Welcome to the world of IoT
Annual event of the initiative.ulm.digital
On November 12, 2018, the doors of the Ulm Stadthaus opened to more than 400 curious visitors. Under the motto Internet of Things (IoT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), the evening was led by Andreas Buchenscheit, Managing Director of CORTEX media GmbH and Chairman of initiative.ulm.digital e.V., among others.
Internet of Things in Ulm
Starting with the invention of the barcode in 1952, by 2010 there were already more “connected things” than people in the world. It’s hard to believe, but we are in the middle of the age of the Internet of Things – and not just since yesterday. To ensure that this is now also reflected in our minds and to highlight the progress of the IoT (Internet of Things) in Ulm, initiative.ulm.digital e.V., together with CORTEX media, has brought together a number of experts from the Ulm region and throughout Germany and invited them to a themed event in the Stadthaus.
After the opening of the event and a warm welcome by Heribert Fritz, Chairman of initiative.ulm.digital e.V. and Managing Director of UNO GmbH, the two Lord Mayors of Ulm and Neu-Ulm – Gunter Czisch and Gerold Noerenberg – spoke about how they can take the twin city even further forward in terms of digitalization. In the recently published Digitalization Compass 2018, the city of Ulm was ranked 14th overall among the 401 cities and districts assessed, making it one of the most digitally advanced cities in Germany. In addition to Ulm Mayor Gunter Czisch’s digitalization offensive, this is probably due not least to theLoRaWAN (Long Range Wide Area Network), which Buchenscheit introduced in Ulm in 2016. This network provides the necessary foundation for the IoT, as it can be used to send sensor data over a long distance throughout the entire city district, for example. Another antenna was recently installed on Ulm Minster, which was put into operation on the evening of the event. This important gateway has perfected the coverage of the radio network in Ulm. Neu-Ulm can also rejoice, as the “LoRaWAN finds its way across the Danube”, says Neu-Ulm’s Lord Mayor Gerold Noerenberg, pleased about several antennas that will be transmitting on the Bavarian side in future.
Buchenscheit then took the numerous visitors on a journey through time through the Internet of Things. Only very few people knew that it all began back in 1952. The visitors were amazed at how the IoT has developed over the years, what already falls under the term Internet of Things today and, above all, what is yet to come – also with the help of LoRaWAN.
From theory to practice, three board members of initiative.ulm.digital e.V. Antonija Scheible, Chief Digital Officer of SWU Stadtwerke Ulm/Neu-Ulm GmbH, Björn Semjan, Managing Director of systemzwo GmbH and Gerhard Gruber, Managing Director of eXXcellent solutions gmbh, presented specific applications for the Ulm/Neu-Ulm region. For example, sensors can be used to detect whether a parking space is free or occupied, thus minimizing search traffic. The fill levels of garbage cans can also be detected and, if they are full, emptied in good time. In future, Stadtwerke Ulm will also digitally read electricity consumption. Pedestrians will be interested in the new solar-powered benches, which have a charging and heating function as well as free and, above all, secure Wi-Fi.
These examples clearly show the benefits of artificial intelligence and IoT. Coupling human capabilities with those of machines creates clear added value for people and their environment. This is why research is also continuing to work on the countless areas of application for IoT and AI, as Prof. Dr. Frank Kargel, Professor of Distributed Systems at Ulm University and member of the advisory board of initiative.ulm.digital e.V., reported afterwards.
The final presentation of the evening was given by Andrea Martin, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for IBM in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and a member of the Enquete Commission, which advises the Bundestag on issues relating to artificial intelligence. She explained that artificial intelligence is “not the one system that you can buy and put in your basement”, but rather is made up of skills and perceptions as well as reason and conclusions. AI is by no means intended to replace humans, but rather to help them make better decisions by processing enormous amounts of data. Martin sees artificial intelligence as an important element of progress and is convinced that it will soon be taken for granted.
At the end of the series of lectures, all the speakers were in agreement and bid farewell to the crowd of visitors with the message: if data security regulations are adhered to, nobody needs to be afraid of digitalization, the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence. The subsequent discussion and networking continued into the night, accompanied by music and food and drink, and both speakers and visitors were able to take home numerous new impressions and insights.
After the opening of the event and a warm welcome by Heribert Fritz, Chairman of initiative.ulm.digital e.V. and Managing Director of UNO GmbH, the two Lord Mayors of Ulm and Neu-Ulm – Gunter Czisch and Gerold Noerenberg – spoke about how they can take the twin city even further forward in terms of digitalization. In the recently published Digitalization Compass 2018, the city of Ulm was ranked 14th overall among the 401 cities and districts assessed, making it one of the most digitally advanced cities in Germany. In addition to Ulm Mayor Gunter Czisch’s digitalization offensive, this is probably due not least to the
Buchenscheit then took the numerous visitors on a journey through time through the Internet of Things. Only very few people knew that it all began back in 1952. The visitors were amazed at how the IoT has developed over the years, what already falls under the term Internet of Things today and, above all, what is yet to come – also with the help of LoRaWAN.
From theory to practice, three board members of initiative.ulm.digital e.V. Antonija Scheible, Chief Digital Officer of SWU Stadtwerke Ulm/Neu-Ulm GmbH, Björn Semjan, Managing Director of systemzwo GmbH and Gerhard Gruber, Managing Director of eXXcellent solutions gmbh, presented specific applications for the Ulm/Neu-Ulm region. For example, sensors can be used to detect whether a parking space is free or occupied, thus minimizing search traffic. The fill levels of garbage cans can also be detected and, if they are full, emptied in good time. In future, Stadtwerke Ulm will also digitally read electricity consumption. Pedestrians will be interested in the new solar-powered benches, which have a charging and heating function as well as free and, above all, secure Wi-Fi.
These examples clearly show the benefits of artificial intelligence and IoT. Coupling human capabilities with those of machines creates clear added value for people and their environment. This is why research is also continuing to work on the countless areas of application for IoT and AI, as Prof. Dr. Frank Kargel, Professor of Distributed Systems at Ulm University and member of the advisory board of initiative.ulm.digital e.V., reported afterwards.
The final presentation of the evening was given by Andrea Martin, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for IBM in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and a member of the Enquete Commission, which advises the Bundestag on issues relating to artificial intelligence. She explained that artificial intelligence is “not the one system that you can buy and put in your basement”, but rather is made up of skills and perceptions as well as reason and conclusions. AI is by no means intended to replace humans, but rather to help them make better decisions by processing enormous amounts of data. Martin sees artificial intelligence as an important element of progress and is convinced that it will soon be taken for granted.
At the end of the series of lectures, all the speakers were in agreement and bid farewell to the crowd of visitors with the message: if data security regulations are adhered to, nobody needs to be afraid of digitalization, the Internet of Things and artificial intelligence. The subsequent discussion and networking continued into the night, accompanied by music and food and drink, and both speakers and visitors were able to take home numerous new impressions and insights.