And Microsoft will probably make piles more with new software, dubbed Silverlight, that can be used to craft online applications that mix video and other forms of rich media.

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Every node in the enterprise and metro will have to switch at 10 Gbps to handle the seachange from narrowband voice and slow data applications to various forms of full-motion video.

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Standard data mining focuses on structured data and looks at traditional financial forms such as insurance claims and bank account applications to build a risk profile.

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Major software companies, including Oracle, IBM, Google and even Amazon.com, are all beginning to offer their own forms of utility computing applications, such as software-as-a-service and rented storage and processing power.

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Shred information containing sensitive information such as receipts, copies of credit applications, insurance forms, physician statements, bank checks and statements, expired charge cards, convenience checks, and credit offers.

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Emergence Capital, for example, focuses on business applications and its expertise in building companies focused on that market takes many forms.

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"I'm hoping it will create a lot more energy and experimentation and help us create new forms of games or new applications of gaming ideas to other kinds of problems, " she said.

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