Pictures of the Future    Spring 2007

In Brief

^? Cities are attractive because they provide inhabitants with a wealth of opportunities for realizing their dreams. The criteria that make a city worth living in include: low levels of crime and pollution, plenty of job opportunities and good public transport for high mobility. Siemens is implementing solutions for cities on all continents, including London, São Paulo, Moscow, St. Petersburg and Chicago   
^{more at Trends, in the interview with Harald Mieg and Christian Hoffmann, at 
 Facts and Forecasts, in the articles on Brazil, Moscow/St. Petersburg and  Chicago}

^? In a research project backed by Siemens, 522 decision-makers from 25 of world’s largest cities provided detailed information on the greatest challenges they face. Solving traffic problems has by far the top priority. Although environmental issues also play a major role, they sometimes take a back seat to economic growth in expanding cities   ^more

^? Security is a major factor affecting the subjective quality of life in cities. Siemens offers video surveillance solutions for train stations, airports and streets. Siemens technology has, for example, made the port of Rotterdam one of the world’s safest    ^more

^? Noise is irritating and can easily make life in cities unbearable. Not only does Siemens reduce the noise emissions of power plants to a tolerable level, it also uses various techniques to make subways, diesel locomotives and high-speed trains very quiet   ^more

^? In the future, electric light in cities will increasingly be provided by light-emitting diodes (LED) that are particularly energy-efficient and durable. Osram is also developing organic light-emitting diodes (OLED), and both technologies could one day revolutionize general lighting   ^more

^? Navigation systems are becoming a part of everyday life. Not only do they steer drivers to unoccupied parking spaces, they also guide visitors through museums   ^more

^? e-government can simplify public administration and make it more citizen-friendly. Siemens is implementing numerous solutions for authorities and municipalities   ^more