Search Technologies

Each of us has been faced with the problem of searching for information more than once. Irregardless of the data source we are using (Internet, file system on our hard drive, data base or a global information system of a big company) the problems can be multiple and include the physical volume of the data base searched, the information being unstructured, different file types and also the complexity of accurately wording the search query. We have already reached the stage when the amount of data on one single PC is comparable to the amount of text data stored in a proper library. And as to the unstructured data flows, in future they are only going to increase, and at a very rapid tempo. If for an average user this might be just a minor misfortune, for a big company absence of control over information can mean significant problems. So the necessity to create search systems and technologies simplifying and accelerating access to the necessary information, originated long ago. Such systems are numerous and moreover not every one of them is based on a unique technology. And the task of choosing the right one depends directly on the specific tasks to be solved in the future. While the demand for the perfect data searching and processing tools is steadily growing let's consider the state of affairs with the supply side.

Not going deeply into the various peculiarities of the technology, all the searching programs and systems can be divided into three groups. These are: global Internet systems, turnkey business solutions (corporate data searching and processing technologies) and simple phrasal or file search on a local computer. Different directions presumably mean different solutions.

Local search

Everything is clear about search on a local PC. It's not remarkable for any particular functionality features accept for the choice of file type (media, text etc.) and the search destination. Just enter the name of the searched file (or part of text, for example in the Word format) and that's it. The speed and result depend fully on the text entered into the query line. There is zero intellectuality in this: simply looking through the available files to define their relevance. This is in its sense explicable: what's the use of creating a sophisticated system for such uncomplicated needs.

Global search technologies

Matters stand totally different with the search systems operating in the global network. One can't rely simply on looking through the available data. Huge volume (Yandex for instance can boast the indexing capacity of more than 11 terabyte of data) of the global chaos of unstructured information will make the simple search not only ineffective but also long and labor-consuming. That's why lately the focus has shifted towards optimizing and improving quality characteristics of search. But the scheme is still very simple (except for the secret innovations of every separate system) - the phrasal search through the indexed data base with proper consideration for morphology and synonyms. Undoubtedly, such an approach works but doesn't solve the problem completely. Reading dozens of various articles dedicated to improving search with the help of Google or Yandex, one can drive at the conclusion that without knowing the hidden opportunities of these systems finding a relevant document by the query is a matter of more than a minute, and sometimes more than an hour. The problem is that such a realization of search is very dependent on the query word or phrase, entered by the user. The more indistinct the query the worse is the search. This has become an axiom, or dogma, whichever you prefer.

Of course, intelligently using the key functions of the search systems and properly defining the phrase by which the documents and sites are searched, it is possible to get acceptable results. But this would be the result of painstaking mental work and time wasted on looking through irrelevant information with a hope to at least find some clues on how to upgrade the search query. In general, the scheme is the following: enter the phrase, look through several results, making sure that the query was not the right one, enter a new phrase and the stages are repeated till the relevancy of results achieves the highest possible level. But even in that case the chances to find the right document are still few. No average user will voluntary go for the sophistication of "advanced search" (although it is equipped with a number of very useful functions such as the choice of language, file format etc.). The best would be to simply insert the word or phrase and get a ready answer, without particular concern for the means of getting it. Let the horse think - it has a big head. Maybe this is not exactly up to the point, but one of the Google search functions is called "I am feeling lucky!" characterizes very well the existent searching technologies. Nevertheless, the technology works, not ideally and not always justifying the hopes, but if you allow for the complexity of searching through the chaos of Internet data volume, it could be acceptable.

Corporate systems

The third on the list are the turnkey solutions based on the searching technologies. They are meant for serious companies and corporations, possessing really large data bases and staffed with all sorts of information systems and documents. In principle, the technologies themselves can also be used for home needs. For example, a programmer working remotely from the office will make good use of the search to access randomly located on his hard drive program source codes. But these are particulars. The main application of the technology is still solving the problem of quickly and accurately searching through large data volumes and working with various information sources. Such systems usually operate by a very simple scheme (although there are undoubtedly numerous unique methods of indexing and processing queries underneath the surface): phrasal search, with proper consideration for all the stem forms, synonyms etc. which once again leads us to the problem of human resource. When using such technology the user should first word the query phrases which are going to be the search criteria and presumably met in the necessary documents to be retrieved. But there is no guarantee that the user will be able to independently choose or remember the correct phrase and furthermore, that the search by this phrase will be satisfactory.

One more key moment is the speed of processing a query. Of course, when using the whole document instead of a couple of words, the accuracy of search increases manifold. But up to date, such an opportunity has not been used because of the high capacity drain of such a process. The point is that search by words or phrases will not provide us with a highly relevant similarity of results. And the search by phrase equal in its length the whole document consumes much time and computer resources. Here is an example: while processing the query by one word there is no considerable difference in speed: whether it's 0,1 or 0,001 second is not of crucial importance to the user. But when you take an average size document which contains about 2000 unique words, then the search with consideration for morphology (stem forms) and thesaurus (synonyms), as well as generating a relevant list of results in case of search by key words will take several dozens of minutes (which is unacceptable for a user).

The interim summary

As we can see, currently existing systems and search technologies, although properly functioning, don't solve the problem of search completely. Where speed is acceptable the relevancy leaves more to be desired. If the search is accurate and adequate, it consumes lots of time and resources. It is of course possible to solve the problem by a very obvious manner - by increasing the computer capacity. But equipping the office with dozens of ultra-fast computers which will continuously process phrasal queries consisting of thousands of unique words, struggling through gigabytes of incoming correspondence, technical literature, final reports and other information is more than irrational and disadvantageous. There is a better way.

The unique similar content search

At present many companies are intensively working on developing full text search. The calculation speeds allow creating technologies that enable queries in different exponents and wide array of supplementary conditions. The experience in creating phrasal search provides these companies with an expertise to further develop and perfect the search technology. In particular, one of the most popular searches is the Google, and namely one of its functions called the "similar pages". Using this function enables the user to view the pages of maximum similarity in their content to the sample one. Functioning in principle, this function does not yet allow getting relevant results - they are mostly vague and of low relevancy and furthermore, sometimes utilizing this function shows complete absence of similar pages as a result. Most probably, this is the result of the chaotic and unstructured nature of information in the Internet. But once the precedent has been created, the advent of the perfect search without a hitch is just a matter of time.

What concerns the corporate data processing and knowledge retrieval systems, here the matters stand much worse. The functioning (not existing on paper) technologies are very few. And no giant or the so called search technology guru has so far succeeded in creating a real similar content search. Maybe, the reason is that it's not desperately needed, maybe - too hard to implement. But there is a functioning one though.

SoftInform Search Technology, developed by SoftInform, is the technology of searching for documents similar in their content to the sample. It enables fast and accurate search for documents of similar content in any volume of data. The technology is based on the mathematical model of analyzing the document structure and selecting the words, word combinations and text arrays, which results in forming a list of documents of maximum similarity the sample text abstract with the relevancy percent defined. In contrast to the standard phrasal search by the similar content search there is no need to determine the key words beforehand - the search is conducted through the whole document. The technology works with several sources of information that can be stored both in text files of txt, doc, rtf, pdf, htm, html formats, and the information systems of the most popular data bases (Access, MS SQL, Oracle, as well as any SQL-supporting data bases). It also additionally supports the synonyms and important words functions that enable to carry out a more specific search.

The similar search technology enables to significantly cut time wasted on searching and reviewing the same or very similar documents, diminish the processing time at the stage of entering data into the archive by avoiding the duplicate documents and forming sets of data by a certain subject. Another advantage of the SoftInform technology is that it's not so sensitive to the computer capacity and allows processing data at a very high speed even on ordinary office computers.

This technology is not just a theoretic development. It has been tested and successfully implemented in a project of giving legal advice via phone, where the speed of information retrieval is of crucial importance. And it will undoubtedly be more than useful in any knowledge base, analytical service and support department of any large firm. Universality and effectiveness of the SoftInform Search Technology allows solving a wide spectrum of problems, arising while processing information. These include the fuzziness of information (at the document entering stage it is possible to immediately define whether such a document already belongs to the data base or not) and the similarity analysis of the documents which are already entered into the data base, and the search for semantically similar documents which saves time spent on selecting the appropriate key words and viewing the irrelevant documents.

Perspectives

Besides its primary assignment (fast and high quality search for information in huge volume such as texts, archives, data bases) an Internet direction could also be defined. For example, it is possible to work out an expert system to process incoming correspondence and news which will become an important tool for analysts from different companies. Mainly, this will be possible due to the unique similar content search technology, absent from any of the existent systems so far except for the SearchInform. The problem of spamming search engines with the so called doorways (hidden pages with key words redirecting to the site's main pages and used to increase the page rating with the search engines) and the e-mail spam problem (a more intellectual analysis would ensure higher level of security) would also be solved with the help of this technology. But the most interesting perspective of the SoftInform Search technology is creating a new Internet search engine, the main competitive advantage of which would be ability to search not just by key words, but also for similar web pages, which will add to the flexibility of search making it more comfortable and efficient.

To draw a conclusion, it could be stated with confidence that the future belongs to the full text search technologies, both in the Internet and the corporate search systems. Unlimited development potential, adequacy of the results and processing speed of any size of query make this technology much more comfortable and in high demand. SoftInform Search technology might not be the pioneer, but it's a functioning, stable and unique one with no existent analogues (which can be proved by the active Eurasian patent). To my mind, even with the help of the "similar search" it will be difficult to find a similar technology.

Technology Acceptance Model

Advances in computing and information technology are changing the way people meet and communicate. People can meet, talk, and work together outside traditional meeting and office spaces. For instance, with the introduction of software designed to help people schedule meetings and facilitate decision or learning processes, is weakening geographical constraints and changing interpersonal communication dynamics. Information technology is also dramatically affecting the way people teach and learn.

As new information technologies infiltrate workplaces, home, and classrooms, research on user acceptance of new technologies has started to receive much attention from professionals as well as academic researchers. Developers and software industries are beginning to realize that lack of user acceptance of technology can lead to loss of money and resources.
In studying user acceptance and use of technology, the TAM is one of the most cited models. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) was developed by Davis to explain computer-usage behavior. The theoretical basis of the model was Fishbein and Ajzen's Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA).

The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) is an information systems (System consisting of the network of all communication channels used within an organization) theory that models how users come to accept and use a technology, The model suggests that when users are presented with a new software package, a number of factors influence their decision about how and when they will use it, notably:

Perceived usefulness (PU) - This was defined by Fred Davis as "the degree to which a person believes that using a particular system would enhance his or her job performance".

Perceived ease-of-use (PEOU) Davis defined this as "the degree to which a person believes that using a particular system would be free from effort" (Davis, 1989).

The goal of TAM is "to provide an explanation of the determinants of computer acceptance that is general, capable of explaining user behavior across a broad range of end-user computing technologies and user populations, while at the same time being both parsimonious and theoretically justified".

According to the TAM, if a user perceives a specific technology as useful, she/he will believe in a positive use-performance relationship. Since effort is a finite resource, a user is likely to accept an application when she/he perceives it as easier to use than another .As a consequence, educational technology with a high level of PU and PEOU is more likely to induce positive perceptions. The relation between PU and PEOU is that PU mediates the effect of PEOU on attitude and intended use. In other words, while PU has direct impacts on attitude and use, PEOU influences attitude and use indirectly through PU.

User acceptance is defined as "the demonstrable willingness within a user group to employ information technology for the tasks it is designed to support" (Dillon & Morris). Although this definition focuses on planned and intended uses of technology, studies report that individual perceptions of information technologies are likely to be influenced by the objective characteristics of technology, as well as interaction with other users. For example, the extent to which one evaluates new technology as useful, she/he is likely to use it. At the same time, her/his perception of the system is influenced by the way people around her/him evaluate and use the system.
Studies on information technology continuously report that user attitudes are important factors affecting the success of the system. For the past several decades, many definitions of attitude have been proposed. However, all theories consider attitude to be a relationship between a person and an object (Woelfel, 1995).

In the context of information technologies, is an approach to the study of attitude - the technology acceptance model (TAM). TAM suggests users formulate a positive attitude toward the technology when they perceive the technology to be useful and easy to use (Davis, 1989).

A review of scholarly research on IS acceptance and usage suggests that TAM has emerged as one of the most influential models in this stream of research The TAM represents an important theoretical contribution toward understanding IS usage and IS acceptance behaviors. However, this model -- with its original emphasis on the design of system characteristics - does not account for social influence in the adoption and utilization of new information systems.

Created by Nida Mazhar
(Department of Computer Science Karachi University Student of the course Management Information System)

Your Kid's Science Class

Many parents are puzzled and taken aback by the number of topics and the complexity of today's science lessons for kids. Sometimes parents look at their children's notes and textbooks and think to themselves that they can not remember learning this lesson, or they remember learning it at a much later grade. Admit it, it happened to you! Do not worry, it is very normal for you to be surprised by your kid's science class. Truth is that kids are learning concepts faster than before and with all the modern advances being made in science, there is always more to learn!

The life sciences which you probably remember as biology, focusing on cell reproduction and photosynthesis now introduces the concepts of cell division at the fifth grade. What you were learning in high school, your kid's science class now teaches in the last year of elementary! To help tutor your kids with life sciences, always read their textbook a chapter ahead of them, and supplement your reading with some online research. You will find that you are learning some new and interesting concepts, and it will prepare you for the questions your child will throw your way!

Back when you were reading school books, earth science told us that there were nine planets in our solar system, and one asteroid belt. Well, nowadays, kid's science teaches them that there are only eight planets in the solar system, four dwarf planets (Pluto included), and two belts that orbit the sun. Right, two belts, that is news to you, isn't it? Like life science, earth science is constantly changing because of the new discoveries being made everyday. What was once a simple study on the different types of rocks, now discusses how to carbon date a rock!

One of the safer sciences in terms of how much new knowledge is added is physical science. This is because the laws of physics have held true for many generations, and when the complicated part of physics comes in, your kids will be in college and probably studying physics as their major. Also, developments in physics usually involve the very confusing and complicated formulas which no kid's science class will discuss unless your kid is in a school for geniuses. This makes it rather safe for parents as long as you and your child can keep up with the pace in which it is being taught. Chances are that you will be able to do so, this is one science you need not worry too much about!

On a final note, keep up with your kid's science class by keeping yourself up to date in the world of science. Try to read some science news online, and keep tabs on what your child is learning. Do not be afraid to speak to your child's teacher either. Many teachers appreciate it when parents want to help their children learn more and better, so all your efforts will be very welcome. Remember that when you can teach something to your child, they are likely to learn it faster and better!

To be able to help your child you should find out what concepts are being taught in your kid's science [http://www.easysciencefun.com/third-grade-science.html] class. Knowing these concepts will better help you in creating projects for your kid's science [http://www.easysciencefun.com/science-projects/the-sandpaper-test.html] class and you can just click on the links here for some project ideas you can use.

Science Experiment Kits

Science is a core set of toy or collecting toys for children, but scientific! What do we mean by that? Well, in contrast to the doll or toy car, for example, the science of the scientific project or project group, consisting of practical experiments, which often lead to toy science fun. Science kits, such as those sold on Science Store for the stars, presented in easy to understand and interesting way and are designed to teach children the facts about the different scientific disciplines.

For example, a crystal radio sets are very popular, and consist of a single project to build a crystal radio. Although they are working on this project, children learn about electronics and electricity, and which radio station functions.

When they did they Cool toy that really works! Or "How and Whys Science" KIT for Education Research, which many experiments in various fields, including biology, ecology, astronomy, and others. Kids can learn why the sky is blue, why the rain, as you can bend light, as well as conduct experiments similar to those that are real scientists to discover the many mysteries of the Earth. As you can see, the science kit much better for children than regular toy. Not only children use their imagination, but they learn the real science that will help them in both schools and in the real world. When you begin to understand how the world around you really works, you begin to think differently. Rather than simply accept things as they are, you become curious about them, start asking questions, and I understand that there is reason and logic to the world around us.

It's never too early, the child began teaching science and the parents are the best teachers! If your child asks you about the moon, you simply reply: "It's the Moon?" Or would you prefer to say "The moon is tied to the Earth gravity, causing waves in the ocean, and reflects light from the sun? "Children have wonderful memories and keep the information provided by their parents better than anyone else, and if you give them a science kit to learn these things, they will eat it with a spoon. The more they learn at an early age, the easier it will be school, and as they grow older. Science kits and science books of the experiment the absolute best way for kids to learn science.

It is known that children learn the skills and faster, save more and get more pleasure when they learn with hands-on experiments, rather than just read about them in books. Science kits designed specifically for these science experiments and may do otherwise boring so fresh and exciting. There is a real educational value is built right into Science Kit. They are designed, created and written by educators, scientists and other specialists in various fields of science, and they include the relevant national standards of teaching. Science kits are also an important source of ideas for science fair project.

Science kits can be used at home as an event for one or more children. They are a wonderful way for teachers to explain some science concepts their students and are perfect for parents who home-school their children and want to revitalize the curriculum. How much do adults like crosswords, Sudoku, and other complex mind game? Well, children want to be active solvers and science kits and design services to a great imagination and creativity by engaging them in direct experiments. And if your child is lagging behind in one area of science, you're bound to find a science kit covering it. This is a great way to get children interested in science theme!

The Fuel Cell Store is a central marketplace in the fuel cell industry. Hydrogen fuel generators, fuel cell testing equipment, science projects and experiments, and much more. Fuel Cell Equipment, Science Projects, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Generator, Testing, Electrolyzer.

What Specialties Are Available For Online Education Degrees?

While each core curriculum will differ from school to school, most education degree programs include courses in all relevant aspects of education. These courses are designed to give you the knowledge needed to be a successful teacher.

Some schools also give you the freedom to choose your own curriculum for your online degree. This means that you can decide which areas of the education field you want to gain expertise in. The ability to design your own curriculum gives you a unique background that allows you to stand out from the competition and attracts potential employers. Some concentrations for online education degrees include Elementary Education, Secondary Education, Adult Education, Distance and Online Education, Educational Administration, and Special Education.

People who have their online education degrees in Elementary Education usually teach kindergarten through fifth grade. The major goals of this degree are to establish a foundation in reading, writing, math, science, history, and the social sciences for all children. The courses in this field are designed to prepare you to teach these major fields of study. Some course titles include Philosophy of Education, Psychology of Learning, and Teaching Methods. You may also be required to take courses in computer technology.

A degree in Secondary Education is for those who want to teach middle school and high school aged children. Many individuals who get their degree in secondary education focus their training on a particular subject, such as English, math, or science. The courses in this field will teach you about different teaching techniques, curriculum development, and other related topics.

An online degree in Adult Education will prepare you to teach and educate adults. This can include a teaching career in colleges, universities, and learning centers. People pursuing this degree generally specialize in a specific subject, or have work experience in a particular field. Courses in this field of study include Adult Growth and Development, Adult Psychology, and Program Planning and Development.

A degree in Distance and Online Education will prepare you to work in the field of distance learning. People with this degree generally work at colleges and universities teaching their courses online. Some of the courses in this degree include Foundations of Distance Education, Technology in Distance Education, and Teaching and Learning in Online Distance Education.

People who have their degrees in Educational Administration manage the activities in schools, day care centers, and colleges and universities. They can also be directors of educational programs in businesses, prisons, and museums. Many go on to be college presidents and school district superintendents. Courses in this field of study include Introduction to Educational Research and Evaluation, Policy Studies, Current Issues in Education, and Educational Leadership.

People who want to work with disabled children and/or adults generally have their online education degrees in Special Education. This degree will prepare you to work with people who have learning disabilities, mental health issues, physical disabilities, and other conditions. Courses in this field include Educational Psychology, Legal Issues of Special Education, Child Growth and Development, and Strategies for Teaching Students with Disabilities.

Along with coursework, many of these education degrees also require that you work in a classroom as an intern before graduation. That way, you will have the experience along with your online education degree to make a positive contribution to your students.

Overview of Issues in Current and Higher Education

The education system is the backbone of a progressing society. It is the standard of education that determines an individual's and the country's progress. A typical educational system consists of Primary Schools, High Schools, Colleges and Higher education institutes. It is important to provide quality education at all levels in order to have sustainable growth and development.To improve the educational system, it is important that people are aware of the education issues and problems in the education system.

Awareness about the current issues in education helps people in finding the loop holes in their education system and suggests innovative ideas to plug these holes. Some important issues/challenges related to education are:

1. Improving quality - Invariably one of the most important education issues, the quality can be improved by initiatives taken by schools and teachers. Here the importance of a trained, understanding and well informed teacher to raise the education standards cannot be stressed enough. An efficient teacher will use the latest innovations in the field of education and the outcomes of educational surveys for the benefit of his students.

2. Improving access - Along with improving the quality of education, it is also essential to improve the access to higher education; this can be done by increasing the number of higher education institutions. Essentially, every individual who is interested in studying should have an institute nearby.

3. Reducing costs - A lot of people who are interested keep away from higher education because of their inability to afford the tuition fees. Easy education loans must be available and also for those who cannot afford studies, fees must be low. Government and educational institutions must join hands in reducing the enormity of this issue.

4.Reducing drop-out rate - The rise in the drop-out rate is also a case of concern. This can be resolved by revising the curriculum in such a way that the diverse interests of students are taken care of. The introduction of more practical activities in place of plain theoretical teaching also goes a long way in keeping the students interested in their studies, thus reducing the number of drop outs. Websites dealing in education-issues also keep one informed and updated on the latest in the field of higher education.

One of such websites is www.websites-for-teachers.com . Here you will get the most comprehensive list of education-issues websites, which will provide you with all the information you require on problems in education, higher education issues, physical education issues and teacher education issues.

Hannah Anthon is an professional writer, currently working for teacher resources including websites for teachers, educational websites, higher education issues [http://www.websites-for-teachers.com/teacher-websites-directory/education-issues.htm], teaching materials, free teacher resource, technology websites and more.

Saving the Environment With Green Technology: The Benefits Of Driving A Hybrid Car

Are you driving a hybrid car?

Hybrid cars are the latest rage in modern automobile technology. Since the early 1990's many car manufacturer's have realized the potential market of green-sensitive consumers, and the growing demand for environment-friendly and cost-efficient vehicles. With the record-high prices of gasoline and other fossil fuel products today, the foresight of hybrid-car developers and the results of their efforts have not come at a much better time, than now. Consider also the fact that most of the green technology today, have been aimed towards meeting a fundamental criteria in the improvement of the human condition. Most scientists have regarded that, by using products that are safe for the environment the human population will also benefit in the long run.

The human race today is experiencing an unprecedented rise in population numbers, that would crucially underline the rapidly decreasing resources of the planet. Add to the fact that the society today thrives and competes with modern machineries that have contributed more to the pollution of the planet, than at any other moment in history. Hybrid-Car technologies are opening new promises to the already booming market of green technologies, and offers respite to the environment, battered by continuous pollution and abuse.

Why should you use a hybrid car?

One of the important factors about hybrid cars is that allows for better fuel efficiency with its dual capacity to run on both gasoline and diesel engines, as well as on electric motor. Think of how much money you can save when you can easily switch to using either electricity or gasoline on the road. It is no surprise either that most consumers nowadays prefer to drive fuel-efficient vehicles like hybrid cars, because of the quickly-rising fuel prices, pushing the demand for more conservation, and more effective use of alternative fuel energy sources.

The battery electric drive component of most hybrid cars release zero emissions of carbon and other harmful gases. There are also hundreds of locations in the United States and in other parts of the globe, where you can easily plug your vehicle directly to a power grid for quick recharging. This is an 'icing' on the 'green-technology cake'. Renewable fuel is most certainly one of the high-growth sectors of green technology, and the influx of demands will leave manufacturers and entrepreneurs a solid market to sell and promote green technology to.

With the continued use of hybrid vehicles, consumers patronize a strong argument against the continued use of gasoline and the continued support for the research on other sustainable alternatives of green fuel technologies. Some hybrid cars today also run on Hydrogen, which as a fossil fuel, is one of the cleanest known to man. There are also plenty of options on the use of bio-diesel, from soybeans and biomass, that can help augment the demands for cleaner, and renewable fuel.

The Need To Use PC and Internet Technology More Productively In African Societies

As China bids to become a sustained world presence it's clear that at the top of the agenda lays clean technology. Clean technology investment in the country reached $34 billion US dollars in 2009, that's twice the investment that the United States had made in the same time frame, and far outstrips the spend in the rest of the world.

The rumours from local news sources are that as the next 5 year plan becomes clear, there will be a total investment in clean energy of $738 billion over the next 10 years in clean energy technologies by the Chinese government. Much of this money is expected to be focused on Tier 2 cities.

For those looking to take advantage of these opportunities it's worth making it clear that there's no official definition as to what exactly a "Tier 2" city is (unlike in India where this is defined by government) but it is likely to include most of the provincial capitals and up to another 200 large sized cities throughout the country. Most of these will be in close proximity to state capitals and deal with "overspill" from these more expensive (from a residential standpoint) locations.

Chinese cities tend to specialise around specific economic areas rather than applying an "across the board" approach as more commonly seen in the West. Though there are exceptions to this rule, such as Qingdao (home of Tsing Tao beer, one of China's more famous international exports) which is building a broad base of industries and thus is outperforming other cities (Qingdao and the local province was third fastest growing regional economy in China in 2010).

So given this it's sensible to focus on those cities where clean technology is an emerging industry in its own right, but keep in mind that where one city leads in China many others will follow. Zhongshan is already trying to capitalise on the success of Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Dongguan where there's been substantial progress in clean technologies and in particular LED/OLED production.

Wholly owned foreign enterprises don't usually qualify for Chinese state support so to take advantage of government investment in this area you'll be expected to partner with a local company which can come with a fair share of cultural headaches to overcome. Commonly these include both sets of employees (both local and expat) having stronger loyalties to their own parent company than the venture itself, and of course the "face culture" clashing with a more open Western one.

However with an expected 1 trillion RMB output in 2011 from these industries and clear and obvious massive growth potential those companies that overcome these hurdles will be well placed to join the world leaders of clean technology.

Nick Kellingley is the managing editor of China Strategic Monitor, [http://www.chinastrategicmonitor.com]

CSM is a newsletter and consulting service for finance and technology companies looking to invest in China. We offer insight into key verticals; New Energy, Automotive and Coal & Steel as well as bespoke reporting services and consultancy.