1. Cheap solar energy
Product group. Cheap systems of transforming solar energy into heat and/or electric energy, capable of acquiring this energy at costs comparable to traditional technologies (based on fossil fuels).
Scope of application. Technological developments in the product group based on the use of solar energy as the primary source of energy supports changes in the energy sector and is of major importance for numerous other sectors. The products of this group will make an attractive export, especially to countries with high sun exposure. There is a potentially large market e.g. for agricultural irrigation systems based on such energy sources. In conjunction with other technologies leading to more economical use of the available energy sources (for example, energy-saving LED lighting), we will reduce gas emissions into atmosphere, improve the availability of food and water, and advance health condition in large rural areas of the Earth, without increasing the consumption of fossil fuels.
State of the art. Costs are the main area in the general use of solar energy in generation of electricity. They include the costs of production of high-efficiency cells that turn solar energy into electricity and costs of systems for storing energy. The current state of the art allows the forecast that there are realistic perspectives of lowering these costs by 2020.
Development of solar collectors using nano-composites based on organic conductors, much like the ones making use of large-particle polymers imitating biological processes, allow hope for cheap, high-opportunity devices with the capacity of mass production, able to meet the economic requirements in five years. Moreover, the progress and development of the technology for applying nanotechnologies in the production of batteries, and especially the advent of batteries making use of nanoparticles and nanostructures with greater capacity for storing energy, provide the opportunity to construct small, cheap devices for storing energy necessary to control solar collectors.
2. Wireless communication technologies
Product group. Equipment for wireless tele-IT communication. It includes both the development of mobile and fixed wireless communication. An important part of this range are products based on satellite communication.
Scope of application. The main problem that slows down the development of landline communication in rural areas with scattered development is the “problem of the last mile”. Wireless technologies will significantly decrease the costs of producing access infrastructure in this segment. The development of mobile applications lets people continue in their professional and social roles without being tied to a specific worksite. Improving the level of health and education by access to medical information and documentation, and access to online schools in the regions where students and teachers cannot regularly reach specific physical locations are just a handful of benefits. Generally speaking, the development of wireless technologies shall help to equalise the standard and quality of life in urban and rural areas. The access to wireless communication may facilitate economic development and have not insignificant influence on rural communities by a major improvement of conditions for running business, living, and flow of information and ideas, etc. Wireless communication in rural areas may also allow e.g. monitoring of the resources (as well as populations of wild animals), the natural environment, and measure pollution, helping thus to improve environmental protection.
State of the art. General and dynamic development of wireless technologies is a fact. They are relevant both in urbanised areas and in those with very low population density. It is a technology with forecasts of further dynamic growth. In the perspective of 2020, wireless technologies are expected to become a significant element of telecommunication technologies, especially in the areas of low population density and low requirements for data transfer capacity per square kilometre.
3. Multimedia communication devices
Product group. Devices for communication and data storage that will ensure comfortable and permanent access to information sources irrespective of the location and distance between the user and the soirce, providing uninterrupted both communication and data storage. These include both wireless and fixed devices, with a growing capacity for local storage of not only text but also metatext with the layer of context information, images, voice, music, video, and film. The above includes devices capable of serving also next generation networks (NGN).
Scope of application. Devices for communication and direct access to all forms of information will result in changes of social life, allowing people communication and access to complete information resources, irrespective of their location. Mobile telephones and PDAs have already begun changing the way we communicate with others. Citizens’ access to information and general public services offered by offices, public institutions, and health care centres will expand. Online access to schools, universities, and knowledge bases will increase, which will revolutionise current educational systems. Multimedia devices and NGN networks will provide new impulses in the development of all economic sectors. Access to information at every place and time finds also its use in the military, as it facilitates planning, execution, logistics, and support functions. Both the encryption and indivigilation technologies will enter a new level. The broadening of communication channels will accompanied by a permanent increase in the volume of available information.
State of the art. The vision of devices and networks presented here has been implemented for a number of years already. Progress in the production of commercial devices, as e.g. integration of voice, text and image, and including video transmission with e.g. PDAs continues. Even if not all the concepts will have become reality by 2020, it is highly probable that the above will be true for all the techniques that have proved their usefulness and forecasted value in practical use.
