CeBIT 2010, 2 to 6 March Hot Topics - No. 8

Rapid decision making help for managers

Managers wishing to quickly make the right decision in strategic matters require fresh, reliable and comprehensive information. In order to ensure that competitiveness and corporate success are not just a lottery, META-LEVEL Software AG has developed the web-based document and knowledge management system, META-DOK, which it is presenting at CeBIT 2010.

The corporate software solution has a wide range of features and provides a good solution for the central administration of documents and their archiving in line with auditing guidelines. It is suitable for companies of any size and the information stored is available at all times, irrespective of the user's physical location, via secure access to the company's Intranet or the Internet. META-DOK supports global processes with its multilingual user interface, which includes Chinese, Japanese, Cyrillic, Greek and Arabic character sets. Documents are automatically full-text indexed and can be found quickly using a range of search options. Staff can be automatically informed about changes and receive news items by subscribing to particular topics. A sophisticated authorization system also allows selected information to be exchanged with partners and customers.

META-LEVEL Software AG
Saarbrücker Straße 51
66130 Saarbrücken
Germany
Tel.: +49 681 99687 0
Fax: +49 681 99687 99
www.meta-level.de
Contact at CeBIT 2010:
Peter Raber



Practical ideas for connected homes

Is it possible to connect the kitchen, living room and fitness room in a practical way? The answer to this question is provided by the Connected Living association, which will be demonstrating practical solutions at CeBIT 2010. These go well beyond the well-known energy assistant systems that can help to use heating and lighting efficiently.

It will be shown at the association's stand how computers can be used to influence everyday processes, such as collecting data in the fitness room required to provide the basis for developing a training and nutrition program. The chef assistant monitors supplies in the refrigerator and provides a shopping list on the digital display when stocks begin to run low, as well as displaying recipes for the ingredients on the shopping list. When cooking, the stove, oven and microwave can easily be monitored from the television in the living room. The so called living lab has been put through its paces at Berlin Technical University and is intended to help test concepts and appliance technology in all manner of sectors for relevance to everyday tasks and user acceptance.

Connected Living e. V.
Ernst-Reuter-Platz 7
10587 Berlin
Germany
Tel.: +49 30 31474 001
www.connected-living.org
Contact at CeBIT 2010:
Yusuf Özcelik
Hall 9, Stand A40



English lessons in a virtual mansion

English is globally the most important language. Fluent communication and perfect grammar are now a pre-requisite for many jobs. Koblenz-Landau University in Germany therefore presents a new English tuition program at CeBIT 2010, including playful animations, interactive communications channels and complex graphic elements.

Tingo Lingo is the name of the innovative program. A virtual tutor guides users through a fantasy villa called Grammar Mansion, in which the various furnishings represent grammar topics. There are 38 uniformly structured modules consisting of puzzles, grammar chapters and self-tests at various levels.

Before stepping into the mansion, participants first take an entrance test in order to determine their grammatical skills. The results of this test are then used to define individual learning goals. Flash animations illustrate complicated concepts and glossaries explain grammatical terms. Interactive communication with a tutor and other participants is also possible.

Universität Koblenz-Landau
Isaac-Fulda-Allee 3
55124  Mainz
Germany
Tel.: +49 6131 37460 0
Fax: +49 6131 37460 40

www.uni-koblenz-landau.de
Contact at CeBIT 2010:
Dr. Isabel Martin
Hall 9, Stand C39



Google rolls into CeBIT 2010 with its "Street View" vehicles

Stroll along streets, do some window shopping, or take a look at a hotel. This is currently possible in 19 countries from the comfort of your own home with Google's Street View. The 360 degree photo service is also set to start in Germany in 2010. The company will be presenting its project at CeBIT 2010.

Internet giant Google is coming to Hannover with its Street View vehicles in order to showcase the cars with cameras on the roof. The vehicles have already been driving through the streets and lanes of Germany for months in order to collect photographic data for the map service, as Germany is set to become the 20th country in the world in which one can take a look around the streets at the click of a mouse, thanks to Google.

The company has compromised on certain points with regard to its launch in Germany: faces and car registration plates will be automatically made anonymous before the service is launched and original photos will be deleted from databases. Residents can also apply to have the view of their house removed from the Google service. Prior to the launch of the Street View service, the company will be available to provide information about the project at CeBIT 2010. Michael Jones, Google's Chief Technology Advocate, will be demonstrating, at 2 pm on 2 March in the Convention Center, how the service works and the opportunities it presents.

Google Germany GmbH
ABC-Str. 19
20354 Hamburg
Germany
Tel.: +49 40 808 179 000
Fax: +49 40 808179 001
www.google.de
Contact at CeBIT 2010:
Lena Wagner
Hall 6, Stand K 32



Internet and traditional postal services are brought closer together

The sending of letters could experience a renaissance in the 21st century thanks to so called hybrid mail. This term describes the combination of online communications and classic letters and refers to a letter that is not posted in a traditional post box but is still handled by the postal services. Visitors at CeBIT 2010 to the Frankotyp-Postalia (FP) stand have the chance to send such online letters from there.

The FP group is offering two such solutions: FP webmail can be used for individual letters. By downloading the software, users are granted access to a virtual printer; rather than the user printing out the letter, he or she sends it via the Internet to the FP printing center where it is processed, which means printing, franking, enveloping and transfer to a delivery service with the optimal postage charge. FP businessmail works in a similar way but offers further possibilities. For example, the customer can provide specific details about the processing of the letter and specify the use of company headed notepaper and/or envelopes.

This service allows the transfer of print data in a wide range of formats and all manner of sizes.

Francotyp-Postalia Holding AG
Triftweg 21-26
16547 Birkenwerder
Germany
Tel.: +49 3303 525 0
Fax: +49 3303 525 399
www.francotyp.com
Contact at CeBIT 2010:
Sabina Prüser
Hall 3, Stand D08



Playful immersion in 3D worlds

Computer games provide a good way of taking a break from everyday life. And NVIDIA will be demonstrating at CeBIT 2010 how 3D worlds can be made even more realistic on home computers with standard displays.

A pre-requisite is an LCD display with a refresh rate of at least 120 Hz and a computer with Windows Vista or 7. The computer is simply fitted with an NVIDIA-Geforce graphics card and then the user just needs to put on a pair of 3D shutter glasses in order to enjoy the realistic 3D representation of computer games to the full.

NVIDIA GmbH
Adenauerstr. 20 A4
52146 Würselen
Germany
Tel.: +49 2405 478 0
Fax: +49 2405 478 030
www.nvidia.eu
Contact at CeBIT 2010:
Guido Bischoff
Hall 16, Stand C31, Next level 3D



New App integrates iPhones etc. into the fixed line network

New functions that are made possible by a new App for use at home with iPhones and smartphones that have the Android operating system are highlighted for visitors at the AVM stand at CeBIT 2010.

The cell phones can connect to a FRITZ!Box via WLAN and can then be used for fixed line calls and functions such as telephone book, answerphone and caller list. It is also possible to forward incoming fixed line and VoIP calls to the smartphone via the FRITZ!Box technology. Outgoing calls can also be made from smartphones via the FRITZ!Box.

AVM GmbH
Alt-Moabit 95
10559 Berlin
Germany
Tel.: +49 30 39976 0
Fax: +49 30 39976 299
www.avm.de
Contact at CeBIT 2010:
Samira Jordan
Hall 13, Stand C48


Carbon neutral web conferencing

The benefits for the environment and budgets resulting from meetings held online rather than in the "real world" are demonstrated by Netviewer AG at various events during CeBIT 2010. For example, a live webinar about the potential benefits and added value provided by web collaboration will start at 11 am on 2 March on the large forum stage in the "CeBIT green IT" area in Hall 8. The discussion will be chaired by Daniel Holzinger and corporate decision makers will be talking about specific scenarios that involve the realization of cost savings, process optimization and active climate protection.

On the following day, the 3rd March, the company will be holding a panel discussion at 4.30 pm on the theme of "green IT with web collaboration". Online conferences and remote support don't just help companies achieve cost and competitive advantages but also help make an active contribution to climate protection. The event will be chaired by Internet publicist Tim Cole and decision makers and experts will be discussing experiences, application scenarios and trends.

Netviewer AG
Erzbergerstr. 117
76133 Karlsruhe
Germany
Tel.: +49 721 354499 115
Fax: +49 721 354499 300
www.netviewer.com
Contact at CeBIT 2010:
Oliver Schwartz
Hall 8, Stand C30, CeBIT green IT



Everything you always wanted to know about the traffic reports on the radio

but didn't dare to ask, can be found out at CeBIT 2010 at the stand of German broadcaster Norddeutscher Rundfunk. NDR will be showing visitors how traffic information is processed and distributed on the radio - from the incoming message to editorial processing and then the broadcast. The broadcaster will also be explaining about other distribution channels, such as TMC for satnav devices, Internet and DAB. Another special service is also available in Germany via the NDR traffic studio hotline: a personal message box for important information about specific travel routes. From the first day of the trade fair, listeners can simply set up a personal message box via their computer and then call the hotline at any time to receive traffic information about their personal route.

An American 1950s cabriolet will also be on the stand. Visitors can climb in and find out how TPEG can be used to easily and quickly call up nationwide German traffic reports, flight information, current information about public transportation and parking information while on the road. And visitors wishing to be caught on a speed camera without having to suffer any nasty consequences can take their personal speed trap photo home with them.

Norddeutscher Rundfunk / NDR
Rothenbaumchaussee 132
20149  Hamburg
Germany
Tel.: +49 40 4156 0
Fax: +49 40 41563678
www.ndr.de
Contact at CeBIT 2010:
Bernd Nehls
Hall 6, Stand J25, ARD's traffic report service on the radio



The simultaneous interpreter that fits in a briefcase

When automated speech recognition, automated translation and speech synthesis are combined, the result is an automated simultaneous interpreter, which researchers from the Anthropomatics Institute at Karlsruhe Technology Institute in Germany are presenting to the public at CeBIT 2010.

The simultaneous interpretation system, which can be used for lectures and parliamentary debates, recognizes and translates speech in real-time. The user can select to receive output as text on a laptop or via directional speakers. A new type of loudspeaker system that uses ultrasound can be used for this. The system directs a beam at specific listeners and those in the immediate vicinity are unable to hear the translation.

Karlsruher Institut für Technologie
(Karlsruhe Technology Institute)
Kaiserstr. 12
76131 Karlsruhe
Germany
Tel.: +49 721 608-0
Fax: +49 721 608-4290
www.kit.edu
Contact at CeBIT 2010:
Monika Landgraf
Hall 9, Stand A02/1



- Andrea Staude, Deutsche Messe Hannover -