By Tom Pauken II.
BEIJING, Sept. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- The 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) has been successfully wrapped up in China's capital of Beijing.
During the 5-day event, thousands of Chinese and foreign-owned enterprises set up exhibits, highlighting their latest innovations for the services sector.
There have been remarkable science & high-tech advances in recent decades, but what lies ahead could be even more awe-inspiring, while China is expected to play a leading role in these fields on the world stage.
“Flying cars” become real
Well, do you reside in a big city and feel bothered by traffic jams and crowded public transportation? You may have fantasized about owning a "flying car."
A visitor learns about a passenger-carrying autonomous aerial vehicle during the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) at the China National Convention Center in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 12, 2024. The phrase "digital and green drive" is gaining significant attention at the ongoing 2024 CIFTIS where exhibitors display their latest technological inventions and successful solutions in green and low-carbon development. (Xinhua/Ding Hongfa)
Apparently, your fantasy might soon become reality. EHang, a company based in Guangzhou, the capital of south China's Guangdong Province, is developing a low-altitude aerial vehicle.
"This aircraft developed by our company has officially passed the airworthiness certification from the Civil Aviation Administration," EHang's Chief Operating Officer Wang Zhao told Xinhuanet at the sidelines of CIFTIS.
Wang added, "its standout feature is its compact size, making it deployable in various locations like cities and scenic areas for rapid urban transportation."
EHang is mass-producing them and will ensure safety for their pilots, passengers and local communities at large.
According to EHang, all owners of their vehicles must undergo 500 hours of flight training before receiving licenses that permit them to fly the aircraft.
VR to play larger lifestyle role
We've all heard about how virtual reality (VR) will become a game-changer, but perhaps we are unfamiliar with its technologies and equipment.
Visitors experience MR (mixed reality) devices during the 2024 China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) at the Shougang Park in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 13, 2024. Themed "Global Services, Shared Prosperity," the 2024 CIFTIS is held at the China National Convention Center and the Shougang Park in Beijing from Sept. 12 to 16. (Xinhua/Chen Zhonghao)
At the exhibit booth of Beijing-based PICO, I had a VR headset placed on me with Wang Jinhui from PICO. For the record, it was the first time I ever used VR and the experience was surreal. I felt transported into a new world, while only standing.
"We're showcasing collaboration with the ‘Three-Body Universe' on a major IP project," said Wang. "Through VR, people can enter the world of the novel and experience what it's like to play the ‘Three-Body' game."
VR can create new opportunities for tourism, education, entertainment and so much more.
Even literature will get VR upgrades with users getting virtual tours of classic novels.
Tourism goes digital
We all love to travel, while the tourism and leisure sectors continue to expand in China. Meanwhile, the travel & hospitality sectors are undergoing dramatic changes.
The Extended Reality (XR) technology has enabled the "tourists" to make online travel and see the world while sitting on their couches.
"Our XR virtual filming technologies originate from professional film and TV productions," Wang Ying with Instec Technology told Xinhuanet.
She added, "we've simplified it for offline cultural tourism experiences, enabling tourists to explore different scenes freely and closing the gap between them and attractions."
