A broad spectrum of technological enterprise is on display in the Queen's Awards, with products ranging from mobile phones and chip designs to anti-virus software and educational robots.

The Roamer robot, from Valiant Technology, lets schoolchildren play games involving a range of mathematical and other abstract concepts, and can be programmed by teachers using a PC. It is updated in line with changes to the National Curriculum.

Mobile technology remains one of the hottest topics and will help change consumer behaviour and the way companies do business. Mobile phones, however, are increasingly criticised on two grounds: accidents caused by distracted drivers; and concern about the harmful effects of radiation.

Pama, a Manchester-based winner, may hold the answers to both. It converts standard mobile phones into hands-free car phones, complete with microphone, speaker and volume controls, and easily transfers between vehicles.

Mobile phone operators benefit, too, from an award-winning service from Andrew Wilkes & Associates. The company has redesigned mobile phone base stations to make them smaller and less intrusive.

Also operating in the communications area, though with a very different slant, is Paradise Datacom. It has come up with a chip design that can be used in the construction of satellite modems.

Making any sort of chip is a costly and painstaking business, requiring "clean rooms" that are completely free from dust.

The vacuum and exhaust management division of BOC Edwards, part of the BOC Group, has developed a vacuum pump for use in the semiconductor industry. The new pump operates inside the clean room, taking up much less space.

Meanwhile, at the other end of the technology spectrum, Sophos wins its award for continuous improvements to its anti-virus software. New computer viruses appear all the time, and old ones are continually mutated by virus writers to try to evade the vigilance of computer security systems.

Sophos's virus description language allows its anti-virus software to be updated quickly to deal with new viruses without having to change the core code.

One of the often overlooked areas of technology is the issue of what to do with discarded computer equipment. The European Union wants to impose stern recycling standards as unwanted machines become a serious problem.

RDC, of Essex, takes full responsibility for disposing of its clients' unwanted equipment, removing data and then dealing with the hardware. Where possible, whole machines are reused or parts are recycled.

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