Technology fair wows media, APEC delegates

BUSAN ― Entering the information technology exhibition hall at the Bexco convention center in Busan, you are greeted by a humanoid robot that ushers you to where you can experience the “ubiquitous world,” the slogan of the seven-day fair. On one side of the 6,000-square-meter (64,580 square feet) hall, KT Corp., Korea’s biggest fixed-line telephone company, demonstrates WiBro, its high-speed wireless Internet service. WiBro affords users fast access to the Internet on portable gadgets such as mobile phones and laptop computers. “It is amazing to see such highly developed wireless communication technology here. We are very hopeful of signing a contract with KT so that we can provide the WiBro service in my home country,” says Rufino Carneiro, a businessman from Brazil who came to see and sample WiBro technology. Over at the robot booth, “T-Rot,” an intelligent robot, mixes drinks for visitors, while “Kibo” sings and dances to children’s songs at a kindergarten staffed by robots. One of the highlights of the exhibition is “Albert Hubo,” a robot resembling Albert Einstein. Powered by 31 miniaturized motors in its face, the robot can make as many as 10 different facial expressions. Developed by researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, the robot stands 1.35 meters (4 feet, 4 inches) tall, weighs 57 kilograms (126 pounds), can walk around 1.25 kilometers (just under a mile) per hour, and even has a voice similar to that of the late scientific genius. Hosted by the Information and Communication Ministry on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum, the information technology fair is showcasing the latest technologies developed by Korea’s leading companies. “The fair is not only meant to publicize our advanced information technology, but also to let other countries around the world know how information technology changes the world and contributes to improving human beings’ quality of life,” an official from the ministry said. “Aside from the commercial aspect, I hope this exhibition boosts the developing world’s access to modern technology,” Information Minister Chin Dae-je said at the opening ceremony, attended by about 300 government officials, company leaders and politicians. On the other side of the hall is a digital garden that serves as a waiting room for summit delegates. On either side of the pathway leading to the garden are crystal display screens depicting “digital ponds,” and the “fish” underfoot dart off as you walk nearby. According to the Information Ministry, 21 world leaders will pass through the exhibition hall to the summit venue on Friday, and whenever one of them strolls through the waiting room, Mr. Chin will be on hand to deliver short impromptu speeches publicizing Korea’s advanced technologies. At the venue, leading Korean companies such as Samsung Electronics, LG Electronics, SK Telecom and KT are exhibiting their newest innovations. Samsung is showcasing a land-based digital multimedia broadcasting cell phone that it says is the world’s first. The company is also displaying a WiBro cell phone that looks just the same as regular mobile handsets. LG is showing off its “time machine” digital multimedia broadcasting phone, which is able to record up to 60 minutes of television output while enabling the user to make phone calls at the same time. SK Telecom, the nation’s leading wireless operator, is displaying its satellite-based television service for mobile phones. The exhibition will be open only to those participating in the APEC summit and the press until Saturday, while the general public will be able to visit the venue from Nov. 20-21 free of charge. by Seo Ji-eun