Enabling technologies for a smart future featured strongly at the recent CommunicAsia 2014 exhibition in Singapore, writes Nicholas King
CONNECTIVITY, once thought of as the future, is today’s reality. The Internet, social media, mobile apps, smart and wireless technology dominate our daily lives.
We now look towards fostering a culture of living in smart cities where the integration of such connectivity drives our next phase of living.
SMART HOME, SMART CITY
“The basis of a smart city begins with a smart home,” says Tecom managing director Wesley Huang, a Taiwan company that aims to provide affordable smart home system solutions utilising smartphones and tablets.
“The blueprint for a smart city has to begin with the home because it is where the heart is. It is your haven from the outside world. With today’s technology everything is doable with your smartphones and tablets. It makes sense to make these technological extensions not only a part of you but a part of your home as well.”
According to Huang, costly smart home systems can be made affordable when companies focus on the more basic elements of smart home technology like security monitoring and alarms such as fire sensors and light control at its barest, omitting more complex features like eco-energy control unless the client insists or is able to afford the more premium package.
“Smart home systems in Taiwan are becoming commonplace and more can afford them because these offer all the necessities to protect your home or turn it into your one-stop hub. Then, by linking the system with our smartphones and tablets, the prospect of people wanting to adopt a smart home system becomes much more appealing, accessible and practical,” says Huang.
“Imagine choosing and buying groceries in your neighbourhood without having to leave the house and knowing your home is safe from intruders while you’re on vacation. All you need is your Android or iOS smartphone or tablet to get the job done.”
“You can even work from home with video conferencing and a stable Internet connection, turning your living or study room into your office space. You no longer need dedicated devices to make the system work,” he adds.
AUTONOMOUS DRIVING
Car makers will tell you that the technology for automated cars has long existed but unrefined. The real question is our mindset and adoption of autonomous vehicles as part of our daily lives.
Sean Kim, a researcher at Singapore-MIT Alliance Research and Technology collaborated on a four-year project with other engineers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Singapore on the Mobility-on-Demand system which can transform any electric car into an autonomous machine.
He says plans are afoot to commercialise it at a much lower price.
“It doesn’t mean we don’t like, driving,” says Kim. “It only takes away the moments we don’t like such as when you’re sleepy behind the wheel or when you don’t want to spend time finding a parking spot.
“Actually automated driving is already very much possible but social acceptance is another thing — from insurance to safety and the mindset — where you are not at the wheel.”
FLEXI-WORKING
The choice to work from home or in a cafe is always appealing, but there’s also no substitute for office space when you need to hold meetings or work in a group. “Let’s face it. People work everywhere nowadays. Often, these places just aren’t conducive work environments,” says Regus Singapore commercial director Jori Messer.
Specialising in concept and setting up mobile offices, Messer notices that office trends in Malaysia have also shifted to a more nomadic, performance-driven culture.
“We’re actually always connected — the practice of 9-5 is no longer the norm. Employees want to be measured for productivity and not the hours they clock in,” says Messer.
“Still, older managers fear flexibility because they may not be able to keep an eye on employees, while some employees are worried that without a working space, they will find it hard to communicate and interact with superiors and colleagues.
“Offices need to be mobile,” adds Messer, “people don’t want to invest in furniture and space. They want mobility and productivity. You’re going to want to use the real estate in your business organisation to work for you rather than work to make the space financially salient.
“A permanent office space is too costly to maintain if you don’t have the staff volume to justify the cost, especially when most of the time they are out engaging clients.
“The freedom to move around will allow companies to put to good use the money saved such as reinvesting in human resources to boost productivity and motivation, in addition to reducing commuting and down time. Sustainable living and working in proximity is key to adapting to market needs.”