IFA Gala 2016 - (From left to right) Miss IFA; Jens Heithecker, Executive Director, IFA; Dr. Reinhard Zinkann, Chairman Household Appliances Divisions ZVEI; Hans-Joachim Kamp, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of gfu. Photo courtesy of Messe Berlin / IFA 2016

Berlin, Germany - September 03, 2016

• Whirlpool, Panasonic, Nokia and Bragi Tap IBM Watson Internet of Things Technologies to Change the Way We Live

At 2016 IFA Berlin – one of the world's leading trade shows for consumer electronics – IBM will be joined by some of the biggest names in the industry to highlight how Watson IoT technologies are poised to drive a new wave of innovation in the home and play a key role in one of the biggest technological transformations in the history of the world.

IBM, joined by top European clients, opens its Watson Internet of Things (IoT) global headquarters in Munich, Germany for the cognitive era. (From left to right) David Kenny, CEO, The Weather Company; John Kelly, senior vice president, Solutions Portfolio and Research, IBM; and Harriet Green, general manager, IBM IoT & Education; Laurent Martinez, SVP, Head of Services Business Unit, Airbus; and Matthias Rebellius, CEO, Siemens Building Technologies. Photo courtesy of IBM / Stephan Sahm

Whirlpool, Panasonic, Nokia and ‘hearables’ pioneer Bragi and 3D-printed, autonomous car Olli, will join IBM’s Global Head of Watson IoT, Harriet Green on stage at IFA.

Together they will highlight the power of cognitive computing and how it’s helping deliver on the full potential of the Internet of Things: transforming our relationship with the physical world and making appliances, machines, devices, homes and cars better, safer, more intuitive and interactive.

According to Harriet Green, Global Head of IBM Watson IoT:
“Millions of sensors are giving appliances and devices eyes and ears, increasing their inbuilt intelligence and enabling them to interact with us better.”

Harriet Green, Global Head of IBM Watson Internet of Things. Photo courtesy of IBM

“The challenge is that over next few years, the Internet of Things will become the biggest source of data on the planet. That’s where IBM’s Watson cognitive computing system comes in. Watson uses machine learning and other techniques to understand this data and turn it into insight, which can help automate tasks, enable manufacturers to design better products, innovate new services and enhance our overall quality of life – especially in the home. And with cognitive technologies, interactions with ‘things’ through natural language and voice commands will dramatically improve,” added Green.


Examples of companies tapping IBM’s Watson IoT platform include:


Whirlpool: Enhancing Lives at Home

Whirlpool is using Watson technologies to help deliver superior customer service and enhance people’s lives at home by enabling its home appliances to connect with and interact with one another and their users.

IBM at IFA Berlin Global Head of IBM Watson IoT, Harriet Green, with Olli the autonomous vehicle at IFA Berlin. Photo courtesy of IBM / Thomas Koehler

For example, a Whirlpool washing machine will communicate directly with a Whirlpool dryer letting it know what kind of laundry load to expect and the optimum drying program to use – saving precious time and helping to reduce energy consumption in the home.

IFA Gala 2016 - (From left to right) Dr. Christian Göke, CEO, Messe Berlin GmbH; Michael Müller, Governing Major of Berlin; Hans-Joachim Kamp, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of gfu. Photo courtesy of Messe Berlin / IFA 2016

Using sensors and cognitive intelligence, appliances will learn about how people use them giving design feedback to Whirlpool’s engineers and offering new levels of assistance to consumers for re-ordering detergents, filters and other supplies directly from online retailers.


Panasonic: Creating Smarter, Safer Homes

Panasonic is also exploring how Watson’s unique machine learning and natural language processing capabilities can help transform the services it provides to consumers – giving them greater peace of mind knowing that their homes are comfortable, safe and secure.

IBM Watson Powers Wave of Innovation in Consumer Electronics for the Home. Global Head of IBM Watson IoT, Harriet Green (front) with David Tuerk, Panasonic’s European General Manager for Smart Home (left), Norbert Schmidt, Vice President Product and Brand Whirlpool EMEA (center) and Cedric Hutchings, GM Nokia Health (right). Photo courtesy of IBM / Thomas Koehler

One of the areas in focus is home safety and security where Panasonic’s security cameras and sensors to detect movement, glass breakage, door and window opening, will be coupled with Watson’s cognitive computing capabilities.

IFA Gala 2016 - Dr. Reinhard Zinkann, Chairman Household Appliances Divisions ZVEI; Jens Heithecker, Executive Director, IFA (r.) Photo courtesy of Messe Berlin / IFA 2016

Thanks to video analytics, a home security system would know not to react if the neighbours’ children are just fetching their football, but will automatically alert the police or security services if likely intruder tries to scale a fence to enter the property.


Nokia: Transforming Healthcare

More connected homes are safer homes for vulnerable family members especially the elderly. Cognitive and IoT technologies are opening up new opportunities for the discreet monitoring and care of elderly and sick people at home.

IBM and Nokia are exploring opportunities to integrate IBM Watson IoT with Nokia wearables and smart devices for home care.

Their goal is a system that helps to detect and alert to caregivers to potential problems such as: deviation from daily routines, abnormal vital signs and sudden changes in the home environment.

IFA Gala 2016 - Miss IFA Photo courtesy of Messe Berlin / IFA 2016

Voice activated interfaces in the home will be able to take simple commands (such as ‘call an ambulance’) and offer reminders to take medicines or turn off appliances.


Bragi: Putting the Power of IoT into the Ear

Bragi – an early pioneer in the hearables market – has turned to IBM to help develop innovative business solutions for the workplace.

IBM and Bragi Put the Power of Watson IoT into the Ear. Global Head of IBM Watson IoT, Harriet Green (right), tries Brag's smart earphones powered by Watson IoT, with Bragi Executive Vice President, Darko Dragicevic. Photo courtesy of IBM / Thomas Koehler

The company’s smart earphones, The Dash, are some of the world’s most powerful micro-wearable computers with 27 unique sensors that can measure a user’s vital signs while augmenting their communications and interactivity.

With Kickstarter funding, Bragi has already successfully launched The Dash onto the consumer market for sport and recreation.

IFA Gala 2016 - Michael Müller, Governing Major of Berlin and Miss IFA. Photo courtesy of Messe Berlin / IFA 2016

Now, tapping the language translation and speech-to-text capabilities of IBM’s Watson IoT platform, Bragi plans to apply its hearable technologies to transform the way people interact, communicate and collaborate in the workplace.

The vision is for users to use the headset to receive instructions, interact with co-workers and enable management teams to keep track of the location, operating environment, wellbeing and safety of workers.

The two companies are even looking into how head gestures could enable users to respond to instructions or send commands for simple tasks such as turning the page in an instruction manual during hands-on or dangerous tasks.

IFA Gala 2016 - Günther Oettinger, European Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society and Miss IFA. Photo courtesy of Messe Berlin / IFA 2016

More about IBM Watson IoT,
visit: www.ibm.com/iot  

More about Whirlpool,
visit: https://www.whirlpool.com/press-and-media/  

More about Panasonic,
visit: http://www.panasonic.com/global  

More aout Bragi,
visit: www.bragi.com/press  

More about Nokia,
visit: http://company.nokia.com/en/news/press-releases  


Contacts information

Jonathan Jessop Batty
IBM Watson IoT
jonathanb@uk.ibm.com  

Natalie Kujat
IBM Germany
Natalie.Kujat@de.ibm.com  

Dagmar Domke
IBM Deutschland
dagmar.domke@de.ibm.com  

Bettina Klinken
Whirlpool
bettina_klinken@whirlpool.com  

Anne Guennewig
Panasonic
anne.guennewig@eu.panasonic.com  

Wendy Zajack
Nokia
wendy.zajack@nokia.com  

Jake Duhaime
Bragi
jake.duhaime@bragi.com  

IFA 2016: The global innovation platform keeps growing: more innovation, more companies, more space

• IFA growth story continues – IFA has its first additional exhibition grounds – Positive market sentiment

Berlin, 31 August 2016 – Increased by 13% the number of exhibitors to 1,823 and a rented area of 158,000 square meters (+5%) for the first time are the best indicators that IFA 2016 will be a roaring success.

IFA Gala 2016 - (From left to right) Hans-Joachim Kamp, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of gfu; Benedict Kober, Board Spokesman, Euronics; Dr. Christian Göke, CEO, Messe Berlin GmbH. Photo courtesy of Messe Berlin / IFA 2016

IFA has thus further validated its position as the world’s most important trade show for consumer and home electronics.

No other trade show worldwide unites so many distributors, buyers, industry representatives and media from across the world in one place at such an ideal time of year.


IFA Global Markets: the new IFA b2b marketplace

For the very first time in 2016, IFA will be opening up an additional exhibition space, STATION Berlin, outside of the main exhibition grounds, ExpoCenter City.

IFA Global Markets is exclusively for trade visitors.
This venue offers buyers and sellers in particular a central marketplace which brings together suppliers, component manufacturers, OEMs, and ODMs and their potential customers and partners in the CE and home appliances sectors.

IFA Gala 2016 - Alexander Dobrindt, Federal Minister for Transport and Digital Infrastructure. Photo courtesy of Messe Berlin / IFA 2016

On 10,000 square meters of exhibition space, more than 300 exhibitors from countries including China, Denmark, Germany, France, Japan, Korea, Austria, Poland, Slovenia, Taiwan, and Turkey will be presenting their latest product highlights and services.

IFA shuttle buses will be departing regularly from Hall 26 and 6.2 at the main exhibition grounds, Berlin-Tegel airport, and selected hotels in Berlin.

There will also be a free brunch from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The IFA trade visitor ticket includes entry to IFA Global Markets.

IFA Gala 2016 - Wayne Carpendale Photo courtesy of Messe Berlin / IFA 2016

Dr. Christian Göke, CEO of Messe Berlin:
“IFA brings the smartest players together in one location: industry, retail, media, and the public. We are delighted to be able to continue IFA growth story and make IFA 2016 the largest ever.”

IFA Gala 2016 - Miss IFA and Dr. Reinhard Zinkann, Chairman Household Appliances Divisions ZVEI. Photo courtesy of Messe Berlin / IFA 2016

Jens Heithecker, IFA Executive Director:
“IFA is both the world’s largest public trade show for consumer and home electronics and the most efficient business meeting place for these industries.”


Market trends

Global sales of approximately 814 billion euros is anticipated in the consumer electronics sector for 2016.

This is slightly below last year, bearing in mind that the performance of the euro against the US dollar has played a particularly strong role in recent years.

The global market for electronic domestic appliances is once again expected to perform well overall in 2016.

IFA Gala 2016 - Culcha Candela. Photo courtesy of Messe Berlin / IFA 2016

“Pioneering, exciting developments, innovations and trends have always taken center stage at IFA. This impressive mix is what makes IFA such an ideal platform for successful business developments. This is certainly part of why IFA is the world’s most important trade show for acquiring business, with a recent order volume of more than 4.35 billion euros, and the most important platform for trade and industry at the start of the strongest time of year for sales in the run up to Christmas. We expect IFA to deliver significant, positive results again in 2016,” says Hans-Joachim Kamp, Chairman of the Supervisory Board at gfu Consumer & Electronics GmbH, the organizers of IFA.

IFA Gala 2016 - Wayne Carpendale and Judith Rakers. Photo courtesy of Messe Berlin / IFA 2016

“The major home appliances global market is characterized by a steady growth within the last years. To exclude currency effects it’s best to look at statistics based on units. In 2015 the growth was another 1%, rising to 486 Mio. units sold worldwide. The corresponding value is near 180 billion US Dollar" says Dr. Reinhard Zinkann, Chairman of the Home Appliances Division at ZVEI.

IFA Gala 2016 - Ulrich Meyer, TV host; Georgia Tornow, journalist. Photo courtesy of Messe Berlin / IFA 2016

“Small appliances performed even better in 2015, with a growth in sales about 5 %. The total global market estimation is nearly 1.3 billion sold small appliances, with a value close to 70 billion US-Dollar. The business is especially driven by a variety of different product groups. IFA home appliances is the place to be. A meeting place packed with innovations for consumers’ needs. Innovations which help to make life at home easier, more comfortable, and even more entertaining”, Dr. Zinkann continues.

IFA Gala 2016 - Bonnie Strange, actress, model, designer, singer. Photo courtesy of Messe Berlin / IFA 2016

New hall segment: Smart Home

More than 40 exhibitors from 15 countries will be presenting their latest smart home products and services across 3,000 square meters in Hall 6.2. More than 150 partners will also be showcasing their smart home solutions on their stands.


IFA Keynotes

The smart kitchen, connected cars, virtual reality and the internet of things are the top topics at this year’s IFA Keynotes.

IFA Gala 2016 - (From left to right) Miss IFA; Sophie Schütt, actress; Alexandra Kamp, actress. Photo courtesy of Messe Berlin / IFA 2016

Prominent figures, people from the consumer and home electronics and related industries who are driving the digital evolution and revolution, will be sharing their personal visions for digitalization at the IFA Keynotes 2016.


IFA+ Summit: pure future

On 5 and 6 September, under the motto of “Exploring the Digital Society”, experts at the IFA+ Summit will be revealing the latest developments in artificial intelligence, robots, virtual realities, and autonomous vehicle.

The IFA+ Summit will be opened on 5 September by Axelle LEMAIRE, the French Minister of State for Digital Affairs, at 11 a.m. at CityCube Berlin.


IFA Berlin

IFA is the world’s leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances.

It will take place from 2nd to 7th September 2016 at the Berlin Exhibition Grounds (ExpoCenter City).

New in 2016 is the first ever IFA Global Markets, which will be held at Station Berlin from 4th to 7th September 2016.

This additional exhibition space enhances the IFA experience for trade visitors and experts.


Source: IFA Berlin / Messe Berlin

http://www.ifa-berlin.de/en/  



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