Pictures of the Future Spring 2006

In Brief

Redefining Computer Tomography

Siemens has added another dimension to computer tomography. The Somatom Definition is the world’s first computer tomograph (CT) with two X-ray tubes. As a result, it can take pictures of a beating heart at an unprecedented level of temporal resolution and with only half the normal dose of X-ray radiation. Once in operation, each of the imaging systems rotates around the patient three times per second. Straton tubes emit X-rays that pass through the patient's body before reaching the detector on the other side. A computer then uses the data measured in this manner to create images of the body’s interior. In 2005, the inventors of the Straton tube were nominated for the German Future Prize. The new CT is faster than any other system in use today. What’s more, in combination with its extremely high resolution of less than 0.4 mm, even the tiniest vessels become visible.

By creating very high-resolution images, the new Somatom Definition CT scanner enables doctors to gain sharp pictures of coronary vessels—without using beta blockers to slow down heartbeat

Taking pictures of a heart is particularly difficult, since the images have to be made in between heartbeats. To achieve this feat, the imaging system is synchronized with an electrocardiogram (ECG). In order to get sharp images using conventional devices, a patient’s pulse had to be artificially lowered to around 60 beats per minute. However, the beta blockers needed to lower the pulse rate were not always suitable, as they represented an increased health risk for certain patients, such as those suffering from asthma or diabetes. But in the case of the Somatom Definition the pulse rate is no longer relevant. Thanks to the system’s sophisticated radiographic process, it is possible to X-ray a patient with a high pulse rate or cardiac arrhythmia—without the need for special medication. The system reduces the radiation dose by 50 % because it operates twice as fast as conventional scanners, which use only a single X-ray source and detector. This in turn makes the imaging process twice as fast and cuts irradiation time by 50 %.

The Phone for the Home

The phone for the networked home—Gigaset will be able to control everything from heating and lighting to cooking

The cordless phone is set to become a universal remote control in the networked home. At this year's CeBIT, Siemens presented a control unit that uses a conventional phone to operate household appliances, door openers and alarm systems. The control module is compatible with current Gigaset models, which could thus be used to operate Siemens components such as serve@home for household appliances and the "Gamma wave" automation solution for lighting, heating and ventilation in the networked home. The units are equipped with small transmitters and receivers that evaluate and execute signals transmitted using the cordless DECT standard. Appliances without a receiver can be connected to special sockets that can be controlled via a radio signal transmitted by the cordless phone. Equipment such as lamps can thus be switched on or off by phone. Owners of the control unit can also use their phones to talk to visitors via the front door intercom. If the system includes a camera, visitors are visible on the phone display, and users are able to open the door using the phone's keypad. Another option allows calls to be automatically transferred from the phone to a cell phone. For example, this allows a building's alarm system to notify the owner of a break-in by sending a text message. Vacation home owners, for example, could then notify the police or fire department without delay.

Safer Care with Health Cards

Several countries are introducing health cards in a drive to improve healthcare quality and reduce costs

Siemens has teamed up with several hospitals in New York to create a regional health network and improve the exchange of medical data. To this end, health cards will be issued that enable physicians to quickly access a patient's medical history. The network, which will be managed by Siemens Communications, the renowned Mount Sinai Medical Center and the Elmhurst Hospital Center, will link together 45 medical facilities in the New York metropolitan area. The health cards will incorporate a photo of the patient and a memory chip for storing personal data and information on allergic reactions, prescribed medications and laboratory results. Initially, a total of 100,000 health cards will be distributed to patients, who will own the cards they hold. At the hospital, the patient can give the attending physician access to the data on the card by entering a PIN. One major advantage of the system is that it will help physicians to avoid prescribing the wrong medications. According to recent studies, tens of thousands of patients die every year in the United States after receiving the wrong treatment. Siemens has also successfully implemented a health card project for nine million people in Lombardy, Italy (see Pictures of the Future, Fall 2005, Health Card). The Italian authorities hope that this project will result in cost savings of up to 240 mill. € a year. Health cards will also be distributed to Germany's 80 million inhabitants on a step-by-step basis. Siemens is now participating in three out of eight regional test projects.

Normal or Sensitive?

Sensors in the "automaticWascher" recognize how heavily laundry is soiled

Siemens has developed a washing machine that automatically selects the right program for each type of laundry and thereby optimizes water consumption. Known as the "automaticWascher," the appliance has sensors that detect how much laundry is in the drum, what kinds of textiles are present and how heavily the clothing is soiled. The user only has to choose between "normal" and "sensitive" settings. To determine the amount of laundry and the textile type, the sensors rely on information relating to the amount of water in the drum and the way in which the textiles absorb the water. The degree of soiling is determined by an aqua sensor that uses a light gate to measure water turbidity. After the system has combined the data, the washing machine automatically selects the right wash cycle, which is depicted on a large display.

Talk, Watch and Surf

Thanks to Siemens technology, people will be able to use their TV sets to talk to friends—while watching their favorite programs

In the future, operators of cable networks and telecommunications systems will be able to use their channels to offer customers the three "triple play" services of telephony, Internet and TV. Siemens is using the entire spectrum of broadband access techniques—from copper wires and glass fibers to radio links—to bring these entertainment services into people’s homes. Set-top boxes receive the signals and provide access to a wide range of services, such as electronic program guides—or a direct link via TV to other viewers.

At CeBIT 2006, Siemens unveiled the production version of the VDSL2 (Very High Speed Digital Subscriber Line) system, which makes it possible to transmit data at rates of up to 100 MBit/s through copper phone cables. A 50-MBit/s VDSL2 solution from Siemens is being installed by Deutsche Telekom in ten cities, while an optical system using a recently approved standard can transmit data at up to 2.5 Gbit/s. In addition, the WayMAX radio transmission system (up to 75 MBit/s) will allow telecommunications firms to provide broadband access in regions where landline connections are impractical. Such broadband systems will even enable high-definition television (HDTV) broadcasts over the Internet. To this end, Siemens Communications has enhanced MPEG-4 compression technology to reduce the required data rate from 20 to 6 MBit/s, making it low enough for DSL transmission. To turn the data into actual images, Siemens offers HDTV-compatible Gigaset set-top boxes that are equipped with 250 Gbyte hard discs and can receive TV signals via cable, satellite or DVB-T.

How to Kick a Virtual Ball

To coincide with the 2006 World Cup, Siemens is launching a penalty shootout game for camera-equipped mobile phones. The game, which is called Kick Real, utilizes augmented reality technology. The player’s foot is real, but the ball and goalkeeper exist only on the phone display. The game was produced at C-Lab, which celebrated its 20th anniversary in March of this year. C-Lab is a joint research and development lab of Siemens Business Services and the University of Paderborn, Germany. Augmented reality combines a virtual world with the real one. Images recorded with a camera can be supplemented with additional information on a display. With Kick Real (www.kickreal.com), it works like this: The player points the camera of a mobile phone at his or her foot. As the ball, which is visible on the display, is kicked, the software calculates its flight path on the basis of the player’s foot movement. The virtual ball flies into the back of the net—if it gets past the goalie.