try. The industry must develop standards that help evolve an ecosystem of interworking products based on components. Multiple vendors are able to make products that work with one another, giving the consumer the ability to interchange parts of various solutions. The industry must be able to innovate constantly to match consumer expectations and drive further demand by generating future features that create revenue making. In the telecom industry, the technology roadmap published by the consortium 3GPP keeps media interested and excited about top-line capabilities of future features planned in a technology like LTE-Advanced. At the same time, the nitty-gritty of implementing the roadmaps through standards helps companies innovate and cooperate to interwork and get the technology to be part of actual products. The roadmaps help lay a pathway for features that eventually get implemented and also give a structure for the companies to work with one another to evolve the items that get implemented. Understand Need for a Roadmap Do we really need a roadmap for all technologies? What are the specific characteristics that help identify or confirm the need for a roadmap? Toward answering these questions, let's briefly revisit some basics of technology definition. tech.nol.o.gy The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, esp. in industry: "computer technology"; "recycling technologies". Machinery and equipment developed from such scientific knowledge. Merriam-Webster's Dictionary Note some key characteristics of this: Technology is oriented toward an application. The underlying knowledge on which the technology works is specific to the particular industry. There is an underlying scientific basis to the knowledge that makes up the technology. CHAPTER 4 NETWORK ROADMAPS Because technology is developed on the basis of very specific knowledge, there is a strong need to properly manage the technology itself. Technology management, and the process that is used, is almost as important as the technology itself. 