What is the nature of the product or technology?

Generic Research Paper OutlinesGeneric Outline #1The following outline is appropriate for research papers covering specific hardware orsoftware products or well-defined classes of such products. It is generally appropriate toproducts that have already been brought to market and for which clear alternatives exist.Examples might include specific operating systems, web server software, computersystems, printers, etc.Introduction/Background- What is the nature of the product or technology?- What is its development history?- For what may it be used (needs addressed and/or functions performed)?Technical Description- Describe the technical details of the product or technology (how does it work)?- Define technical terms and provide necessary background information.- Provide examples of use (if appropriate).ComparisonsCompare to similar products and/or technologies addressing similar needs:- Costs- Performance- Capabilities and limitationsRecommendationsState the conditions under which the product/technology should be used and/or chosenover competing alternatives. Be as definite and explicit as possible.COMT 1173 – 90 Research Project Page 4 of 4Generic Research Paper Outlines – ContinuedGeneric Outline #2Outline #2 is designed for topics covering specific technologies that have not yet beenincorporated into significant numbers of commercial products. Detailed comparisons ofcost, benefit, and performance are not required. The paper should concentrate on the classof needs that the technology seeks to address, likely performance and cost characteristics,and the prognosis for commercial products based upon the technology. Whereappropriate, comparisons of cost, capability, and performance should be made to existingtechnologies that satisfy similar needs. For example, a paper on holographic storageshould describe its technical details and prognosticate about its eventual release incommercial products and the characteristics of those products. Comparisons should bemade to current data storage technologies with which holographic storage mightultimately compete (e.g., DVD-ROM).Introduction/Background- What is the nature of the technology?- What is its development history?- For what may it be used (needs addressed and/or functions performed)?Technical Description- Describe the technical details of the technology (how does it work)?- Define technical terms and provide necessary background information.- Provide examples of use (if appropriate).- Describe the current state of development:o What research/development remains to be completed?o When will initial products based on the technology be released?ComparisonsCompare to existing technologies that address similar needs:- Cost estimates- Performance estimates- Capabilities and limitationsRecommendationsEstimate the year in which commercial products will be introduced.Explicitly state the cost/performance characteristics that will be required to make thetechnology a viable alternative to existing technologies