By Wang Jiping

Communication Technology Transforms Everyday Life

By Wang Jiping

China is undergoing a series of fresh reforms in the fields of science and technology, with new innovations transforming the communication technology industry as it merges with other industries in a variety of sectors in the Chinese economy.

Large information communication companies in China, with goals to innovate and introduce a wide variety of new products that focus on increasing convenience, entertainment and safety, are in the midst of projects including 5G phones, virtual reality games and smart rooms and homes, according to industry insiders.

Increased Convenience

With fast development of internet-related technology, “internet plus” has become a hot concept across the industry in recent years. Communication technology firms are now focusing on products which target specific types of customers, according the Zhao Liang, deputy director of the Shanghai branch of the General Affairs Office at China Telecom, a state-owned telecommunications company.

“Market competition is fiercer than ever and there are more people than ever using devices with internet capabilities, so individualization is very important,” Zhao said.

At the end of 2015, China’s number of mobile phone users surpassed 1.3 billion, according to the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Users of 4G-capable devices reached 386 million, accounting for 29.6 percent of total mobile phone users. As of July 2016, that number had soared to 613 million, representing a dramatic increase.

“Our users have urged us to create more ‘internet plus’ products,” Zhao said. “In today’s China, internet-plus education, internet-plus agriculture and internet-plus government are all relatively mature fields.”

In the areas of internet-plus agriculture, China Telecom has established an online, comprehensive smart agricultural platform, covering 150 districts and counties in 18 Chinese provinces. The service allows farmers to sell their products online, and so far, 12,743 different farmers have used the service. Its total trade volume has already exceeded 680 million yuan (US$101 million).

“By using the internet, farmers in remote areas can open up their businesses to the outside world, giving them the chance to earn more and more,” Zhao said. “They benefit a lot from this type of high-tech access, and are eager to know more. This year, we set up training courses for farmers to learn how to use related smartphone apps, from which they can get more information on farming skills, weather forecasts and farming tools trading.”

With exception to the development of new platforms and apps, big data has played a key role in China’s digital communication revolution, according to Zhu Guangyu, a business manager at Shenzhen UWay Science and Technology Company.

“Big data is the core element of the entire industry,” Zhu said. “For example, by gathering information or data about traffic on different roads at all times and sending real time traffic updates to drivers via apps, smart transportation will be achieved. Companies within the industry should do more to establish larger databases.”

Reduced Carbon Footprint

Technology companies have begun to play a key role in environmental protection by allowing ordinary citizens to reduce their car-

bon footprint.

Visitors enjoy VR games at the China (Beijing) International“Internet+” Era Exposition on Aug. 4, 2016.

“Technology companies can do a lot in terms of reducing usage of non-renewable resources,” said Liu Dong, a brand manager at the Zhongtian Technology Group (ZTT).

Technology can be relied upon for simple things like issuing electronic credit card statements, paying via mobile platforms like Alipay and designing smart plastic recycling machines to sort through waste, Liu said.

“Thanks to 4G technology, we are able to build more smart houses for people,” Liu added. ZTT has developed a platform in which a family can link together a number of electronic devices, allowing them to enjoy higher quality sound from their TV or computer while using less electricity. In addition, ZTT plans to develop a ceiling antenna indoor distribution system that enables people to use their mobile phones to make calls or use the internet more fluently in a home’s basement, without having to add more wires.

“Wasted wiring is becoming a big threat to our environment,” Liu said.“The best way to reduce the amount of them we use is to produce stronger and more durable equipment that can adapt to different environments.”

For example, ZTT has developed anti-freezing cables designed for cold regions to solve cable-related problems in freezing climates. Cables that are resistant to damage from animals and ones that give off light have also been developed.

“As a high-tech enterprise, it is our responsibility to reduce our carbon footprint,” Liu said.

Increased Entertainment

In the first quarter of this year, more than half of the world’s virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) investors came from China. Many VR producers have received investment from large investment firms, and they have begun developing highly interactive VR/AR video games. By the end of 2016, China’s VR/AR industry is projected to be worth 5.66 billion yuan (US$840 million). As virtual reality becomes more popular, the industry layout will improve and market potential will further increase.

With the help of 5G technology, VR games, particularly those with motion sensing capability, will bring more fun to gamers around the world. Cooperating with companies like Samsung and HTC, China Mobile is developing VR gear to make games more exciting for consumers.

Companies in both China and the West are improving their VR games by adding voice control functions and creating more complex plotlines. Some developers have promised games that are geared towards children.