The roads are full of self-driving cars, industrial machinery orders parts via sensors, refrigerators are online – scenarios like these illustrate the progressive digitisation of our world. At the sixth TÜV NORD Dialogue in Berlin, 100 guests looked 35 years into the future.
“In 2050, cars and fridges will be part of a networked environment and will communicate with one another. Supply chains and production processes will also be networked in Industry 4.0 and function without human intervention“, explained Dirk Stenkamp, Member of the Board of Management of TÜV NORD GROUP.
The trend observer Mathias Haas also provided an insight into current and future technological developments; if their reliability has been tested and proven, robots are more trustworthy than people. He demonstrated this based on an investigation by the Technical University of Ilmenau, which successfully used a robot in the recovery process of hospital patients.
“We want to be and will remain the people who ensure security. The transformation of the electro-mechanical world into a digitised world requires a high degree of flexibility”, said Steinkamp. “But one thing will never change – and that is our independence in the testing and inspection tasks we undertake.”
“2050 – Creating Trust through Security” was the theme of the Dialogue in the Group Representative Office. Jörg Thadeusz led a discussion group where participants included Dieter Janecek, Economic Affairs Spokesperson for Bündnis 90/Die Grünen and the Start-Up entrepreneur Ghazaleh Koohestanian. With her company re2you, she has developed a technology which allows data and Apps to be used independently of device operating systems. She called for a code of practice to protect copyright and prevent unhindered collection of data. TÜV NORD would be able to provide active support for this process.
But despite the urgency for companies to prepare and adapt to the digital future, Mathias Haas warned about pushing things too far. He described some of the very odd things that can be found in Silicon Valley these days: for example a digital fork which vibrates if the user eats too quickly!
About TÜV NORD GROUP
With over 10,000 employees, TÜV NORD GROUP is one of the largest technical service providers, offering its advisory, service and inspection expertise in over 70 countries throughout the world. Areas of activity include Industrial Services, Mobility, IT and Training. TÜV NORD GROUP occupies a unique position in the sector based on its work in the fields of natural resources and aerospace and is firmly committed to its guiding principle and watchword: “Excellence for your business”.