Where is the digital revolution taking us? What are scientists at leading research institutes cooking up? From 14 to 18 March, CeBIT 2016 will be giving a peek behind the curtains, offering insight on what is technically feasible today and might well become reality tomorrow. The exhibits in Hall 6 range from touch displays for 3D content to mobile construction robots and secure keys for the Cloud.
If you want to see how a conventional touchscreen can be enhanced for 3D content, make your way to the Fraunhofer pavilion at CeBIT (Hall 6, Stand B36). A small, pyramidal accessory called JUWL releases multimedia content from the two-dimensionality of a conventional screen and makes it into a holographic experience. With its flexible software architecture, this Fraunhofer Institute for Industrial Engineering and Organization IAO exhibit is meant to adapt to multiple applications – such as for interactive additions to exhibitions.
Smart 'Lego-style' fabrication and deep learning with the world's biggest image library
How might smart factories of the future work? The German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (Deutsche Forschungszentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz) (Hall 6, Stand B48) gives a potential demonstration. The Lego showcase will be presenting an innovative scenario that highlights business process management methodology for Industry 4.0. The first step involves planning a flexible process for producing over 30 different variants of tractors. With that process in place, the fully automated control and monitoring system oversees actual production within a cyber-physical system. Accounting for human work steps, the production process is visualized and analyzed using real-time models to allow for immediate reaction to any faults that arise. Another DFKI project is focused on deep learning. One new aspect of machine learning involves forming impressions from images. This skill will be demonstrated at the CeBIT based on the world's currently largest image library, Yahoo Flickr Creative Commons 100 Million (YFCC100m), to illuminate its impressive range of applications in industry, media and society.
Innovative research tools for the media, smart robots at construction sites and smartphone controls as if by magic
Journalism in the era of Big Data is the focus of the News-Stream research project presented by the Fraunhofer Institute for Intelligent Analysis and Information Systems (IAIS) at the stand of the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) (Hall 6, Stand A34). In just a few clicks, journalists can call up thousands of sources from video platforms, RSS feeds, media archives and social media, compare them and automatically evaluate them.
The researchers for the DataTwiSt project also ask “What moves the world?” This innovative software from the Institute for Informatics at Osnabrück University assesses news streams from Twitter to give politicians and businesses the ability to form an impression of current public opinion on specific topics. Results are displayed in attractive graphics (Hall 6, Stand A18).
Robots are coming on strong. ETH Zurich from CeBIT Partner Country Switzerland is demonstrating how the use of digital technologies in building construction enables brand-new approaches, with its “In situ Fabricator” (Hall 6, Stand D30). This mobile robotic system brings the performance and flexibility of digital manufacturing directly to the construction site. The “In situ Fabricator” even built the university's CeBIT stand.
Operating devices without typing: The Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) makes this dream come true. With Kinemic software, computers, smartphones and data glasses can be operated hands-free – using simple gestures or by just writing words in the air. Hand and arm movements are detected by a sensor wristband or a smartwatch and automatically translated into commands and text (Hall 6, Stand A30).
Drones as environmental assistants, charging power from the crowd, and expert insight into the future of the Internet
The construction of unmanned aircraft is the focus of the Wildau Technical University of Applied Sciences. At CeBIT, these researchers are presenting their concept for a drone equipped with state-of-the-art technology for particulate and pollutant measurement, for flight in extreme environmental conditions. In another project, an aircraft for agriculture is being developed to monitor large cultivated fields.
One problem for electric car owners is the limited number of charging stations. The CrowdStrom project, represented at CeBIT at the university pavilion for the German state of North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW) (Hall 6, Stand C30/D29), wants to help. CrowdStrom develops technologies and business models through which private electric car owners can make the outlets in their own garage publicly available when they are away.
Reports of cyberattacks against government agencies, banks and hospitals have been on the rise for years. How can such attacks be prevented, and what new dangers are in store from the Internet of Things or Connected Cars? These questions are answered at CeBIT by the Horst Görtz Institute for IT Security at Ruhr University Bochum (Hall 6, Stand D29). Scientists from the Institute will be offering daily presentations of current research results, such as innovative strategies for password assignment or the development of efficient encryption processes.
Interactive traffic light add-on, app for climbers and a secure key for the Cloud
Three teams of young scientists have qualified for the final round of the prestigious CeBIT Innovation Award. The winners will be feted in Hannover this March and given the chance to present their projects at the stand of the German Ministry of Education and Research (Hall 6, Stand A34). ActiWait from Urban Invention GbR is an interactive add-on for the signal call button on pedestrian traffic lights. It not only increases traffic safety, but also acts as a WLAN hot spot. climbtrack from the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence lets climbers analyze and document their training progress with little extra fuss. An augment reality solution also helps identify climbing routes while on the course. Two computer science students from Bonn developed Cryptomator, the first reliable client-side open source encryption for Cloud storage. It is platform agnostic and user-friendly to accommodate for less technologically savvy users.