The world's largest trade fair featuring digital information technology and telecommunications solutions for home and work environments, CeBIT, took place last week from Tuesday to Saturday.
With more than 4 200 companies, from 70 countries, participating this year, CeBIT 2012 showcased a wealth of solutions and innovations. Here are only 10 of the vast selection of products and innovations presented at the event.
1. The Childpad: Consumer electronics company Archos presented its child-friendly tablet PC “Childpad”. The kiddie-customised tablet features child protection that ensures kids stay safe while surfing the Internet, plus there is a parental control function. The seven-inch tablet features an Android 4.0 operating system, with 28 of the most popular children's apps pre-installed.
2. Metro Microsoft: Microsoft presented its new “Metro collection” for all platforms. The new interface - the point of contact between the user and the application - features a distinctive tile design. Metro focuses on the user, making it easier to interact with complex processes.
3. Portable PC: Motorola exhibited what it terms a “truly magical transformation” with the Motorola Atrix, which enables users to “take your desktop PC with you wherever you go”. The smartphone is placed in the lapdock notebook docking station - turning it into an 11-inch laptop. The Atrix works with the Android operating system and a dual-core processor.
4. Smart Hub: Samsung showcased its new Optical Smart Hub SE-208BW, which enables seamless wireless communication between tablets or smartphones and new external burners. Photos and other data can be burned directly to CD or DVD and content can be streamed to cellphones or tablets via the hub.
5. Real depth: David Vision Systems presented the David Laser Scanner, which can capture an object in 3D. A handheld laser is used to sweep a laser line over the object, while a camera records the process. The associated software then creates a three-dimensional image, designing a digital photo album with real depth.
6. Small computer for full-scale viewing: Acer Computer GmbH exhibited the REVO RL70, a multimedia computer that transforms televisions into Internet-enabled multimedia multi-taskers. The mini-computer broadcasts HD-quality videos directly on the television. The device has an integrated hard drive with up to 750GB and optional Blu-Ray drive.
7. Dock and display: Display manufacturing company AOC put on show a full-HD monitor that also serves as a docking station for an iPhone or iPod. YouTube videos and other clips are transmitted from the iPhone to the AOC e2343Fi and sound comes from a loudspeaker hidden in the base of the monitor, which can also play music when the screen is switched off.
8. Imaginary interface: Hasso-Plattner demonstrated its “Imaginary Interfaces”, allowing hand movements to be used wherever switches are usually required, be it for lights, music or television. These movements, across any surface, are translated into commands by depth-sensing cameras.
9. Going in circles: Google+ promoted its new network that works with circles, by highlighting how users can set up appropriate circles for each area of their lives. Within these circles, links, photos and thoughts can be shared and seen only by those who you want to see them.
10. Tablet notebook hybrid: German technology design company Novero showcased a device that combines the advantages of a notebook with those of a tablet. The display of the model, Solana, can rotate in its frame and changing the operating system is elementary. Solana works with Google's Android system and Microsoft's Windows 7.
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