You can't keep your hat on
03 August 2010
Looking over this week’s news stories in the EPD newsletter, it’s hard not to be amazed by what’s going on around us.
The automotive story in particular is fascinating, but merely hints at our capabilities. In case you’ve not yet read it, the article is about the VisLab Intercontinental Autonomous Challenge (VIAC); a 13,000km (8,078 miles) journey from Italy to China using unmanned, solar energy powered vehicles. Over the course of the trip, the vehicles will use IBM Human Centric solutions to collect data on CO2 pollutants in the regions travelled, and use the data to assess the health and environmental impact of CO2 in those areas. In fact, the VIAC vehicles will be equipped with smartphones that monitor CO2 levels, providing a live stream of data to the web via Twitter throughout the journey.
Just a few years ago something like this wouldn’t have been imaginable, and yet now, here it is. An unmanned, solar-powered, Tweeting car. It makes everything else on the road look as antique as Mr. Benz’s first effort.
But what always fascinates me is not just that these amazing incarnations are possible, but how the very ideas behind them were originally devised. Who is it that sits at a desk, trying to avoid the lure of Solitaire and those emails that promise bigger and better things, and thinks, ‘what the world needs now is a self-driving solar-powered vehicle, that can Tweet its updates’? I’d take my hat off to that person. How anyone Tweets is a bit beyond me, let alone how an autonomous vehicle does.
But I count myself lucky that I work in this industry, and get to hear all about innovative ideas and projects. And I’ll get to take my hat off to many inspirational people later this year.
The EPD e-Legacy awards, taking place next month in London, recognise the very best in the electronics industry. You can vote now by clicking here, or follow this link to join us.
Maybe I’ll see you there – I’ll be the one wearing a hat, but frequently removing it…
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