Pictures of the Future Fall 2005

In Brief

^? Intelligent networking is one of the megatrends of our century. Thanks to sensors, actuators and embedded software that gives objects intelligence and identity, many systems are becoming ever more autonomous. Thanks to communications technology, they can form networks and operate more quickly, efficiently, flexibly and cost-effectively than their isolated counterparts   ^more

^? Networked systems in buildings increase safety and enhance comfort—for example, in amusement parks and in the world’s tallest office building in Taiwan, where networked Siemens technology monitors functions and ensures comfortable temperatures. In traffic tunnels, video systems from Siemens can detect fires and automatically trigger alarms to prevent loss of life ^{more  Improving Tunnel Vision, Tower of Superlatives and Amusement Park Rust}

^? In the T-Com building in Berlin, networked systems have transformed a conventional house into a smart high-tech home, the first of its kind anywhere. Almost all of its technical devices—from home automation to security systems—are networked and can communicate with one another   ^more

^? As mobility grows, so do traffic jams, accidents and delays in local public transport. Increasingly, intelligent traffic management and toll systems of the kind developed by Siemens are being called upon for help. These include the Ruhrpilot, which will relieve traffic congestion in the Ruhr district, Europe’s largest metropolitan area. The system will use the Internet and cell phones to provide road users with the information they need to optimize their routes—and it can predict traffic developments an hour in advance   
^{more in the  Interview with Prof. Friedemann Mattern and at Facts and Forecasts}

^? RFID chips are showing up everywhere. Attached to objects, they link logistics processes, accelerate the flow of goods and make activities more transparent. In contrast to bar codes, they accommodate not only an item’s identification number, but also its destination, expiration date and forwarder. Siemens is the only company that offers end-to-end RFID solutions for all sectors   ^more

^? In industry, networked systems boost production quality and improve working conditions. For companies, Siemens has developed telephones that automatically create communications networks without requiring a switchboard. That makes placing phone calls cheaper and more flexible   
^{more  Self-Organizing Networks and Wireless Wizardry}