Smarter Planet
Encyclopedia
Smarter Planet is a corporate initiative of the information technology
company IBM
. The initiative seeks to highlight how forward-thinking leaders in business, government and civil society around the world are capturing the potential of smarter systems to achieve economic growth
, near-term efficiency, sustainable development
and societal progress.,
Examples of smarter systems include smart grids, water management
systems, solutions to traffic congestion
problems, greener buildings, and many others. These systems have historically been difficult to manage because of their size and complexity. But with new ways of monitoring, connecting, and analyzing the systems, business, civic and nongovernmental leaders are developing new ways to manage these systems. IBM's strategy is to provide or enable many of these technology and process management capabilities and, outside of the realm of technology, to advocate for policy decisions that, according to the views expressed by IBM's management in interviews, speeches, op-ed articles and opinion advertising, and other public venues, could "make the planet smarter."
, outlined a new agenda for building a "Smarter Planet". The speech emphasized how the world's systems and industries are becoming more instrumented, interconnected and intelligent, and that leader
s and citizens can take advantage of this state of affairs to improve these systems and industries.
In January 2010 Sam Palmisano gave a follow-up speech to the Chatham House
called the "Decade of Smart". He highlighted dozens of initiatives in which leaders created smarter systems to solve the planet's most pressing problems. The speech aimed to inspire others to follow the leads of these innovators by helping to create a smarter planet.
has created an advertising campaign to support its Smarter Planet agenda.
In 2008 and 2009, IBM ran a series of full-page advertisements in newspapers such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Each of these "op-ads" featured an essay about a system or industry that IBM claims can be made "smarter" through the application of technology.
IBM, under its Smarter Planet advertising campaign is supporting TED
(Technology, Entertainment, Design) Talks.
has found that many of the challenges the planet faces are concentrated in cities. Cities struggle with traffic congestion, water management, communication technology, smart grids, healthcare solutions, and rail transportation, to name a few. For this reason, IBM
has created its Smarter Cities portal, which tracks progress on these issues in several key cities around the world. One such city is Dubuque, Iowa
Information technology
Information technology is the acquisition, processing, storage and dissemination of vocal, pictorial, textual and numerical information by a microelectronics-based combination of computing and telecommunications...
company IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
. The initiative seeks to highlight how forward-thinking leaders in business, government and civil society around the world are capturing the potential of smarter systems to achieve economic growth
Economic growth
In economics, economic growth is defined as the increasing capacity of the economy to satisfy the wants of goods and services of the members of society. Economic growth is enabled by increases in productivity, which lowers the inputs for a given amount of output. Lowered costs increase demand...
, near-term efficiency, sustainable development
Sustainable development
Sustainable development is a pattern of resource use, that aims to meet human needs while preserving the environment so that these needs can be met not only in the present, but also for generations to come...
and societal progress.,
Examples of smarter systems include smart grids, water management
Water management
Water management is the activity of planning, developing, distributing and managing the optimum use of water resources. In an ideal world. water management planning has regard to all the competing demands for water and seeks to allocate water on an equitable basis to satisfy all uses and demands...
systems, solutions to traffic congestion
Traffic congestion
Traffic congestion is a condition on road networks that occurs as use increases, and is characterized by slower speeds, longer trip times, and increased vehicular queueing. The most common example is the physical use of roads by vehicles. When traffic demand is great enough that the interaction...
problems, greener buildings, and many others. These systems have historically been difficult to manage because of their size and complexity. But with new ways of monitoring, connecting, and analyzing the systems, business, civic and nongovernmental leaders are developing new ways to manage these systems. IBM's strategy is to provide or enable many of these technology and process management capabilities and, outside of the realm of technology, to advocate for policy decisions that, according to the views expressed by IBM's management in interviews, speeches, op-ed articles and opinion advertising, and other public venues, could "make the planet smarter."
Origins
In November 2008, IBM’s Chairman, CEO and President Sam Palmisano, during a speech at the Council on Foreign RelationsCouncil on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
, outlined a new agenda for building a "Smarter Planet". The speech emphasized how the world's systems and industries are becoming more instrumented, interconnected and intelligent, and that leader
Leader
A leader is one who influences or leads others.Leader may also refer to:- Newspapers :* Leading article, a piece of writing intended to promote an opinion, also called an editorial* The Leader , published 1909–1967...
s and citizens can take advantage of this state of affairs to improve these systems and industries.
In January 2010 Sam Palmisano gave a follow-up speech to the Chatham House
Chatham House
Chatham House, formally known as The Royal Institute of International Affairs, is a non-profit, non-governmental organization based in London whose mission is to analyse and promote the understanding of major international issues and current affairs. It is regarded as one of the world's leading...
called the "Decade of Smart". He highlighted dozens of initiatives in which leaders created smarter systems to solve the planet's most pressing problems. The speech aimed to inspire others to follow the leads of these innovators by helping to create a smarter planet.
Advertising Campaign
IBMIBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
has created an advertising campaign to support its Smarter Planet agenda.
In 2008 and 2009, IBM ran a series of full-page advertisements in newspapers such as the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal. Each of these "op-ads" featured an essay about a system or industry that IBM claims can be made "smarter" through the application of technology.
IBM, under its Smarter Planet advertising campaign is supporting TED
TED (conference)
TED is a global set of conferences owned by the private non-profit Sapling Foundation, formed to disseminate "ideas worth spreading"....
(Technology, Entertainment, Design) Talks.
Smarter Cities
IBMIBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
has found that many of the challenges the planet faces are concentrated in cities. Cities struggle with traffic congestion, water management, communication technology, smart grids, healthcare solutions, and rail transportation, to name a few. For this reason, IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
has created its Smarter Cities portal, which tracks progress on these issues in several key cities around the world. One such city is Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....