Accenture gets tips from Minority Report

Accenture is taking a leaf out of science fiction movies such as Minority Report and Star Trek. With this aim in mind, engineers in its Bangalore development centre are busy converting these concepts into cutting-edge technology.

Lin Chase, director, Accenture Technology Labs, said the company had developed a Work Window solution, where it uses a giant screen, which allows touch screen projection, manipulation of data and viewing the employees located thousands of miles away. The company is currently piloting the Work Window at its development centres in Bangalore and Chicago. "We always believed that it was possible to flip the information for viewing on the opposite end and manipulate data on screen as projected in Minority Report," said Chase.

The Holy Pro glass discovered in Germany last year is the core of this project.

Chase said, "The India centre serves 44 per cent of its diamond clients, which contribute over $100 million in revenues a year. Accenture's most complex and largest processes are serviced in India."

"We will grow from 30 people currently to 50 people by August 2007 and to 100 people by August 2008," said Chase.

The company currently has a 180-member team for R&D and its R&D budget is pegged at $300 million for the financial year 2007.