Bankers are pressing other multi-industry companies with big defense holdings like Textron to make a similar move, although the Providence-based conglomerate shows little evidence of being interested.
Called "Providence Talks, " Taveras' plan will make use of a pager-sized recorder put in a child's pocket that acts as a language pedometer, recording every conversation and word spoken to them through the course of their day.
Hype about a product such as the iPhone is also self-perpetuating: Hearing that people are waiting in line for hours to get a product can make others want it more, said James Mol, psychologist at Providence Portland Medical Center in Portland, Oregon.