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Philips launches home healthcare business in India; to introduce innovative sleep therapy and respiratory solutions
Philips launches home healthcare business in India; to introduce innovative sleep therapy and respiratory solutions
Philips pioneers entry into the fast-growing field of obstructive sleep apnea management and home respiratory care in India
Introduction of the Philips Respironics product portfolio to significantly drive growth for Philips Healthcare in India both in the hospital and in the home
Goa, India – Philips Electronics India Ltd, today announced its entry into the fast-growing Indian home healthcare market by introducing the Philips Respironics product categories in obstructive sleep apnea management and home respiratory care to its existing healthcare product portfolio in India. Philips’ ‚in-hospital’ position was also strengthened through the introduction of Respironics’ strong non-invasive ventilation and respiratory monitoring products for hospitals and clinics.
“The Philips Respironics product portfolio will significantly drive our growth in healthcare both in the hospital and in the home”, said Mr. Murali Sivaraman, CEO, Philips Electronics India Ltd. “A core part of Philips’ healthcare strategy is to take a leadership position in the high-growth sector of home healthcare. Our heritage in understanding how consumers think is combined with our deep clinical knowledge, putting us in a unique position to help address the modern day challenges of healthcare in groundbreaking ways. Today, Philips is present throughout the cycle of care; we are bridging the hospital and home”.
India is the first country where the Philips Respironics portfolio has been formally launched post the global acquisition of Respironics in 2008, underlining the company’s focus to build market leadership positions in high-growth emerging markets like India and China.The home healthcare market in India is estimated to grow at an annual rate of 15% in the coming years. Philips plans to garner a market share of 40% in this largely untapped market by 2013.
Philips Respironics is a global leader in the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA), a condition characterized by the repeated cessation of breathing during sleep. The occurrence of OSA is relatively high in certain parts of the population across Asia, partly fuelled by a sedentary lifestyle. It is estimated that in India, for example, close to 4% of the adult population suffer from moderate to severe OSA, with only a fraction being diagnosed.
For these reasons, it is important to properly identify and successfully treat patients with OSA and one of the primary objectives of Philips is to create awareness about this disease not only amidst the patient/ consumer but also within the general practitioner (GP) fraternity.
Philips Respironics also holds a leading position in noninvasive ventilation and home oxygen technologies to serve the needs of respiratory impaired patients in the home; this range is also being introduced into the Indian market.
Growth in the USD 5 billion plus global respiratory markets is expected to be at least 10% per annum going forward and the market for global sleep apnea management in particular is expected to show a mid-teen percentage growth rate annually in the coming years, as rising awareness of this potentially life-threatening condition leads to increasing diagnosis and treatment of OSA. In 2008 the global sleep market was approximately USD 2 Billion of which Philips Respironics was estimated to have 40% share.
The entire range of Philips Respironics solutions will first be rolled out in identified Indian metros and tier II cities with a host of programs planned including road-shows, online promotions, medical institute curriculum participation, and patient to patient interaction
About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified Health and Well-being company, focused on improving people’s lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of “sense and simplicity”. Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs approximately 121,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 26 billion in 2008, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at http://www.philips.com/newscenter.
About Philips Electronics India Limited
Philips Electronics India Limited, a subsidiary of the Netherlands-based Royal Philips Electronics, is a leader in Consumer Lifestyle, Healthcare and Lighting Systems. Philips has an unmatched range of internationally acclaimed products backed by superior design and technology and an excellent distribution and after-sales service network. Philips has been operating in India for over 75 years and employs over 4,500 employees around the country.
Philips in India is part of Royal Philips Electronics. As one of the nation’s most well-known and well-loved brands, Philips is a part of practically every Indian’s life. Philips products find a use in virtually every aspect of daily life – at home, at work and on the move. Today, Philips stands as a source of easy to use, trendy and innovative products that enhance the quality of consumers’ professional and personal lives.
Philips invests more than USD20 million in Indonesia to further accelerate the switch to energy efficient lighting solutions
Philips invests more than USD20 million in Indonesia to further accelerate the switch to energy efficient lighting solutions
Expansion of Lighting production facility in Surabaya to facilitate production of 13 million Philips MasterTL5 lamps annually
Sidoarjo, Indonesia – Royal Philips Electronics (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) today announced it has recently invested more than USD 20 million to expand its lighting production facility at Sidoarjo (Surabaya), East Java. The expansion will facilitate the manufacturing of its Philips Master TL5 lamps for global export.
The announcement was officiated today by The Minister of Industry of The Republic of Indonesia, Fahmi Idris, Chairman of the Investment Coordinating Board, Mohammad Lutfi together with Philips Chief Executive Officer, Gerard Kleisterlee. Philips fully supports the Indonesian government’s call on energy management by consistently promoting energy efficient lighting in various applications from commercial buildings to road lighting to city beautification and from homes to industries. With the availability of TL5 lamps, Philips offers yet another alternative to save energy and promote a healthier environment.
Philips invented the TL5 lamp and it is the most energy efficient lamp in the market. The TL5 offers customers a high quality lighting solution with the most attractive cost of use and payback. This is enabled by leading energy efficiency and lifetime characteristics of the PhilipsTL5 lamp.
In his opening address during the officiating ceremony, Mr. Kleisterlee said: “This clearly marks our commitment to increase our presence in emerging markets such as Indonesia. Indonesia has been a production base of our lamps since 1940, both for local and global markets, and exemplifies world class standards for the production of quality lamps.”
Commenting on the investment in Indonesia, PT Philips Indonesia President Director, Robert Fletcher said, “This new investment comes on the back of last year’s expansion of our glass furnace facility, for which we allocated USD 10 million. Both investments complement each other well and allow us to be fully integrated in producing quality TL5 lamps clearly setting us apart from competition.”
The lighting factory in Sidoarjo was built in 1940 to produce lighting bulbs. Today, Philips is the market leader for lighting in Indonesia, an achievement also garnered through the support of more than 50 distributors covering more than 50,000 outlets selling Philips lighting products in the country.
Epson Toyocom Develops World’s Smallest 32.678-kHz Crystal Oscillator
Epson Toyocom Develops World’s Smallest 32.678-kHz Crystal Oscillator
Epson Toyocom Corporation, the leader in crystal devices, has developed the world’s smallest* 32.768-kHz crystal oscillator *1. The maximum dimensions of the new crystal oscillator, known as the SG-3050BC, are just 2.2 mm x 1.4 mm x 1.0t mm. With a footprint and cubic volume that are 70% and 75% smaller, respectively, than its predecessor, the new crystal oscillator will help electronic equipment manufacturers further downsize their products while boosting performance.
In today’s world 32.768-kHz crystal devices are indispensable as clocks, microcontroller subclocks and timer functions in a variety of applications, including compact portable consumer products such as cell phones and digital still cameras. They are also essential for industrial measuring instruments and machine tools and for in-vehicle systems such as navigation systems, GPS modules, and engine control units.
In recent years heightened awareness of the need to reduce environmental impacts has been driving demand for ever more compact electronic devices that maintain greater functionality while consuming fewer raw materials and less power. As tuning-fork crystal units and oscillation circuits become smaller it is becoming increasingly difficult to design combinations with equal or superior stability and power consumption compared to their predecessors. There is demand for smaller oscillators that satisfy such performance requirements.
Epson Toyocom has responded by developing the ultra-compact 32.768-kHz SG-3050BC crystal oscillator. Epson Toyocom has already previously released industry-leading, ultra-compact 32.768-kHz tuning-fork crystal units, like the FC-12M, with maximum dimensions of 2.0 mm x 1.2 mm x 0.6t mm, and established services to support oscillation circuit design, such as „The Latest in Low-Frequency Oscillation Circuits!” (http://www.epsontoyocom.co.jp/english/tech/note/pdf/latest_lfo.pdf ). With the addition of the SG-3050BC to the lineup, Epson Toyocom now offers comprehensive solutions for both ultra-compact crystal units and oscillators.
The SG-3050BC, equipped with an ultra-compact QMEMS *2 crystal chip, is the world’s smallest 32.768-kHz crystal oscillator with built-in crystal unit. Epson Toyocom was able to shrink the size of this oscillator by using a new structure. The new structure applies Epson Toyocom’s original NPO (New Platform Oscillator) structure *3, wherein a crystal unit in a ceramic package is sealed together with an oscillation circuit in a molded plastic housing. Combining a compact crystal unit with an oscillation circuit rather than providing them separately significantly shrinks the space required. The crystal oscillators will also pay dividends in the form of greater system reliability and quality, since the crystal unit’s characteristics will be assured prior to shipment, alleviating the need for customers to design oscillation circuits or adjust output frequencies. ±5.0 x 10-6.
Epson Toyocom’s SG-3050BC is a total solution that will help customers add value to their systems by allowing them to use space more efficiently in feature-rich electronic equipment.
Glossary
*1 32.768 kHz crystal oscillator
A product that integrates an oscillation circuit and a 32.768 kHz crystal unit in a single package.
32.768 kHz crystal oscillators not only benefit users by eliminating the need to design oscillation circuits and regulate frequency stability, they also offer more efficient use of the limited space available on circuit board.
*2 QMEMS
QMEMS is a combination of „Quartz,” a crystalline material with excellent characteristics such as high stability and high accuracy, and „MEMS” (micro electro mechanical system). QMEMS quartz devices are created using quartz material instead of the semiconductors used by MEMS. We perform precision microfabrication on the quartz material to offer high performance in a compact package.
MEMS is a registered trademark of Epson Toyocom.
*3 NPO (New Platform Oscillator) Structure
An oscillator that combines a ceramic packaged crystal unit and an oscillator circuit in a plastic mold. Better heat stress absorption and vibration resistance give the NPO structure higher throughput in batch processing than ceramic packages.
About Epson
Epson is a global leader in imaging products including printers, 3LCD projectors and small- and medium-sized LCDs. With an innovative and creative culture, Epson is dedicated to exceeding the vision and expectations of customers worldwide with products known for their superior quality, functionality, compactness and energy efficiency.
Epson is a network of 93,279 employees in 107 companies around the world, and is proud of its ongoing contributions to the global environment and to the communities in which it is located. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corp., the Group had consolidated sales of 1,347 billion yen in fiscal 2007.
Seiko Epson and Sony Begin Discussions Regarding Alliance of Small- and Medium-Sized Liquid Crystal Display Businesses
Seiko Epson and Sony Begin Discussions Regarding Alliance of Small- and Medium-Sized Liquid Crystal Display Businesses
– TOKYO, Japan, March 12, 2009 –
Seiko Epson Corporation („Epson”) and Sony Corporation („Sony”) today announced that they will begin discussions about an alliance in the field of small- and medium-sized liquid crystal displays (LCDs), including the transfer of a part of business assets of Epson to Sony. The parties hope to enter into a legally-binding definitive agreement by the end of June, 2009.
To date, Epson Imaging Devices Corporation („Epson Imaging”), a subsidiary of Epson, has implemented a series of restructuring measures in its small- and medium-sized LCD business. At the same time, Epson Imaging has endeavored to shift its product portfolio while developing original high-definition and ultra-wide viewing angle technologies, based on its amorphous silicon TFT and low-temperature polysilicon (LTPS) TFT technologies. An alliance with Sony would enable Epson Imaging’s LCD technology and amorphous silicon TFT production capability to be fully utilized and broader customer demands to be satisfied.
In its small- and medium-sized LCD business, Sony is focusing on LTPS-TFT LCD, and in order to accelerate the development and commercialization process, Sony has also decided to consolidate its resources within its subsidiary, Sony Mobile Display Corporation („SMD”), resulting in a unified operation containing development, design and production to realize a stronger business structure. Through the contemplated alliance, Sony aims to increase the competitiveness of its small- and medium-sized LCD business by incorporating Epson’s wide range of technologies, in particular Epson Imaging’s amorphous silicon TFT technology, and LCD product designs and production capabilities.
About Epson and Epson Imaging
Epson is a global leader in imaging products including printers and 3LCD projectors. With an innovative and creative culture, Epson is dedicated to exceeding the vision and expectations of customers worldwide with products known for their superior quality, functionality, compactness and energy efficiency.
Epson is a network of 93,279 employees in 107 companies around the world, and is proud of its ongoing contributions to the global environment and to the communities in which it is located. Led by the Japan-based Seiko Epson Corp., the Group had consolidated sales of 1,347 billion yen in fiscal 2007.
Epson Imaging Devices Corporation is a leader of small- and medium-sized LCD products.
About Sony Corporation
Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading electronics and entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $88 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008. Sony Global Web Site: http://www.sony.net/
NEC NP500WS and NEC NP600S: Short-distance projections
NEC NP500WS and NEC NP600S: Short-distance projections
NEC Display Solutions expands its product portfolio for the education sector with two new short-throw projectors
Munich, 19 March 2009 – NEC Display Solutions is proud to present to the market two innovative LCD projector models featuring short-distance projection capability. NEC is extending its projector portfolio in the education sector with these new models and is offering an outstanding technology solution to this particular market sector. The highlight of both projectors is their virtual remote control allowing full PC control of all projector functions. The NEC NP500WS and NEC NP600S can project pictures with a diagonal of 60” from a distance of only one metre. This means that presenters don’t cast any annoying shadows nor are they dazzled by the projector itself. The two models are ideal for small rooms and are also particularly suited for meetings and training courses where interaction between the participants is best undertaken directly in front at the whiteboard.
The unique Virtual Remote function allows all the projector settings to be directly computer controlled using the VGA cable. It can simply be installed onto any computer. The software interface has been created to mimic an actual remote control unit with important buttons such as, for example, for choosing the operating mode, specifically represented. Such functionality is particularly important for the education sector where the projector is generally used by multiple people and a single remote control unit is otherwise too limited. Moreover it tends to get lost. It also means that the annoying climb over tables and chairs to switch a fixed installation-projector on or off is now no longer required.
Outstanding options for centralised network control and monitoring via the RJ45 LAN connection are additionally enabled by the PC Control Utility Pro 4 software. The NEC NP500WS and NEC NP600S have been equipped with a function allowing the programming of user-defined operating times so as to automatically switch them on and off. This can be set using the projector itself or via software-control over the entire network. Automatic error messages are also sent to the system administrator when a fault occurs indicating the source of the error, which makes maintenance of the devices significantly easier. The PC Control Utility Pro 4 software can be downloaded free of charge from the NEC homepage.
Additional practical features have also been developed for particular application within the education sector. For example, alongside the programming and alarm functions, the projectors have also been equipped with Off-Timer, Quick On and Off, and Direct Power Off. In addition, the NEC NP500WS and NEC NP600S have been equipped with an EcoMode function that even increases lamp lifetimes from 3,000 hours to up to 4,000 hours. When operating in Standby, the user also has the choice between normal standby and a special Power Safe mode featuring a power consumption of only 3 Watts. This ensures cost-efficiency as well as low operating costs (i.e. total cost of ownership.)
With WXGA (NEC NP500WS) and XGA (NEC NP600S) resolutions, the projectors also offer a contrast ratio of 600:1. Automatic vertical keystone correction of +/- 20 degrees as well as wall colour correction with whiteboard mode also ensure that the devices can be quickly set up in the most varied of deployment locations, whilst the practical connectors enable the highest possible flexibility in numerous deployment situations. The LCD projectors have been equipped with a DVI-I interface for digital signals that can also be used as a second analogue connector using the included adapter. In addition, the RS-232 interface allows the projectors to be controlled and maintained by PC. The integrated 7W loudspeakers also enhance the multimedia functionalities of the devices. With their low weight of only 3.3 kg the NEC NP500WS and NEC NP600S are ideal for fixed installations in educational facilities, or for mobile applications within companies.
Ensuring reliability and protection against unauthorised access, the projectors have been secured with a Kensington Lock connector, password protection, a lockable keypad as well as a security bar.
Availability and Price
The NEC NP500WS and NEC NP600S models are now commercially available. The recommended retail price is 1,092.00 Euros (inc. VAT) for both models. Included in the package are a network cable and a mini D-Sub signal cable, an IR remote control unit, replacement battery, protective lens cap, as well as a handbook CD and a quick setup guide. The projectors are supplied in a carry case with their accessories.
Exact representation and precise reproduction – NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC
Exact representation and precise reproduction – NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC
NEC Display Solutions expands its medical product portfolio with two color displays for radiological diagnostics
Munich, 18 March 2009 – Real-time, 3D color imaging is an increasingly important aspect of clinical medicine, for example in surgery. NEC Display Solutions is therefore proud to present two new models in its NEC MD Color series to the market to enable precise image representation within the medical sector. The NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC displays guarantee best possible color fidelity and maximum reproduction of even the finest details. Their precise image representation, even for monochrome applications, makes them the ideal successors to the purely gray-scale monochrome displays used in radiological diagnostics. The NEC High Brightness color monitors can be used as Class A diagnostic displays for the imaging, amongst others, of body extremities, head and thorax. In addition, they are particularly suited for sectional-view diagnostics in combination with 3D color reconstructions. The UA SFT (IPS) panel offers particularly wide viewing angles and the best possible display view from almost any position. The displays have also been equipped with the innovative NEC X-LightTM 3 technology with integrated RGB 3-color front sensor, which ensures full compliance with the required medical standards and fidelity of representation over the entire operational lifetime.
With the new NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC, NEC Display Solutions is expanding its medical sector displays product portfolio with 2- and 3-megapixel color displays respectively. The provider of display solutions is also meeting the increasing demand for integrating color displays into systems which formerly only required gray-scale monitors. The NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC are equally at ease in offering full-color as well as monochrome imaging. They are therefore invaluable for the detailed analysis of medical images from surgical specialisms such as internal medicine or radiotherapy, for initial radiological diagnosis, as well as for computerised axial tomography (CAT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) diagnostic scans.
The NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC offer a native resolution of two (1,600 x 1,200) and three (2,048 x 1,560) megapixels respectively, as well as a contrast ratio of 750:1 which is particularly advantageous for the reproduction of radiological gray-scale images. They can achieve a maximum native brightness of up to 800 cd/m2 (400 cd/m2 after calibration) and can therefore be used for diagnostics in Category A applications according to DIN V6868-57. With an outstanding black value, the UA SFT (IPS) panel of the NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC particularly supports the exact reproduction of gray-scale images, as required for X-ray diagnostics. In addition, with their wide viewing angles, the displays are perfect for multi-screen systems – they guarantee best possible picture viewing in even the busiest of clinical environments.
Brightness homogeneity across the entire screen of the displays is ensured by the digital uniformity control (DUC) that NEC Display Solutions has equipped the monitors with. This makes control of the brightness distribution uniformity significantly better than is required by DIN V6868-57 Category A with its limiting tolerance of +/- 15 percent. The NEC MD212MC and NEC MD 213MC also satisfy all the other requirements required for quality assurance in diagnostic displays. Amongst other features, the innovative NEC X-LightTM 3 technology also makes an important contribution in this regard, with brightness values and colour settings remaining constant and stable over the entire operating lifetime of the display. Here, an RGB 3-color sensor integrated within the front display bezel directly measures the brightness as well as white point, and automatically adjusts the backlighting to the required settings. This means that more exact measurements (i.e. exact setting values) are achieved, since the sensor being situated outside of the LCD module ensures that the measurements correspond exactly to what is being seen by the viewer.
In line with the increased networking of medical facilities, the DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine) GSDF Part 14 standard is of greatest importance since it allows the secure exchange of digital images between hospitals and for teleradiology. To this end, both NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC medical displays satisfy this standard, with the DICOM profile additionally already pre-set within the factory.
To guarantee uniform and reliable reproduction quality over the entire operational lifetime of the devices, the NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC have been equipped with the NEC GammaCompMD client software.
Within the medical sector, the ergonomics of display systems at the work place is of particular importance. The NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC can therefore be height adjusted by up to 150 mm, whilst the panel can also be rotated and tilted. With VESA-conforming fastening plates, the displays can be fixed to the wall or mounted onto a movable arm.
Excellent signal quality is ensured by the CableComp feature. Here, potential signal losses over cable lengths of up to 30 m (digital) can be fully compensated without any additional hardware.
The NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC are now commercially available from NEC Display Solutions or from certified medical equipment suppliers. NEC Display Solutions offers a three-year guarantee for its devices including backlight.
Industry standards required in the field of radiological diagnostics
For quality assurance within the field of radiology, independent sources recommend that displays employed for medical diagnostic imaging satisfy the same legal regulations as prescribed for X-ray image reproduction devices. Commissioning of the display requires a once-only conformance check be undertaken according to the DIN V6868-57 Category B or AAPM TG18 standard. The appropriate quality assurance standard may additionally require a quarterly test of the device‘s consistency. The GammaComp MD Client software and designated calibration sensor supplied by NEC Display Solutions allow the user to perform regular tests for consistency in the simplest possible way. Calibrations undertaken using this software allow the prescribed, regular checks for consistency to be straightforwardly performed. In addition, fully-valued DICOM gamma correction can also be calibrated taking the ambient lighting into account, and then electronically stored within the three 12-bit look-up tables of the display. This allows more exact colour nuances to be achieved, without losing any of the 16.77 million colors available from the display. Decalibration of the display is prevented by storing the data within the monitor, as well as by locking the display against manual adjustments.
The commissioning process, as described by the DIN V6868-57 Category A standard, also requires consideration of the diffuse illumination. This means that reflections from the display‘s outer surface, also dependent on ambient lighting conditions, need to be included within the calibration parameters.
In a fully automated system during production, all NEC MD212MC and NEC MD213MC displays are individually measured at various gray-scales. Hundreds of measuring points distributed across each display’s screen yield the basis for a three-dimensional correction matrix which is subsequently electronically-stored within the display. During operation of Digital Uniformity Control, these data serve to optimise the uniformity in color reproduction and brightness across the screen. Such distinctive capability is only offered by displays at the high-end of the product class
German Meteorological Service selects premium Japanese technology for daily weather forecasting
German Meteorological Service selects premium Japanese technology for daily weather forecasting
Tomorrow’s weather? Ask an NEC supercomputer
Offenbach/Düsseldorf, 17.03.2009 It is hard to imagine the news without the weather forecast. Yet few viewers will have any idea of the computing power required to compile a reliable weather report. Here the national meteorological services around the world are in real competition when it comes to improving their predictions. The DWD, Germany’s national weather service, is now placing its faith in a technological quantum leap by switching to the world’s fastest vector supercomputers, a move that is set to significantly enhance the quality of weather and storm forecasting. The supercomputers stem from NEC, a company at the forefront of global climate research. Switching to NEC technology will allow the DWD to increase its computing power by 45 times over its previous system by 2010. It will put the DWD in a position to compute the weather forecast not only for Germany but also for her neighbouring countries with a spatial resolution of 2.8 kilometres. This technological leap makes the DWD one of the first meteorological services in the world to use such a high resolution model in practice in an ensemble configuration.
Weather forecasting from a reliable source
„Anyone computing weather models on supercomputers is dependent on two factors: performance and reliability”, emphasises Prof. Geerd-Rüdiger Hoffmann, the DWD board member responsible for technical infrastructure at the national weather service. „In recent years NEC has demonstrated that in technological terms its vector supercomputers are practically unmatched in the field of climate research. For us the switch to the new technology is an important step that will allow us to work with ensemble forecasting in conjunction with high resolution weather models.”
Power chips from NEC
The DWD has been conducting its operational weather forecasting exclusively on NEC SX-9 series supercomputers since December 2008. Featuring the world’s most powerful vector processor (over 100 gigaflops) and highest main memory bandwidth of four terabytes per node, the NEC SX-9 computers make it possible to perform multiple forecasts on a single node, an operation that takes less than 25 minutes. In total, the forecasting system at the DWD consists of two independent clusters and the associated data processing systems. Users are able to access NEC’s global file system from all systems, a configuration that guarantees maximum reliability. In phase 1 of the installation each NEC SX-9 cluster will already deliver 4,5 teraflops of real application performance. This is set to increase to 11 teraflops per cluster by 2010. During routine operations one cluster will be used for operational forecasting, while the other will be employed for development work on the forecasting models.
„The supercomputer hype of recent years has focused on ever more computing power – in theory. But users are primarily interested in the real application performance of the computers”, explains Dr Thomas Schoenemeyer, head of HPC Presales at NEC Germany. „NEC’s supercomputer philosophy rests on two pillars: excellent performance in practice and a solely pacifist use. Our vector technology is the obvious choice, especially in the area of climate simulation.”
And the outlook for tomorrow?
The DWD employs forecasting models for Europe and Germany as well as a global model. A spatial resolution of 2.8 km for very short-range forecasting over Germany will also make it possible to simulate phenomena that are not covered by the grid of other models. A further improvement is expected from ensemble forecasting, a complex method in which 20 or more predictions are conducted simultaneously, albeit under slightly different conditions, such as changed initial values. The new NEC computers will also receive a constant supply of observational data from radar and satellite systems, which will be directly input into the computations when making numerical weather predictions.
The key facts on the technical infrastructure at the DWD were presented at a press conference taking place at the DWD in Offenbach on Tuesday, 17 March. The NEC supercomputers will then be officially unveiled in front of guests from the areas of politics, science and business, including a representative from the ministry of transport, the head of the High Performance Computing Centre (HLRS) in Stuttgart and prominent DWD clients, on Thursday, 19 March.
Flexible and cost-effective – the NEC CAT 5 system
Flexible and cost-effective – the NEC CAT 5 system
LCD public displays with integrated CAT 5 receiver now available from NEC Display Solutions
Munich, 17 March 2009 – With the new NEC CAT 5 solution for LCD public displays, NEC Display Solutions is proud to offer customers a particularly elegant and cost-effective means to aim high-quality presentational content at designated target groups. With the Minicom DS Vision 3000 distribution system, Full HD video and audio data can be easily and synchronously transmitted from a single PC to several displays. In addition, the new receiver offers the capability of controlling the displays via a RS232 interface. The signal source can be located up to 600 metres away from the public display, with neither rack cabling, external power supply, nor additional devices required. The system can also serve as a splitter and transmit information to up to 256 public displays. This is why the NEC CAT 5 solution is particularly suited for those applications requiring the deployment of numerous displays with identical content – for example, at airports or railway stations, or for the display of information in public spaces. The system is also excellent for events, exhibition fairs, as well as for digital signage applications spread over wide-ranging areas.
Whether at railway stations, events, or at the point of sale (POS), the targeted display of digital information or advertising content in spaces featuring high volumes of public traffic is experiencing ever-increasing growth. The NEC CAT 5 system for video signals has already been successfully deployed into the market for some months now. However, with its latest product NEC Display Solutions is now offering customers a version of the NEC CAT 5 system with significantly enhanced functionality. In addition to its video connector, the new receiver model now offers an audio output port as well as a RS232 interface. The new device is ideal both for deployment in completely new installations as well as for upgrading existing systems.
The new CAT 5 receiver is compatible with all NEC LCD public displays that have been equipped with an Option Slot. The NEC Option Slot concept allows the receiver to be completely integrated within the display. Additional external accessories available also include a Minicom splitter and broadcaster.
The Minicom DS Vision 3000 distribution system has been designed to directly transmit content from a single signal source to up to 128 NEC LCD displays. Since only one PC is required for the transmission, the set-up costs for hardware and software licences are considerably reduced. Thanks to the NEC Option Slot’s modern installation technology, neither connecting cables between display and receiver, nor additional power supplies are required. For back-to-back installations via the VGA output port, one CAT 5 receiver is sufficient for both displays. Such a deployment application allows content to be presented on 256 NEC LCD displays, with the tremendous scalability impacting positively on overall costs.
Space-saving and inconspicuous, the system also fits perfectly into every kind of environment. In addition, the NEC CAT 5 solution also offers customer exceptional flexibility with regard to the location of the system. For convenient positioning in spaces of varying size, the CAT 5 receiver is available in a Short and Long version. Depending on cable length, signals can be transmitted with superb quality over distances from 110 to 600 metres. This means that the integrated NEC Display Solutions’ CAT 5 solution is the perfect and elegant solution for simultaneous data transmission within smaller retail spaces, at the POS, as well within exhibition fairs and at similarly large-scale and extensive events.
The RS232 interface not only allows displays to receive a signal but also allows them to transmit signals in response – e.g. for maintenance purposes. For even more realistic and vibrant imaging, the NEC CAT 5 system also supports Full HD resolution.
Availability
NEC public display solutions with integrated Minicom CAT 5 receiver for landscape or portrait applications are available for the following NEC public display models: MULTEOS M40 and MULTEOS M46, NEC MultiSync® LCD4020 and MultiSync® LCD4620, as well as Multisync® LCD5220 and MultiSync® LCD6520. The models are all now available with immediate effect. NEC Display Solutions offers a three year guarantee for the complete NEC CAT 5 solution.
NEC Philips new Business ConneCT 4.1 responds to market demand for affordable Unified Communications
NEC Philips new Business ConneCT 4.1 responds to market demand for affordable Unified Communications
All-in-one Contact Centre, Operator and UC solution now available across all platforms
With the introduction of Business ConneCT Release 4.1, NEC Philips Unified Solutions (NEC Philips) responds to customer needs to urgently increase revenues and improve employee flexibility and productivity, particularly in the present economic climate.
Building on the successful market uptake of this versatile all-in-one Unified Communications suite, Release 4.1 makes Business ConneCT functionality available across all of the company’s communications platforms, including NEC’s recently introduced UNIVERGE SV8100 and SV8300 series.
Since its introduction several thousands of organisations have taken advantage of the affordable UC solution that Business ConneCT offers, with close to 100.000 end users using its services every day – a number that is rapidly increasing.
Enhanced functionality, scalability and networking
With Release 4.1 networks of NEC Philips iS3000 PBX systems can be supported, making Business ConneCT functionality available to all network users including centralised telephony operators. Attractive new features include sophistication of presence management with PC presence indication (enabling to see whether or not someone is at his/her desk), enhanced information about callers in the operator queue and functionality to improve contact centre agent efficiency.
In this latest version, Business ConneCT scales up to 750 full smart client desktop users and 150 agent users, while it supports up to 4000 extensions of which 2000 active employees can be served simultaneously.
Placing people at the centre of communications
Business ConneCT implements NEC’s UNIVERGE 360 vision and strategy – placing people at the centre of communications – and enhances customer contact, improves employee reachability and reduces costs.
NEC developed Business ConneCT as its all-in-one Unified Communications solution which allows employees to switch easily between various roles in a company, i.e. desktop user (employee), contact centre agent and operator.
The solution is based on state of the art Microsoft® .Net technology, runs on a single server while users have access on their desktop or telephone (mobile, DECT) terminals. Smart integration with NEC’s IP DECT terminals provides unique real-time presence and directory services on these terminals.
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