Pictures of the Future

The Magazine for Research and Innovation | Fall 2011

Content | Editorial

Quality of Life in Cities

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Scenario 2040: Worlds Apart
Trends: Building a Better Life
London's Infrastructure: Better than Broomsticks
New Siemens Headquarters: A Showpiece Takes Shape
Vehicle Concepts: Build Your Own Train
Networked Mobility: Flexibility in Motion
SmartSenior Project: Intelligent Solutions for Tomorrow's Seniors
Communications: Untethered but Online
Interview: Welcome to the BYOD Office
Jakarta: Living in Asia's "Big Durian"
Urban Development in India: Infrastructures for Everyone
Interview: Why Cities Are Becoming a Positive Force for Change
Waste Recycling: From Trash to Cash
Clean Water: Mobile Solution for a Thirsty World
Facts and Forecasts: Economic Imbalances Are Growing in Cities Worldwide
Energy Contracting: Winning Formula
Interview: Efficient Cities – Achieving More while Consuming Less
Healthcare: An Oasis for First-Class Care
Machine Learning

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Scenario 2035: Invisible Prophet
Trends: Thriving on Complexity
Neural Networks: The Science of Prediction
From Biological Systems to Machines, Learning is the Key
Medical Applications: Body of Knowledge
Facts and Forecasts: A Universe of Applications for Learning Systems
Interview: Thriving on Mountains of Data
Security Applications: Flying Inspectors
Optical Character Recognition: We Read You Loud and Clear
Interview: Gateway to Intelligence
Industrial Applications: On-the-Job Optimization
Efficient Use of Resources

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Scenario 2035: Less is More
Trends: The Limits to Growth
Environmental Analyses: When is Green Really Green?
Facts and Forecasts: Decoupling Raw Materials Consumption from Economic Growth
Interview: Why We Are Destroying Wealth Faster than We Can Create It
Sustainable Development: A Benchmark for Efficiency
Recycling Trains: Fast Track to a Second Life
Household Appliances: Energy-Saving Champions
Wind Swords: Fighting for a Longer Life
Heat Pumps: Tapping the Earth
Virtual Production: Race to the Real World
Combined Cycle Gas Turbines: Record-Setting Power Plant
Optimized Supply Chains: Supporting Suppliers
Raw Materials: Alternatives in the Making
Water Treatment: Backyard Sewage Plant
Research in Brazil: Sugar, Oil and Inventive Minds
Interview: Innovation – The Key to Generating More Value in Brazil
Oil and Gas Production: The Call of the Deep
Interview: Tapping Pools of Innovation
Alternative Vegetable Oil: Cooking up a Revolution
Features

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Short Takes: News from Siemens' Labs
Rail Traffic: In Touch with Public Transit
Aviation: Electricity in the Air
North America's Greenest Cities: And the Winners Are...
Healthcare in a Rain Forest: Clinic under the Palms
Gesture Recognition: In Good Hands

Quality of Life in Cities

Machine Learning

Scenario 2035: Invisible Prophet

2035. The inventor of software that learns to detect potential threats to businesses and their owners realizes that she has become the target of an insidious plot by competitors. What the perpetrators do not realize, however, is that the software, though still in its pilot stage, has learned to predict their actions

Trends: Thriving on Complexity

Whether trained on thousands of examples or drawing conclusions on their own, machines that learn from experience are helping to optimize everything from medical image interpretation to the output of wind farms. In the process, they are making it possible for us to not only live with, but benefit from an increasingly complex world

Medical Applications: Body of Knowledge

Trained on thousands of annotated images, software systems have learned to identify organs and even recognize cancer stages in pathology slides. Such capabilities are opening the door to a world of diagnostics and treatment in which anatomy and physiology become semantically addressable

Security Applications: Flying Inspectors

Few research fields are as complex as machine learning. And one of the toughest problems facing researchers in this area is vision. To help move things forward, Siemens is developing video systems that are not only capable of learning but can also independently interpret the visible world

Industrial Applications: On-the-Job Optimization

Armed with learning algorithms, virtually any highly complex system can be designed to minimize its own maintenance requirements and improve its output. Examples include advanced medical equipment, power distribution systems, gas turbines and entire wind parks

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Efficient Use of Resources

Scenario 2035: Less is More

2035 — Resource scarcity has been a problem for the global economy for years. In response, companies are using as much recycled and alternative material as possible. Otherwise, it would be impossible to offer affordable products. In pursuit of their goals, firms often seek help from substitution analysts like Maurice Lavell—who aren't afraid of operating at the limits of the permissible

Trends: The Limits to Growth

As the world's population grows, so too does its hunger for resources such as oil and metals, thus driving up their prices. In order to reconcile supply and demand with the need to protect the environment, Siemens is developing solutions that require less use of raw materials to promote economic growth

Sustainable Development: A Benchmark for Efficiency

Facilities and products from Siemens should have as little environmental impact as possible. For the last 18 years, an internal standard has laid out guidelines that developers must observe. As it turns out, what's good for the environment is also good for the bottom line

Household Appliances: Energy-Saving Champions

Washing machines, dryers, refrigerators, dishwashers, and ranges made by BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeräte GmbH—Europe's leading household appliance manufacturer—are true energy-saving champions. Material efficiency plays a key role in the development of such devices

Heat Pumps: Tapping the Earth

Take heat from the surroundings, add a dash of electricity, and combine the ingredients in a heat pump. This is the recipe for providing heat and hot water to houses without generating CO2

Raw Materials: Alternatives in the Making
Demand for high-performance materials such as rare-earth metals is on the rise worldwide. But many of these materials are becoming scarce. That's why Siemens experts are developing technologies designed to improve utilization, recycling, and substitution of key materials

Oil and Gas Production: The Call of the Deep
Due to growing demand for fossil fuels, oil and gas companies are increasingly moving into the deep sea. Here, extraction would be more efficient and safer if production facilities were located on the sea floor. Siemens wants to provide reliable power systems and extraction technology to make this possible

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Features

Short Takes: News from Siemens' Labs

Bye, Bye CO₂ / Gearless Turbine Cuts Costs / Win-Win Energy / Towering Results / French Connection / Shining Combination

Healthcare in a Rain Forest: Clinic under the Palms

Until recently, the inhabitants of Brazil’s Amazon region had to travel to cities for many types of medical treatment. Now, a private initiative is changing that by providing medical services in the rain forest itself. Siemens is supplying mobile ultrasound devices to support the effort

Gesture Recognition: In Good Hands

Surgeons will soon be using hand gestures to scroll through or even modify digital images during surgery. This will enable them to access images and files faster without compromising sterile procedures. What makes it all possible is the latest technology from video game consoles

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Editorial

How We Can Improve Life in Cities

Dr. Roland Busch, the CEO of Siemens' new Infrastructure & Cities Sector, which was established on October 1, 2011, and also a member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG, on the challenges and chances for this Sector by the cities

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Contact

Mr. Dr. Ulrich Eberl

Organisation

Siemens Technology Press and

Innovation Communications

Wittelsbacherplatz 2

80333 Munich

Germany

Tel: +49 89 636-33246

Fax: +49 89 636-35292

ulrich.eberl@siemens.com

The magazine for Research and Innovation

Quality of Life in Cities

Szenario 2040: Worlds Apart

Trends: Building a Better Life

London's Infrastructure: Better than Broomsticks

Vehicle Concepts: Build Your Own Train

Jakarta: Living in Asia's "Big Durian"

Clean Water: Mobile Solution for a Thirsty World

Machine Learning

Scenario 2035: Invisible Prophet

Trends: Thriving on Complexity

Medical Applications: Body of Knowledge

Security Applications: Flying Inspectors

Industrial Applications: On-the-Job Optimization

Efficient Use of Resources

Scenario 2035: Less is More

Trends: The Limits to Growth

Sustainable Development: A Benchmark for Efficiency

Household Appliances: Energy-Saving Champions

Heat Pumps: Tapping the Earth

Features

Short Takes: News from Siemens' Labs

Healthcare in a Rain Forest: Clinic under the Palms

Gesture Recognition: In Good Hands

Editorial

How We Can Improve Life in Cities

Orders and Downloads

Contact

Mr. Dr. Ulrich Eberl

Organisation