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Free Wi-Fi kicks off 'smart district' plans [China Daily: Hong Kong Edition](China Daily: Hong Kong Edition Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Excited about her first trip to Qingdao, Li Mei, 27, an office worker from South China, took a photo with her boyfriend at Zhanqiao pier, one of city's iconic landmarks in Shinan district. She sent the snap to her friends and family using one of the district's eight free wireless services, which millions of visitors have taken advantage of. The Wi-Fi service, which is part of Shinan's "smart district" plan, covers tourist hotspots along the coast including the May Fourth Square, the Train Station, Zhanqiao Pier, Bathing Beaches, Huashilou Building and the Olympic Square. The services give visitors free access to high-speed Wi-Fi on their smart phones, iPads and laptops. The Wi-Fi is one of Shinan government's initiatives to boost the efficiency of public services. Another is an intelligent medical service system that links the local hospital with residents. The system automatically transmits patient data on blood pressure, body temperature and pulse to the hospital through a remote monitoring device. After receiving the data, doctors carry out analysis and send a report back to patients. The system is particular useful for people with chronic diseases such as hypertension and coronary problems as they can avoid long waits at the hospital. Urban management Shinan has a population of more than 540,000 people and is the most populated district in the city. To improve urban planning, the Shinan government plans to increase investment in infrastructure, especially in information facilities. The government aims to have district-wide coverage of a smart urban management system by the end of 2016. When completed, office buildings will have Internet speeds of up to1000 Mbit/s, optical fiber Internet connections will cover 80 percent of the district and the wireless network will be 100 percent covered by 2016, according to the plans. An Internet information center was put into operation in May last year. It allows government departments to monitor prominent problems including littering, city sanitary conditions and illegal houses under construction. Shinan district plans to expand the system to solve more problems that hinder city management. Under the new plans citizens will be able to pay for most utility fees by computer or telephone, including electricity, gas, water and phone bills. The district also plans to build a smart system to support public transportation and traffic management. Drivers will be able to check traffic information before they hit the road and plan routes to avoid congestion through mobile applications, according to the plans. They will also be able to find convenient locations to park when public garages are connected through intelligent apps. [email protected] (China Daily 05/10/2014 page16) (c) 2014 China Daily Information Company. All Rights Reserved. Provided by Syndigate.info, an Albawaba.com company |