By Damian Koh
01/09/2006
URL: http://asia.cnet.com/reviews/home_av/others/0,39037627,39407333,00.htm

At IFA 2006, the annual consumer electronics fair which runs for six days in Berlin, Dutch giant Philips showcased and demonstrated some of its next-gen, market-ready concepts and prototypes at the Future Zone. (Photos by Damian Koh)

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BERLIN, GERMANY--Some say you can't teach an old dog new tricks. That's apparently not the case for Philips. At its Future Zone booth at the IFA 2006 tradeshow, the Dutch giant proves you can still breathe new life into existing day-to-day products with cutting-edge technology.

Most of the concepts displayed at its Future Zone booth are the result of innovation and research focusing on various aspects of living. The exhibition presents a vision of a connected lifestyle and how technology can be tailored to each individual's user needs and preferences. Minority Report, step aside.

From 2D to 3D

2D car-racing bores you? Here's what you need. Based on the company's WOWvx techonology, Philip's new 20-inch 3D 4YOU display uses built-in lenticular lenses which provide the viewer a three-dimensional experience without the need for special viewing glasses. All you have to do is connect the screen via the standard DVI port to a PC, do some configuration, and you're ready to go. And after you've had enough of the 3D experience, you can switch seamlessly back to the usual 2D environment. Beware, though, because this display will set you back a cool 4,000 euros (US$5,124) and is slated to arrive in early October this year. If you have deep pockets, you can opt for the 9,995 euros (US$12,807) 42-incher which is currently available.

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Game on this tabletop
A game of Chess or Snakes and Ladders with the folks? Time to retire your childhood boardgame and take a look at Philips' new Entertaible--short for Entertainment Table. This new gaming concept combines the social component of traditional tabletop games with the interactivity that comes with electronic gaming. Even though the Entertaible is targeted initially at bars, restaurants and hotels, it is a must-have item for frustrated parents who can't get their kids to have a proper meal at the table. We were young once, so we totally understand the need to play games while eating. The screen measures 32 inches across, has a touchscreen interface and supports multiplayer gameplay. Heck, you can even spill some coffee or vent your frustration after losing a game on the table and not have to worry about sending it in for servicing or, in more extreme situations, replace with a new one.

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Talk to my clothes

Fancy the girl at the corner of the pub but ran out of pick-up lines? You'll need Photonic textiles which feature a flexible array of color light-emitting diodes (LEDs) fully integrated into the fabric. If you're into serial dating, you can't be using the same pick-up line throughout the night. Not to worry, because Photonic textiles can be interactive and are limited only by the boundaries of your creativity. All you have to do is type the message that you want to appear on yourself (corny as it may sound), send it via Bluetooth or GSM to the built-in sensors, and voila, you have a new message beaming across your chest or back. We can't wait for the day when we have these LEDs flashing directly on our bodies.

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Mirror, mirror on the wall

Who's the smartest of them all? Land is scarce and it's all about being creative when you want to save space. At the Philips Simplicity booth, a flat-screen TV doubles as a mirror when not in use. But what's the biggie? All you have to do is wave this stick called a Wand (yes, a wand, an electric one, just like those used in magic shows), gesture a couple of motion strokes, and kaboom, the mirror rotates from portrait to landscape orientation--the action which switches on the TV.

To make it even better, a horizontal panel of speakers, which initially camouflage themselves as background decoration, curl up at both ends to give you a surround sound system once the TV is activated. There's also Mercury, which is a home media center sitting beside your sofa. Slot in a music CD and you can start listening to audio without ever having to move your butt. Put everything we've mentioned together and you get Philips' next-gen Illusion system--a home entertainment concept that's as simple as pointing at what you want.

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Touch me not

Move aside, Post-it notes. In Touch is the next big thing. In short, this nifty device is a mirror that transforms into a touchscreen message center upon activation. You can leave a note in the form of text, picture, video or voicemail by simply writing on the screen with the dedicated stylus or your finger. To delete a read message, all you need do is hold your stylus on the message for a few seconds and it will be deleted. You can also send an SMS or MMS via this board. The process is as straightforward as drag-and-dropping the message to a portrait photograph of a family member on the screen. Now who doesn't want one of these in their homes?

amBX me

Enough with the fanciful names already. amBX, unabbreviated, stands for Ambient Experiences. Are we looking at something similar to the Ambilight technology currently available in the company's flat TVs? Yes and no. Ambilight TVs and amBX are guided by the same philosophy--that is, to let consumers interact with technology in the simplest way possible. What's unique, though, is that amBX allows individuals to generate effects where, when and how they intend it to be experienced. For instance, you will be able to feel the wind from a plane, or a blast from an explosion with a set of fans. Now you can "feel" the game instead of just watch and hear it. The core peripherals of the amBX consist of LED multicolor lights, a 2.1 sound system, fans and a vibration unit. Talk about an immersive gaming experience that literally blows you away.

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