Internet of Things: building intelligent Earth from city

It is no exaggeration to say that the human history of the past 5,000 years is the process of gradual urbanization of our planet. Today, the pace of urbanization is getting faster. If we look at the Earth from satellite orbit 100 years ago, we will only see lights flashing in the 16-million population, including Shanghai and Beijing. Now, astronauts on the space Shuttle Atlantis are able to see cities with 450个百万 populations.　　These cities are at the centre of the economy, government, culture and technology of this increasingly urbanized world. Humanity crossed a huge threshold in 2007. During this year, the first urban population in human history accounted for more than half of the total population. By 2050, the urban population will reach 70% of the total population.　　This means that every year there will be seven New York on Earth. We should be proud of this unprecedented process of urbanization. It embodies our economic and social development, especially for China and other developing countries. But urbanisation has also put enormous pressure on the Earth's infrastructure.　　This sense of urgency, every insight has a profound feeling. This sense of urgency has been stronger in the last 10 years, and I believe we all know the root of the problem, globalization. At the beginning of the 21st century, a range of issues could be traced to the macro-trend of global integration: Global climate change, environmental and geopolitical issues surrounding energy, the vulnerability of the global food and drug supply chain, security issues represented by 9.11, and the global spread of the financial crisis as an extremely follow-up.　　These facts remind us that in the current economic, technical and social life, we are interconnected, but only interconnected is not enough. The world will continue to become more and more "flat", becoming smaller and more universally connected.　　Moreover, there is a trend that has already been started, and although a process is needed to achieve the distance, the significance and potential of the trend is significant: the world is becoming more and more intelligent. The so-called "wisdom" is not only a metaphor, but a real phenomenon.　　The new intelligence is gradually becoming integrated into the world's concrete operations-such as the development, manufacture, purchase and sale of physical goods systems and processes, the implementation of services systems and processes, the flow of people, money, oil, water, electricity resources flow, billions of of people's working life is all-encompassing.　　Wisdom is merging into the world. First of all, our world is increasingly perceptible and measurable, which we call perceptual. The transistor, which was developed 60 years ago, is the basic component of the digital age. Today, the number of transistors per capita is nearly 1 billion, each cost is only one out of 10,000 cents.　　More than 4 billion mobile phone users, the global production of RFID tags reached 30 billion.　　These chips, sensors and devices are becoming more sophisticated and less costly, so for the first time, we can invest them in a global natural and man-made system for real time perception and drive business development and social progress. Second, our world is increasingly interconnected, we call thingsof the Union. The number of Internet users worldwide will soon reach 2 billion. But this is only the tip of the iceberg.　　In the world of things, systems and objects can "communicate" with each other. Computing power is now being applied outside the computer. In fact, computing power is almost ubiquitous--anyone, any object, any process, or any service, in institutions of any size--can realize digital perception and network interconnection. Imagine the prospect of 1 trillion objects interacting and perceiving each other-vehicles, appliances, cameras, roads, pipelines, even medicine and animal husbandry.　　Think about all this interaction generated by the amount of information that will be unprecedented.　　Third, everything is smarter, and we call it intelligence. The new computing model can control a large number of end-user devices, sensors, and players, and connect them to powerful backend systems.　　Coupled with advanced computing capabilities such as supercomputers and a new computing model with "cloud computing", many data are converted into information.　　This information can also be translated into actions that increase the efficiency, productivity, and responsiveness of systems, processes, and infrastructure-and, in general, make the system smarter. City: System system All these changes will be concentrated in the city. Let's think about the key systems in the city today: First look at the traffic. A lot of forecasts suggest that traffic jams can cost 1% to 3% of GDP, both in developed and developing cities. Spending is already high and will continue to rise in the future. Emerging markets, such as China, India and the ASEAN countries, have a soaring share of vehicles in cities. What would happen if this ratio reached the level of the international OECD countries, that is, 75% to 90% of the vehicle share?　　How much pressure will be exerted on transport infrastructure? The same is true of energy, electricity and water resources. Cities emit most of the world's carbon dioxide, and urban living water accounts for 60% of the country's domestic water. As the level of urbanization increases, how can city leaders ensure sustainable water resources and energy supply in cities-while maintaining environmentally sustainable development?　　Think about it: more than 50% of Asian urban dwellers are not drinking straight drinking water. Medical care: As the population grows, the financial sustainability of urban health systems is gradually reaching its limits. But some cities spend significantly less than other cities in providing the same level of medical treatment.　　How do they do that? Education: In developed countries, education costs rose by 42% per cent in 1995-2004 years, according to an international OECD survey. Education costs are still low in most developing countries, but the situation will not last long. Public spending on primary education is already insufficient to meet demand. UNESCO believes that average education spending in developing countries accounts for less than 6% per cent of national income.　　This spending will only increase in the future. Public Safety: Safety is the key factor of urban quality of life, and it is also an important condition for the city to create job opportunities and attract investment and talents. The good news is public safety.No longer doomed to lose.　　New York and other cities are using methods such as advanced digital analysis to reduce crime rates at an unprecedented rate. Public services: Efficient government services are vital to both citizens and businesses.　　It is estimated that the lower administrative cost 25%--such as reducing the time to fill in the form, meaning that the savings are equivalent to 1.5% of GDP.　　Moreover, all the above issues, such as education, safety, medical care, the creation of an attractive and efficient business environment, the smooth flow of transport and pedestrians, etc., have become more challenging as the global economy has slipped. We also see hope in the face of challenges-new models have emerged.　　This new model brings a new choice for all parties, whether it is business, government or the community, can think of a new way of coping. First of all, we need to take stock. The world has a special need to focus on China's development.　　The 2010 World Expo and Shanghai should be a strong needle for global cities and national development. Second, we should invest in the future. In such a moment, the hesitation is too short-sighted, we can not always mend, should be a rainy day. If you are a corporate leader, you cannot simply rely on lower costs and streamlined operations. You need a long-term vision to prepare for significant growth opportunities for the future. If you are a government leader, you must lay out ahead of time for the future. Even if you are the leader of a non-governmental organization ...　　Or the leadership of a local community, you also need to think about how these new global models that are emerging in our lives and our work will affect our society and our daily lives. Countries around the world would make serious mistakes if they responded to the economic downturn with protectionist policies. Protectionism is a retreat to the past, not a future of things being linked and intelligent. Cities are the major hubs of global trade, and protectionism can only have disastrous effects on cities. This is not a concept of political system or ideology.　　This is the historic moment that our world is now in, and this moment will determine how to invest next and how to build the future of the world. The moment will not stagnate, and thereafter winners and losers are to be divided.　　Here, we have witnessed Shanghai is vigorously advancing to achieve the winning strategy.　　The good news for all of us is that we already have the technical and political potential to make cities smarter and more prosperous, and thus to achieve greater development. Visionary leaders are laying the path of wisdom. It is clear that leaders in the long term are seizing opportunities and taking action. Let's look at some ongoing practices: the energy sector: Malta is an island nation that is building the world's first nationwide smart grid, while also monitoring its own water systems.　　In China, the State Grid company launched a 10-year strong smart Grid project. Financial sector: Grameen Koota, a microfinance bank in India, uses the open source banking platform to accurately record information in almost real-time, so it can forecast capital requirements, expand microfinance operations, and insure customersNumber of households and other banking functions; Through these capabilities, the number of low-income clients that banks have absorbed has grown from 70,000 to 350,000. medical field: The Guangdong Chinese Hospital establishes the intelligent electronic medical record system, combines the Chinese medicine and the western medicine treatment method, causes the system to be able to handle the medical terminology whether is the Chinese medicine or the western medicine, transforms the different format, the terminology or the language medical records into the unitary standardized medical records. As a result, complex key information can be shared between Headquarters, headquarters and four branches of the hospital-improving patient care, diagnosis and treatment levels.　　Next, the hospital will be able to use in-depth analytical capabilities to achieve cutting-edge medical research in the global arena. Transportation: Cities around the world are investing heavily in building intelligent traffic. The Intelligent Traffic card system enables the Singapore Land Transport Authority to design optimized routes and schedules, reduce traffic congestion and increase the attractiveness of public transport-while reducing the toll-rate drop by 80% and doubling the performance of the land Traffic Authority, achieving 20 million daily fare transactions.　　In China, IBM is building a global railway innovation Center, bringing in global industry leaders and university researchers to work together to build an intelligent rail system. Education: China Education Department launched the open source of the "Blue Sky" e-learning platform, the platform's rapid increase in access to knowledge sharing speed.　　More than 780,000 Chinese teachers and students have used the platform since July 2006.　　Water resources management: IBM is helping the Fukuoka District Water Bureau in Japan, in eight cities in Japan for more users to provide water, and improve water quality.　　Examples abound-South Africa is deploying smart oil development, Vietnam and Thailand are carrying out intelligent food projects, and Taiwan is building a smart tax system. Leadership is the key to achieving wisdom, not technology but leadership.　　I would like to say four points about the challenges to managers and leadership that have emerged in the process of building smarter cities. First, we must establish standards. Of course, the importance of standards is well known. We should not only establish technical standards, but also establish new global trade policy standards, intellectual property standards and so on. But when we see the city as a system of systems, we realize that the problem of standards is extremely complex and concrete. The standards here relate to the various interfaces in the system. In a system, interface compatibility is critical, and it is not possible to build a system with objects stacked together. To build a real system, you need more than just messaging.　　We need to establish a standardized interface between the transport system and the energy system, establish a standard interface between the education system and the medical system, and establish interfaces between the systems of Water Conservancy, transportation, commerce, public safety and government services. Of course, there is a limit to the standardization of any system. This is especially true of a system that is a human-key factor.　　However, if we want to build a truly intelligent city, we must improve the standardization of the interface. Secondly, whether it is an organization, a city or a society, we must encourage moreAdd openness and innovation, not hinder openness and innovation. This is particularly important for cities because cities are the primary source of innovation.　　The IBM Institute of Business Values has just completed an excellent study that reveals the significance of cities for new economic growth and social progress, demonstrating that cities are the crucible of human experience and creativity. In fact, the real focus of future urban design is to unleash human creativity.　　We can do this in many ways: open collaboration, skill development, improved quality of life in the city, and so on. Third, the construction of smart cities will have a major impact on policies: London, Chicago, South Korea Incheon Free Economic Zone and other areas of the camera, so that the police and other emergency response departments faster and more accurate access to alarm information, thereby saving lives. But some citizens expressed unease. Who has all this data? What do they do with the data? Can I trust them? Data security? There are other similar security concerns. Now, many companies and governments are heartened by the competitive edge of intelligent infrastructure, and the economic and environmental development advantages-intelligent infrastructure including intelligent power grids, intelligent railways, intelligent drainage systems, intelligent buildings and so on.　　But does this mean that the security and reliability of our critical infrastructure is as fragile as a Web page? These important issues require serious consideration by all relevant parties in the whole society. We need to build more than just technology and business systems.　　We must establish a social structure that can represent all aspects.　　Therefore, we must strengthen our collaboration. This is not just a set of programmes similar to public-private sector collaboration. The program has multiple orientations, a number of related aspects, and is truly global. None of the systems that I have mentioned are the responsibility of a single entity or a policy-making party. They all involve the industry, the government and the community, and the society as a whole. This requires a new collaboration pattern.　　For example, IBM, Shenyang and Northeastern University have worked together to establish a joint laboratory, the Shenyang Institute of Ecological Cities, to develop technology solutions that enable cities to conserve natural resources, reduce carbon emissions, and create a healthy environment for the lives and work of citizens.　　Finally, the urgent need for collaboration lies in building new leadership. Our traditional view of leadership is that leaders should have superhuman foresight and will, that leaders should be able to foresee the future, and that followers are command or inspired by the prospect and danger.　　The current reality is complex, and the world is a system of systems built on each system in which the traditional leadership approach is no longer applicable. More often, leaders must attach great importance to the collection of information and pay attention to the information conveyed by these multi-level ecosystems. Leaders will be more influenced to manage. In such a dynamic and complex environment, leaders must understand reality and guide development.　　We need to build an inclusive, collaborative and transparent management architecture. Build WisdomThe urbanization of the earth can be said to be one of the most symbolic and significant developments on earth, a development so great that it "can be seen from space".　　These bright city lights provide a shining prospect for us to shape the way the world works and our way of life.　　I, as a member of the human race, feel hopeful that we can finally win. Most importantly, the key and prerequisites for real change are now in place: people want change.　　Whether it's on the board, in the Cabinet Office, or in the dining room table, people around the world are craving new ways. However, this moment of opportunity will not last forever.　　Looking back on the past, when the opportunity to change is fleeting, when all return to the "normal"-we are not empty sigh, hope that they have a little bolder, more active, a little more quickly, go a little further? In times of fault, it is a period of opportunity for those with courage and foresight. Keep in mind that in the next few years, on this stage, the competition will be on the horizon, and some companies, industries and cities will stand out. On this stage, there will also be a group of leading figures.　　The way to success is not to survive the storm, but to change the rules of the game. It is clear that the world will continue to become smaller, more flat and smarter. We are entering an era of global integration, and we are entering an era of intelligent economy, intelligent society and intelligent Earth. If we seize the opportunity and act quickly, we will seize the promise of the future. The time for action is now. The place of action is in our city.　　The way to act is to collaborate. Let's work together.