TecWatch at IFA

The TecWatch area at Berlin’s consumer electronics fair IFA presents the results of non-commercial research. So rather than being presented with finished products, this is where researchers demonstrate technology which is being developed long term, like this game.

For example, the MP3 player was presented here in 1997.

Italian scientists have developed a voice recognition system for television sets. The viewer simply tells the set what to do – change channels, pause, turn the volumn up etc. It can be used in a noisy environment, and it is able to distinguish voice commands from the sound produced by the TV itself. Italian scientists say this technology could be integrated into a Smart Home – and it could be especially useful for disabled people.

Developers also presented a web-based system of car sharing. You download the software onto your mobile phone and use it to contact other users and arrange car-sharing in real time. Developers are now looking at the personal security aspects of the system, and plan to add a star rating system and user histories to help people stay safe when using it.

For more information about the fair see:
tagURLhttp://www.ifa-berlin.com

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tags: Germany, Technology