Pictures of the Future

China, 2020: For retiree Jun Yang, it’s a dream come true. After 30 years, he’s returning to Shanghai—a megacity that looks nothing like the place of his memories. An old laptop keeps him in e-mail contact with his grandson…

Infrastructures are the lifelines that tie cities and societies together. They bring us water, power, communications and transportation. In short, they are the lifeblood of any successful economy. And when it comes to providing innovative infrastructural solutions, Siemens is leading the way. Its solutions enhance efficiency, convenience, and the quality of our lives—in the most remote regions as well as in megacities.

According to a UN-Habitat study, 2007 will mark an unprecedented moment in history: Half of the world’s population will be living in cities. The number of cities with populations over one million will increase from 300 to about 560 by 2015, when 350 million people will live in cities with more than ten million inhabitants.

Population growth and economic development continue to drive up energy consumption, particularly in urban centers. To meet the world’s demand for electricity in an environmentally compatible way, it will be necessary to exploit fossil fuels more efficiently and make greater use of renewable energy sources. Four Siemens projects illustrate how this can be accomplished.

Persian Gulf countries want to expand their energy and water infrastructures. A power and desalination complex built by Siemens in Abu Dhabi is the most powerful facility of its kind worldwide.

Cadarache, in the summer of 2015. One year before commissioning of the ITER fusion reactor, the energy ministers of the countries participating in this major research project are visiting the facility in France.

Even though today’s electric motors are the product of 170 years of technology development, they still have plenty of potential for improvement. Siemens researchers are finding out how to make electric motors more powerful, economical and flexible. Their objective is to combine individual components into a harmonized drive system.

Inspired by Toyota’s success, automakers around the world are working on hybrid vehicles that offer high potential fuel savings—and a green image. Siemens is developing solutions that will help automobile manufacturers fine tune this complex technology.

May 2020. A tour of a future virtual automobile production center reveals the extraordinary scope of simulation and optimization—as well as a case of hidden identity.

Less than two decades from now we will be able to see, hear, and interact with hyper-realistic products, processes, materials and environments in their full dynamic diversity long before they exist. Simulation and optimization will make it all possible.

Global competition is forcing manufacturers to develop and make better products—and to do so faster and at lower cost. Simulation technologies and virtual reality have a key role to play here, as they make it possible to virtually create products and entire production lines long before any real machines or parts exist.

Redefining Computer Tomography / Phones for the Home / Safer Care with Health Cards / Normal or Sensitive? / Triple Play / How to Kick a Virtual Ball

The DVB-H standard has big potential, including simultaneous transmission of TV programs to large numbers of viewers. Siemens is a driving force in DVB-H and is field testing it in the Czech Republic – etwa in Tschechien.

India’s booming economy is growing almost as fast as China’s. That’s why Mukul Saxena and the new Siemens Corporate Technology team in Bangalore are working hard to tap the domestic market.

Dr. Klaus Kleinfeld has been Chief Executive Officer of Siemens AG since January, 2005