Evolving a pervasive IT infrastructure: a technology integration approach

Over the past five years or so, pervasive computing has emerged as a new computing paradigm with a great deal of appeal. Enterprises are increasingly showing interest in deploying pervasive information technology (IT) infrastructures to realise the perceived benefits offered by this new computing paradigm. However, a return on the investment and considerations of the currently deployed infrastructure is a constraint for businesses to invest in a pervasive IT infrastructure. Realising that the economics of an investment in a new infrastructure can affect the embracing of pervasive IT, we suggest an approach that shows how the existing technology solutions available in the market and deployed in an enterprise can be used to develop a pervasive IT infrastructure, thereby protecting investments and maximising returns. We present an evolution model to systematically and incrementally achieve a pervasive IT environment, and present guidelines for evaluating which services to develop first based on evolving the existing infrastructure point of view. This work provides practical implications for enterprises as well as pointers for research.

Thermal stability characteristics of some resins from chemically modified PVC

PVC has been modified by chlorine displacement reaction with m-aminophenol, bisphenol A, and phenophthalein. Sulfonation of these condensates yields bifunctional weak acid resins which do not exhibit ? SO₃H ionogenic group. Reaction of PVC with presulfonated bisphenol A, phenolphthalein, and phenol yields strong acid resins. Thermal stability characteristics of these various resins have been determined and the results indicate that such modifications improve the overall thermal stability of PVC.