3 of the coolest technologies at the Shanghai 2010 Expo

World Expos were originally created in the 1800s to show off technical innovations in industrializing countries. By the late 1900s many displays were accurately predicting what the world would look like in a few decade's time. So what is the Shanghai 2010 Expo predicting for the future? 

Below are three interesting trends proposed in the 2010 Shanghai Expo.

The city central control display in the Cisco Pavilion VIP room.

2010 Expo tech trend: Connected cities

Where to find it: Cisco Pavilion, Corporate Pavilions Area.

American IT giant Cisco envisions a future where every individual, building and business is connected to each other and their city services via an advanced information system built on cloud computing. You will talk to your friends, family, boss, doctor and teacher via floor-to-ceiling teleconference screens in your home. A city control center will monitor your energy use and recommend you turn lights off. Parts of this vision are already being implemented in South Korea’s New Songdo City -- a massive US$35 billion city built from scratch. 

Most of this 2010 pavilion is not open to the public. The real technology is hidden in a VIP room where Cisco receives government delegations from China and abroad every week. There they discuss turning this vision into reality. 

“We are here to show how IT can play a vital role in the mass urbanization to come in China,” says Anthony Elvey, Cisco’s World Expo 2010 director.

Don't leave without seeing: The video concierge at the entrance -- you can interact with them and it’s how Cisco envisions you will talk to friends, family and public services in future. 

Expo tech fact: All the technology depicted in the pavilion’s public movie has been already developed -- it’s not just imagination.

What's a wind cowl you ask? You're looking at one. It's just one example of the energy technologies employed by the ZED Pavilion.

2010 Expo tech trend: Zero energy homes

Where to find it: ZED Pavilion, Urban Best Practices Area (UBPA)

The ZED Pavilion demonstrates how homes and offices can have a net zero energy footprint by generating their own energy onsite. ZED Pavilion’s solar panels generate 350 KWh per day, wind cowls on the roof cool air entering the building and a biomass machine fuels the kitchen cooker with biogas from food waste. 

London-based architect firm ZED Factory is behind the 2010 pavilion and their Expo offering is a Chinese government-backed trial for adapting technologies used successfully in London to China. 

“If the trial is successful, other Chinese cities have shown interest in implementing this model,” says Jaki Faulkner of ZED Factory. “The time is right -- China recognizes that this is the future.” 

Don't leave without seeing: The restaurant. Odd we know, but trust us, it's cool: the cutlery is edible, the beer is low carbon, and the furniture is made from industrial waste found on the Expo site.

Expo tech fact: It’s possible for individual buildings to produce enough energy to cover their own consumption, or even more to give back to the grid.

This Partner Robot in display at the Japan Pavilion can play the violin with highly pressure-sensitive fingers.

2010 Expo tech trend: Robot Helpers

Where to find it: Japan Pavilion, National Pavilions Asia Area

The Japanese pavilion showcases the Zen of balancing technology with tradition, nature and holistic thinking. Like traditional Japanese homes before air-con, the pavilion building has a hollow floor and six eco-tubes for ventilation. Toyota’s one-person hybrid car is nimble enough to do a dance from a traditional Noh drama. The Partner Robot, also by Toyota, can play the violin with highly pressure-sensitive fingers, an upgrade from the model at the Aichi Expo in 2005 that played the trumpet. 

“We want to emphasize the importance of harmony between technology and our thoughts and hearts,” says Hiroshi Tsukamoto, commissioner general of the Japanese Pavilion. “The main show draws attention to the importance of our mindsets.”

Don't leave without seeing: The Partner Robot.

Expo tech fact: According to Tsukamoto, 40 percent of all robots in the world are in use in Japan and robots have great potential to take over simple tasks from people. The Partner Robot was developed to help the elderly and can also serve meals and do laundry.