There were two distinct tracks that emerged from the presentations I saw at IDF Beijing–emerging technology innovation and cost-savings benefits. Of course, the technology sessions and showcases reinforced these concepts, and the technology insights and Hot Topic Q&A sessions let attendees dig a bit deeper.
At every IDF there are new announcements on advancements, new releases, partnerships, and collaborations. I was struck by how many collaborations Intel has with China, both within the government (like the equivalent of the health department), with universities, and with the private sector. The growth of embedded technology in China is already making an impact on the lives of its citizens.
From the hardware side, embedded was king; and the tools, like the Embedded Design Center (EDC), will help engineers from conception to implementation of their ideas. I want to learn a bit more about board design so I can play with the board configuration part of the EDC. The software engineers have a host of tools prepared by Intel as well, such as the Atom Developer Program (ADP), the AppUp Center, and the MeeGo community site. All three offer tools, resources, and downloads to get developers moving in designing new, innovative products, and the ADP monetization model is being expanded into China, further encouraging participation in the community.
Cost-savings included everything from total cost of ownership in data centers to reducing the weight of energy-efficient vehicles to streamlining development processes when porting software from one platform to another to helping individuals save money on their utility bills. Conserving resources and time make a huge difference, and Intel is working with companies, countries, and consumers to make positive impacts on how we live, work, and play.
Energy efficiency and savings weren’t confined to the IDF sessions, but were in practical application in the Chinese National Convention Center (CNCC) and other buildings in the Olympic Village, like the adjoining Intercontinental Hotel. The CNCC is equipped with escalators that slowed to a crawl when not in use, but sped up as soon as someone stepped on. The benefits seem two-fold to me. Over time, the energy saved by requiring less power to move the equipment as quickly could be considerable, especially when multiplied across the whole building complex. Secondarily, it is slightly easier to step onto something that is moving more slowly. It isn’t an extreme change in speed, but enough to be noticeable.
Hotel rooms in the Intercontinental power down when the room is not occupied, but the room doesn’t auto-detect occupants. There is a card slot just inside the door where guests store their room keycard, and when the card is removed the lights in the room shut down. It was a bit of a shock experiencing it for the first time. Without understanding the link between the keycard slot and the lights, I called downstairs on my first night, asking why none of the lights in my room would work. Once in the habit, using the slot to store my card became a convenience too, since I always knew where the card was. Normally I’d set it on the desk, and eventually it would get mixed up with paperwork, leaving me digging for it when I needed to leave. This efficiency must save the hotel quite a lot in energy costs, since many people forget to turn room lights off when they leave.
Seeing technology solutions applied to real-world situations in novel ways that improve our experiences is precisely what Intel is helping to do. Sometimes it means that end users have to learn new skills, but if we make it fun and rewarding, they don’t mind as much, and with time, they can’t believe that they ever did it any other way.
