ADVERTORIAL: Smarter, integrated technologies are driving big changes. This ranges from the devices in our hands to the way we collaborate with colleagues or even go shopping. Artificial intelligence (AI) and edge computing are already enabling industries to work more efficiently today. Recent developments show that we can expect many more massive changes in the near future.

What does all this mean for the near future? Below, together with Jurgen Janssens, Executive Director & General Manager Benelux at Lenovo, we examine 3 technologies that are already on the rise – but that will soon change our world much more.

Shape-shifting devices will drive hybrid work

Screen size remains important in the age of multitasking and the many tasks we expect from our devices. In the future, smartphones may be much smaller, but if necessary, they can be “unrolled” or “unfolded” for a larger screen. For example, earlier this year we showed off a proof-of-concept rollable PC, and Motorola showed off a prototype Rizr rollable phone at Mobile World Congress. So both have a screen that rolls out on command thanks to motors in the devices. There will also be options to “wear” your screen in the form of glasses, a trend we’ll see more and more often.

Motorola’s rollable proof of concept was first shown at the end of 2022 during Lenovo Tech World and was one of the absolute eye-catchers at the MWC in Barcelona at the end of February 2023. The prototype is compact when retracted and expands to a large screen if required.

Lenovo’s Rollable PC Proof-of-Concept showcases a flexible screen that rolls out on command to accommodate a larger screen size while maintaining its thin and light form factor. The prototype rolls out a 15.3-inch screen for additional productivity when needed (e.g. extra screen space for programmers). This rollout happens on command thanks to motors in the laptop, so employees can increase their productivity and flexibility at the push of a button.

The Lenovo Glasses T1 is a wearable personal screen for content consumption on the go. It takes a bit of getting used to at first, because for those who value portability, privacy and more screen space on the go, such a portable screen becomes the perfect companion.

Multi-Access Edge Computing (MEC) will power smart cities

In the future, intelligent cameras connected to locally installed edge servers will regulate traffic in “smart cities” and reduce pollution, traffic jams and traffic accidents.

Why Edge Computing? Multi-access edge computing (MEC) means that calculations and queries are processed in the smart city itself on-site rather than in a remote data center. This allows data to be answered within milliseconds. In Barcelona, ​​a pilot project is demonstrating the power of edge computing, with 3,000 servers across the city allowing internet devices and cameras to deliver data to where it’s needed.

In the future, edge computing could even help cities meet emissions targets by redesigning traffic lights to make cars drive more efficiently.

AI applications that are already changing the world

Artificial Intelligence is much more than ChatGPT. The AI ​​revolution will increasingly shape the world around us and help address various challenges facing humanity. A very good example of this is the Dutch start-up Serket, which uses AI and edge computing to help reduce the use of antibiotics by livestock farmers, thereby also helping to reduce the resistance of bacteria to antibiotics. They do this with an advanced AI solution that uses camera vision to increase farm productivity and monitor the health of individual animals. By tracking changes in animal behavior in real-time, Serket enables farmers to identify sick animals and intervene quickly: mortality rates are reduced, feed and veterinary costs are reduced, and the use of antibiotics is minimized.

Initially, Serket considered working directly with telecom providers to build new communications infrastructure in areas lacking high-speed Internet access. However, the company decided that this approach would be too complex, expensive and time-consuming, which limited its ability to roll out the solution globally. Instead, the company began researching edge computing solutions and quickly realized they had the potential to meet any need.

With edge computing solutions from Lenovo, Serket can extend its innovative offerings globally to improve the sustainability of global agriculture while simultaneously tackling antimicrobial resistance in one fell swoop. By replacing a pair of human eyes with cameras, their surveillance solution can monitor livestock 24/7 and detect health issues with up to 95% accuracy. The AI ​​and machine learning technologies are expected to deliver these insights in an extremely cost-effective manner, saving farmers money by enabling faster, and therefore less expensive, health interventions. And farmers are seeing their profit margins increase by an average of 15%.

This is a commercial contribution in collaboration with Lenovo. More information about their products can be found here.