In deciding to adopt a technology, NCR considers three factors:

• Business benefit to primary client (banks)
• Consumer perspective
• Technology maturity

Race said a technology has to solve a business problem, offer savings or increase revenue, or fulfill a strategic need. Consumers or end users should also perceive a value in the technology.

"Not only does a technology need to be useful, it also has to be useable. If the consumer can't understand it or finds it hard to use, the technology is not going to work," said Race.

For certain types of technology a certain "cool factor" is necessary as well. Race says cell phones have a lifespan of five years or more, but consumers change their handsets every six months, "because new models carry status."

Race also agrees with Marland's idea of "clusters of technologies." For a product to be considered mature, he said, it has to be proven stable and be supported by other technology.

It was possibly a failure to observe and understand the implications of technology clusters around the computer that caused DEC to miss the boat on the personal computer (PC) wave.

Despite its eminence in its field and a lineup of excellent products, the company led by Olsen jumped on to the PC bandwagon too late and offered too little by way of interoperability, which was what the public was clamoring for at the time.

"Technology for its own sake is not worth much. It is mass adoption of technology that brings value," said Race.