Article
Smart City
Core technologies and applications in Smart City
With the rise of innovation and digitalization as the new drivers of growth, countries around the world are actively looking for solutions to balance economic, technological and social development. As data becomes more readily available in this day and age, governments are faced with a catch-22: how do they utilize the abundance of data to improve citizens' lives without intruding into their personal privacy, and how can they address social and environmental problems without compromising fiscal growth?
With this consideration in mind, governments have started to implement 'smart city' policies by leveraging IT infrastructure and incorporating innovative solutions in urban planning. Ultimately, the goal is for smart cities to elevate people's standard of living, integrate technology into the fabric of society, and achieve sustainable development in the long run.
One of the indicators of a successful smart city is the sophistication of its IoT network, which is driven not just by technological expertise, but also by the citizens' overall demand for a better quality of life. A good example of this would be the growing market for wearable devices, such as the Apple iWatch, Fitbit, and Xiaomi sports wrist in the Chinese Mainland. As a key function of these gadgets is to track one's kinetic footprint and physical activity, consumers would be able to gain a better understanding of their health, and in turn improve their lives with the assistance of these digital wearables. According to the International Data Corporation (IDC), the global wearables market is expected to almost double by 2021, which points to the promising business potential of the IoT sector.
