Two main themes: manufacturing in an internet age, plus a regional focus - IT in Latin America.

Manufacturing in the internet era - overview.

Product development - internet heralds new era of collaboration . . .more

Application service providers - IT on demand via the net; Virtual reality : real applications emerge at last; profile of VR user, Tom Walkinshaw Racing; online product configuration - responding rapidly to customers' demands.

Artificial intelligence - how software agents 'negotiate' production schedules; plus a listing of AI terminology and definitions.

Manufacturing to web-based orders - supply chains will become 'dynamic arteries' of industry; plus a case study of online ordering.

Scheduling systems and e-procurement; case study on ABB and Siemens . . .more

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Product simulation: the digital factory may sound like science fiction, but is closer than many think.

The manufacturing theme is also present in main pieces

Views from the top - interviews with two rival software suppliers; the benefits of B2B online exchanges . . .more

See also Being better by thinking smarter and Opinion pieces

Second theme: IT in Latin America

Our introduction to this section shows how larger media and telecom companies are putting smaller independent new media, companies under pressure; plus: broadband networks - Latin American operators 'sprint just to stand still'; and profile of media entrepreneur, Roberto Cibrian of El Sitio.

Business-to-business marketplaces: heavyweights all set for a brawl; Brazil's online retailers - a modest start for flashy virtual malls; plus profile of internet entrepreneur Adriana Losada of Loquesea.

Internet euphoria in Argentina; Latin America's online financial services; the Caribbean - internet will help region's narrow economies; E-commerce in Mexico

Brazil's new IT markets: banking and telecom sectors set the pace . . .more

Miami: lifestyle attractions help incubate web-based companies serving Latin America

Regular features

FT.com discussion forum: musical dispute proves far from tuneful; British Computer Society Awards: still time to nominate IT teams.

Looking ahead: FT-IT Review themes for the coming months

This review is part of the FT-IT "family" of special reports. The next issue in the series, FT Telecoms, will appear on November 15.

The two main themes will be optical networks - one of the hottest areas of investment by the telecoms industry - and the issue of customer relations, as the telecom industry faces major structural changes and increased competition.