FRAUNHOFER INSTITUTE FOR OPEN COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS

From June 18 to 20, 2018, Fraunhofer FOKUS hosted the 21st International Conference on Business Information Systems (BIS 2018). The annual conference focuses on trends in the development, implementation, and application of business information systems. This year, the approximately 130 participants discussed the effects of digitalization on such systems.

The Greek broadcaster ERT has launched the first of its kind HbbTV 360° Video Portal for FIFA World Cup Games in Russia. Main enabler for this offer is the “360° Video Playout” by Fraunhofer FOKUS, a unique and patented solution that enables the playback of 360° videos on nearly any device.

From 17th to 20th June 2018, President Steinmeier traveled to the west coast of the USA. The focus was a transatlantic exchange on the future of democracy in the context of digitalization. A highlight was the inauguration of the Thomas Mann House in Los Angeles. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Ina Schieferdecker, founding director of the Weizenbaum Institute and head of the Fraunhofer FOKUS, took part in the trip as a special guest.

From May 15 to 16, 2018, Fraunhofer FOKUS organized the 7th FOKUS Media Web Symposium. Year after year, the annual conference attracts more than 200 international media and technology experts from 20 countries to present and discuss the latest trends. This year we focussed on Video Streaming tech, 360° Video and virtual/Augmented Reality.

Under the motto “Internet Delivered Media – Mission accomplished?” the seventh FOKUS Media Web Symposium will take place from May 15-16, 2018. At the annual conference, more than 200 international guests meet again at Fraunhofer FOKUS to discuss the latest trends and technologies of the “Media Web” with experts from science and industry.

Understanding complex data and processes is often not easy. Researchers use 3D visualizations on curved surfaces to feel as a part of the scene. A typical example of such an application is the 3D representation of an operation on the human body, which is enriched with additional data such as ultrasound, CT and MRI images. The Virtual Reality Studio »Da Vinci« has existed at the Zuse Institute Berlin for about ten years now.

Fraunhofer FOKUS unveiled the “Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) + OPC Unified Architecture (OPC UA)” testbed together with Huawei and 18 other partners. It provides unified real-time Ethernet for manufacturing and control applications that require low latency and adherence to timely reliable communication sequences. 

At the anniversary conference of Fraunhofer FOKUS in Berlin, in addition to previous successes in applied research on digital networking, particular attention was paid to the current challenges in digital transformation in order to continue to actively shape them. About 200 guests from business, science and politics discussed this topic at the conference.