. Through this research, TSTC hopes to facilitate the informed and well-considered development of new, or enhancement of existing, emerging high-tech education and training curricula at Texas Colleges. Advanced digital manufacturing represents a technology that is emerging from an existing technology-digital prototyping-that presents an effective new technique for the manufacture of items with special characteristics. Interest in and employment of MEMS devices are growing daily. The fact that MEMS production utilizes many of the skills and much of the equipment of semiconductor manufacture means that a lot of the expertise and many of the facilities developed for semiconductor curricula can be modified to provide superior training in the MEMS area. Increasing commitment to homeland security, the growing prevalence of computer viruses and identity theft, and the enhanced sophistication of law enforcement have all multiplied interest in computer forensics in both the public and private sectors. There is every indication that graduates in this field will have very attractive employment opportunities. Recently, there has been a great deal of interest in hybrid vehicles throughout the United States. However, our analysis indicates that, for various reasons, the establishment of College programs in hybrid vehicle repair does not appear to be desirable. Addition of individual courses in hybrid vehicle principles to existing auto mechanic programs does appear desirable. This example indicates the value of analyzing emerging technologies, even if they are not well suited for current College programs, because the analyses do provide information and insights that can assist in effective curricula development.

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The events of September 11, 2001 brought immediate attention to the challenges of internal security in the United States. The realization of these challenges resulted in a number of actions by federal, state, and local governments, including the establishment of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). This report presents information, ideas, and concepts designed to assist Texas community and technical college leaders in making reasoned decisions about the design, initiation, and conduct of Homeland Security instructional programs at their institutions. The report includes analyses of seven technology areas that provide the technical underpinnings for the nation’s homeland security agenda: Identification specialists, Network security specialists, Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) detection specialists, WMD mitigation and decontamination specialists, Concealed explosives specialists, Critical infrastructure security specialists, and Pattern analysis specialists.

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By Jim Brodie Brazell, Nicholas Kim, Honoria Starbuck

This highly anticipated report covers the game market, industry, technologies, workforce needs, and implications to Texas technical colleges and universities. The report may be of interest to students, teachers, policy makers, economic development officials, academic administrators, game industry businesses and investors. Highlights of the forecast include predictions related to the global US$50 billion industry: acceleration of network gaming, fueled by next generation “super computer” gaming consoles, broadband, and wireless technologies; relations among gaming and 21st Century science (nano-bio-info-congo-enviro), design-related industries (industrial design, architecture, instructional design, aerospace, architecture), specialized industries that require transdisciplinary knowledge workers (robotics, IT security, national defense, and homeland security) and education; and San Antonio’s academy model for innovation, education and economic development.

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This report provides commercialization timelines, driving forces and constraints, industry trends and projectors, and expert opinion and analysis on the emerging nanotechnology sector. The exact nature and size of potential nanotech markets are unclear at this time. However, there is little doubt that these new technologies promise almost unlimited business and associated employment opportunities. Moreover, these opportunities could expand very rapidly, if technical breakthroughs, now envisioned are, indeed, realized. Although community and technical college deans and other instructional officers should not over-react to these possibilities, the colleges should be alert to the impact that advances in nanotechnology may have on current programs, such as those involving semiconductor manufacturing. This report examines trends and opportunities across four classifications of nanotechnology: instrumentation, tools, and computer simulation; nanomaterials; electronics, information technology, optical applications; and life sciences.

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Over the last decade, interest in fuel cell technology has grown steadily and projections of future progress have been increasingly optimistic. The practical applications for fuel cells fall into two general categories-power for vehicles (primarily automobiles) and production of electric power. The development of a significant fuel cell automobile industry will require extensive retooling of current production lines; the development of hydrogen production, storage, and distribution systems; advances in technology sufficient to compete with a mature internal combustion system; and acceptance of the public of an unfamiliar technology. There are few employment opportunities for automotive fuel cell specialists within the next three to eight years. The situation for electric power fuel cells as it applies to CTCs is quite different. There are driving forces in place that could result in a viable fuel cell power industry in the relatively near future. In general, fuel cell systems are more expensive, have shorter operating lives, and are less well understood than traditional generating sources. However, there are certain situations, such as in mines and other restricted working areas, where fuel cells provide special, almost essential characteristics. There are other situations, such as areas with particularly difficult environmental problems or where cheap hydrogen is available, in which fuel cells offer distinct advantages. There are indications that fuel cell costs are nearing the point where they will be cost effective in these situations.

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