The most established technology related to tracking social media comes from Autonomy's Intelligent Data Operating Layer (IDOL) platform, which has been scanning the Internet using techniques based on patterns and probability for more than a decade.

FORBES: JargonSpy

Google, an internet giant that has been scanning and digitising books for inclusion in its search engine, now offers thousands of books that are in the public domain free on mobile phones.

ECONOMIST: Electronic-book readers

Earlier this year Granite set up an Internet site and bought a cheque-scanning machine to cut processing costs and help with marketing.

ECONOMIST: Small banks in America