Totally wired future is just around the corner
- Source: Global Times
- [10:32 June 23 2010]
- Comments
A China Telecom engineer demonstrates a system for remotely monitoring patient heartbeats to visitors at the Internet of Things Conference China 2010, which opened in Shanghai Tuesday and ends Wednesday. Photo: Tang Zhao
By Tang Zhao
A future in which communications technology allows consumers to trace the history of goods using their cellphones when deciding their purchases and doctors to remotely monitor their patients' heartbeats could be closer than many people realize, according to delegates at the Internet of Things (IoT) Conference China 2010, which opened in Shanghai Tuesday.
The two-day forum at the Shanghai World Financial Center in Lujiazui has brought together more than 200 experts from the telecommunications and radio-frequency identification (RFID) industries, companies and government bodies to discuss the development of IoT in China.
IoT, a term proposed by global research organization Auto-ID Labs, refers to the networking of the physical world to increase utilization of data in everyday life and commerce.
As more things, from retail goods and vehicles to medical technology, are equipped with RFID labels, the application of IoT will become much more diverse, according to Zhang Chenghai, president of AIM China, an association that aims to promote auto-identification technology.
The Shanghai-based subsidiaries of three major Chinese telecom carriers demonstrated their current endeavors in the field at the conference. China Mobile's "mobile wallet," which is based on RFID SIM cards, allows subscribers to pay for public transport and goods by swiping their cellphones at payment points. China Unicom's smart electricity meter-reading system uploads electricity usage from equipped homes wirelessly, helping the State Grid to save on costs. China Telecom developed 100 "smart" manhole covers around the Expo Park, which will automatically alert the city's maintenance team if they are opened by someone without authorization.
"I think the conference is practical and helpful as I learned many commercialized examples of IoT in countries like Japan," Stefan Quantz, chief technology officer of wireless products manufacturer Galtronics (Wuxi), told the Global Times Tuesday.
Quantz added that there is much more to be done before IoT becomes widespread, such as the establishment of a stable business model. "I do think many people have already heard the phrase 'Internet of Things,' but it will remain difficult to understand the meaning of the term as long as nothing concrete has been done with it," he said.
Liu Yu, senior consultant and director at the Shanghai office of the Nomura Research Institute, told the Global Times that more industrial standards must be developed.
"The Chinese government, at this stage, should take the lead to stipulate various technical standards. Otherwise, industrial participants will lose enthusiasm," Liu said.
