Innovations in AsiaAsian countries are no longer just a place to get cheap labor or programming skills. Innovation is on the rise. Although Asian countries have been able to leverage their cost advantages and software coding prowess to attract outsourcing companies from around the world, the region is rapidly moving up the value chain to challenge U.S. leadership in software coding. 'innovation. The phrase “made in China,” which has become a norm for the general population, is now being replaced by “designed in China.” Today, Asia's leading electronics exporting countries are actively pursuing strategies to establish themselves as new sources of innovation and global standards. Therefore, this arguably indicates that it is no longer possible to assume that global innovations and standards necessarily emerge first in a few global “centers of excellence,” particularly the United States. Asian countries have demonstrated to the world that they have the knowledge, skills and capabilities. develop advanced technologies, which in turn will attract foreign investment and strengthen their position in the world. These five articles are just a few examples of the many recent innovations in Asia and demonstrate Asia's commitment to excellence and first place in all fields. 1. Cars that brake when you don't November 14, 2005 Honda has created a vehicle and its new gadgets to avoid any possible accident on the road. The Advanced Safety Vehicle (ASV-3) uses satellite technology to calculate the optimal speed and applies the brakes when necessary. For example, if a vehicle is about to hit you, a 5.8 GHz radio signal informs the on-board computer which in turn alerts the driver and simultaneously brakes for you. “ASV-3 offers the prospect of safer, more comfortable and worry-free driving,” says Akihiro Kubo, Honda's executive chief engineer at the company's research and development center in Tochigi, just north of Tokyo. Unfortunately, the technologies that are to be used in the ASV-3 are not yet mass-produced, but this has alarmed many other automakers about the current trend in vehicle safety research. Making this prototype a reality won't be easy. Engineers don't expect this type of technology to be integrated into vehicles until 2010. The biggest problem facing this implementation is cost. A safety system like this would cost between $4,000 and $5,000, which consumers are unlikely to consider because most consumers expect that passive safety equipment, such as airbags, are standard. Such a high price will therefore not be taken with enthusiasm..