Analyzes the sources and uses of advanced technology in the service sector, identifies barriers to more widespread use, and identifies policy options to ameliorate these barriers. Covers: the concept of market failure and its application, the sources and uses of technology in the service sector, and a statistical analysis of economic performance and market failure in the service sector. Extensive case studies on the key service sector industries of retail banking, home entertainment (cable TV, telephone communications, newspaper publishing), and health care. Charts and tables. Extensive references.

This monograph evaluates the net social benefits of advanced encryption standards.

There are many types of first-responder equipment; sophisticated system-of-systems technologies that pervade the contemporary public safety environment and engage NIST's measurement scientists and technologists in some of their most challenging and beneficial work. NIST's participation in Standards Development Organizations (SDOs), most often early, and behind the scenes, is the subject of this report. Six priority areas are explored where NISTs collaboration with industry, universities, international partners, trade associations, responders, standard development organizations and Federal, State and local agencies has led to important enhancements of public safety: Blast Resistant Trash Receptacles; Personal Protective Equipment; Explosives Trace Detection; X-Ray Standards for Bulk Explosives Detection;? Biothreat Agents (White Powder); and Emergency Response Robots.