[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Cho] What will the future look like 30 years from now, in 2051? Passing through the 'Robogate' and boarding the future transportation 'Hyperloop' traveling at 1300 km/h, which crosses Seoul and Busan in just 15 minutes, an AI pilot's guidance message plays. “You will pass through cities affected by desertification and flooding, dock with a spaceship, and then move to the space control center.”
At 'Tium,' the ICT experience center located on the first floor of SK Telecom's headquarters in Euljiro, Seoul, visitors can catch a glimpse of a future city realized through ICT technology.
On the 14th, SK Telecom unveiled to the press the ‘Tium’ Ontact Tour program, which showcases the space and Earth environments set in the 2015 future city 'Highland' located in space and underwater. Due to the COVID-19 impact, foot traffic to the Tium experience center, which used to attract 20,000 visitors annually, stopped. Therefore, since the end of last month, SK Telecom has started the 'Tium YouTube Live Tour' using an ontact method through YouTube.
The tour begins at the entrance of Tium. Above the entrance, which resembles a subway gate, two giant robotic arms move freely, each with a large display attached at the end. The display, called the ‘Robogate,’ plays a video. “Hello? You will soon tour the future city Highland.” Passing through the Robogate, you can depart for the future city of 2051.
First, you board the future transportation Hyperloop, which travels at 1300 km/h. Inside the Hyperloop, a transparent display shows various figures and graphs. Beyond the display, you can see cityscapes affected by desertification and flooding. The AI pilot not only guides the travel route but also answers questions about the weather and more.
Upon arrival at the docking location, the Hyperloop docks with a spaceship. The spaceship heads to the space control center, avoiding meteors. Upon entering the space control center, a captain in uniform welcomes visitors. “Here, you will monitor space environments, Earth environments, and Earth's ecosystems using ultra-high-speed network technology and artificial intelligence.”
At the space control center, video footage captured by thousands of satellites orbiting Earth is transmitted via ultra-high-speed networks. Various Internet of Things (IoT) sensors are deployed inside tornadoes or installed on sea and land to collect data, which is then analyzed.
The space probe captures ultra-high-definition video and transmits it in real time from billions of kilometers away in space. It collects vast big data to predict phenomena such as supernova explosions. While reviewing footage from the probe monitoring the asteroid belt, a warning message appears, and the captain says, “Recently, massive debris caused by asteroid collisions is heading toward Earth. An emergency meeting of regional alliances in Highland will soon be held, and you expedition members will also attend.” Now, the space shuttle returning to Earth is preparing for departure.
A space control center monitoring the space environment using ultra-high-speed networks and artificial intelligence
While returning to Earth, the space shuttle encounters a tornado causing distress. The AI pilot dispatches rescue drones. Using augmented reality (AR) devices, the situation on site is checked. The life gauge of the survival capsule is monitored, and through precise scanning, a distressed person located 1 km away is found and rescue begins. Visitors can also glimpse future medical technology during this process. According to the AI doctor's diagnosis, they can experience remote surgery using the space 3D medical printer and sensory communication.
Upon arrival at the Highland underwater city, visitors participate in a hologram meeting. The World Regional Alliance discusses how to handle a massive meteorite falling toward Earth. In the hologram meeting realized through hologram media technology, the discussion results of representatives from each regional alliance appear in 3D video. To perform a mission activating the gravity field via remote robots, visitors move to the teleport room.
Finally, boarding a flight shuttle, visitors can fly over the city realized with smart city technologies such as autonomous vehicles, construction robots, solar power facilities, and urban agriculture.
SK Telecom has been operating the Tium YouTube Live Tour since last month. About 1,000 people have participated so far. It is especially popular among elementary and middle school students. Customers who wish to view can make reservations on the 'Tium' website (tum.sktelecom.com).
Song Gwanghyun, head of SK Telecom's Digital Communication Office, explained, “We implemented this imagining what it might look like as ICT technology converges and integrates,” adding, “Due to the COVID-19 impact, operating the Tium experience center has been difficult, so we planned this ontact tour.”
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