The Internet of Things (IoT) is no longer a new concept. It has already been applied to areas such as transportation, security, medical care and education. However, the technology is still at an exploratory stage and has a long way to go before it is industrialized and broadly adopted.

The First World Internet of Things Convention, to open in Beijing on June 18, is regarded as China's contribution to the global promotion and development of the IoT.

The IoT is considered as the third major innovation in information technology following the invention of computers and the Internet. Both of the two previous innovations were created by the United States. Although China is a big producer and user of computers, it still lags in terms of development, given that the key technologies, standards and software involved are in the hands of the United States.

China therefore hopes to shift from its previous role as a follower of technological advancement to a leader in IoT development. Such an aspiration is not unrealistic in light of the country's investment in technological research and development and its large market. China is already on the same page as developed countries in terms of IoT development.

The IoT was first brought up in The Road Ahead, a 1995 book co-authored by Bill Gates. The IoT was ranked among the top 10 hottest technologies by Business Weekly in 2004 for being able to realize timely communication between people and things as well as connectivity between devices. The World Summit on the Information Society held in Tunis in November 2005 formally raised the concept for the first time.

Development of the IoT kicked off in China in 2009. In August that year, Wen Jiabao, China's Premier at the time, proposed to build a sensing information center in Wuxi, east China's Jiangsu Province. In early 2013, the Central Government issued a guideline on the IoT, proposing to realize its wide application, master core technologies involved, and form a safe, controllable and internationally competitive industrial structure.

The United States began to develop the IoT one year earlier than China. By the end of 2008, IBM had put forward the concept of a Smarter Planet, an initiative driven by instrumentation, interconnectedness and intelligence. It showed a way for industries, processes, cities and entire societies to be more productive, efficient and responsive.

The European Union adopted a document titled "The Internet of Things: an Action Plan for Europe" in June 2009, which vowed to realize the connection of all kinds of objects such as books and cars to the Internet. Japan started to develop the IoT in the same year as the EU. In August 2009, the Japanese Government came up with the i-Japan Strategy, which aimed to develop a digitalized government and promote smart healthcare, education and transportation.

In addition to being among the first countries to pursue the IoT, China has played a role in formulating international standards. The Chinese Academy of Sciences has made major breakthroughs in areas such as wireless intelligent sensor network communication technology and micro sensors and has obtained multiple patents. China has established an initial framework of IoT standards. A number of proposals submitted to the International Organization for Standardization have been adopted.

Furthermore, the IoT has spread to diverse sectors in China, with more than 30,000 Chinese enterprises involved in developing and adopting the technology. For instance, the IoT has been applied to security checks in Shanghai subways, where sensors can instantly detect dangerous chemicals, greatly improving security standards in underground transportation.

Can it be said that China has become a leader in the IoT trend? Apparently not. The ultimate goal of the IoT is to respond to human needs by carrying out exchanges of information and communication between all sorts of objects. For instance, an intelligent weight scale should be able to sense that you are tired or sick, and recommend a menu catered to your physical conditions, provide health services, and, if required, even call a doctor for you.

At present, no country has worked out a solution to realize that level of integration. A cloud-based system capable of learning as well as managing and repairing itself is required to provide customized services for every individual.

Hopefully, the day when such technology will be widely available will come sooner rather than later so that everybody can enjoy the convenience and benefits of the IoT.

Copyedited by Bryan Michael Galvan

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