– Member Academies – All

21 Oct Intelligent Objects

National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2009
The “digitization” of the world has advanced: New “intelligent” applications of the information and communication technologies were developed for both business and everyday life. A plethora of electronic assistants have entered offices, factories, stores, apartments and vehicles. Integrated with clothing or as body implants, intelligent objects come ever nearer to the human being. The authors describe the technological developments that made the triumph of intelligent objects possible. They point out economic potentials and social consequences and discuss ways to a successful development of the segment of intelligent objects.
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21 Oct Intelligent Objects – Small, Networked, Sensitive

National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2009
A new technology is changing society and demands creative innovations. Visions of “intelligent” clothing and “intelligent” houses have been under discussion for quite a while now. In the meantime, the technology—perhaps not widely noticed—has achieved a new quality, however. The change does not only affect Germany’s economic future but also our individual living and working worlds. acatech makes recommendations for an economically successful and socially acceptable development in the sector of intelligent objects. Suitable framework conditions should be created so that Germany will be able to exploit the economic potential of this technology without it putting at risk the freedom and autonomy of the individual.
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21 Oct Cyber-Physical Systems. Innovation through software-intensive embedded systems

National Academy of Science and Engineering (acatech)
2009
Cyber-physical systems address the close link of embedded systems for the monitoring and control of physical processes by means of sensors and actuators via communication facilities with the global digital networks (“cyberspace”). Through event chains, this type of system makes possible a connection between events in physical reality and the digital network infrastructures available today. This allows for multifarious applications with great economic potential and strong innovative power. The full exploitation of the potential requires targeted scientific efforts, however, in the development of such systems in terms of methodology, technology, expenditure control and functional adequacy.
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21 Oct Artificial, man-made, Intelligence

National Academy of Technologies of France (NATF)
2009
The dream of creating an artificial Intelligence (AI) is as old as the computer, if not as old as humanity (think of Golem). Since the fifties, theorists like Alan Turin have expressed their belief that machines could match men in performing complex tasks in an intelligent way. Despite the continuous advances of computers can we really say that they have intelligence? If so, how does it relay to human intelligence? The document defines AI and answers many such questions as: what characteristics of human intelligence can be modelled, what are the concepts and tools for AI, what are the industrial successes of AI techniques, how far can and will AI go and what further efforts are needed for future developments of AI?
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21 Oct Future Internet: Global Challenges – National Opportunities

Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences (NTVA)
2009
The report addresses various aspects of the Internet; History, status and future options are discussed. One motivation is to relate the technological challenges and objectives to societal needs and trends. There are also descriptions of several technical areas that has to be improved.
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21 Oct Lecture Series in Mobile Telecommunications and Networks

Royal Academy of Engineering (UK) (RAEng)
2009
A transcript of three lectures that took place between March 2008 and February 2009.  The first of these lectures was titled  ‘wireless networks to sensor networks and onward to networked embedded contrtol’, delivered by Professor PR Kumar.  The second was ‘To the edge of chaos? The complexity and the promise of a technology and service-neutral future’, delivered by Professor Linda Doyle.  The final lecture was delivered by Prof Dr Ing Peter Vary and was titled ‘From plain old Telephony to flawless mobile audio communication’.
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21 Oct Engineering Values in IT: A joint study by The Royal Academy of Engineering, the Institution of Engineering and Technology and the British Computer Society

Royal Academy of Engineering (UK) (RAEng)
2009
This report concludes that IT systems engineering has reached the point of maturity where it is a codified discipline that must be recognised as a required capability for system developers. Education and training providers must ensure that they keep up to date with current research and understanding in this area. This report also argues that IT systems development requires the professional qualities of integrity and ethics essential to all areas of engineering and it requires good professional judgement, exercised in the interest of the client, to make all necessary compromises between costs, timescales, features, risk and technical feasibility. This report recommends that IT professionals therefore work to achieve chartered status. In order to stimulate uptake of chartered status, procurers of large IT systems in government and industry should employ chartered professionals to lead and manage projects, particularly in the development of systems with implications for safety or national security.
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21 Oct ICT for the UK’s Future: the implications of the changing nature of Information and Communications Technology

Royal Academy of Engineering (UK) (RAEng)
2009
This study aims to consider the importance of the IT base for the UK economy, examine the present and projected state of UK IT-related business activity in a global context and identify potential opportunities for improvement.  The report makes several recommendations including enhancing the UK’s IT infrastructure; recognising and addressing critical gaps in IT capability; and exploiting UK leadership in key technology areas. In terms of infrastructure, the report concludes that 100% broadband availability is required. In the area of IT capability our workforce skills must be extended to promote full computer literacy in our schools, enterprise and public sector.  Action is also required to ensure better awareness in boardrooms of the potential and the pitfalls of business change facilitated by new IT systems. In the area of research, development and innovation, it is essential to ensure UK universities and businesses effectively partner.
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