ITU-T Technology Watch
Introduction to ITU-T’s
Technology Watch Function
Martin Adolph
ITU/TSB Policy & Technology Watch Division
martin.adolph@itu.int
http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/techwatch
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ITU-T Technology Watch
Agenda
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Motivation
Target audience
Publications
Possible Impact
Working methods
Summary
28 February 2011
http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/techwatch
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ITU-T Technology Watch
Motivation
• Rapid changes in ICT environment
• Demand for “real time” standardization
→Foresight and early identification of “hot
topics” for standardization necessary
• Creation of Technology Watch Function by World
Telecommunication Standardization Assembly
(WTSA)
• Resolution 66 (Johannesburg, 2008)
• Resolution 22 i) and 22 resolves 1 g) (Florianópolis, 2004)
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ITU-T Technology Watch
Motivation (WTSA-08 Res. 66)
• […] survey new technologies for possible new
standardization activities in ITU and how such
technologies can be included within the ITU-T work
programme
• […] identify emerging technologies, […] their likely
impact on future standardization work for both
developed and developing countries […]
• […] propose possible ITU-T standardization as early
as possible
• […] collaborate with other SDOs, universities,
academia
28 February 2011
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ITU-T Technology Watch
Target audience
• Decision makers in ITU-T, ITU, TSB
• Study Group management and delegates
• ITU Membership
• Readers in developed and developing countries
• Language accessible to non-specialists
28 February 2011
http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/techwatch
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ITU-T Technology Watch
Publications
• Technology Watch Report
– 8-15 pages
– Up-to-date review of new ICTs
– Impact assessment of new technologies on developed and
developing countries
– View to identifying areas and gaps for new standards work
in ITU-T
• TechWatch Alert
– 3-5 pages
– Overview of emerging technologies, trends, ideas and
related standards in ICTs
28 February 2011
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ITU-T Technology Watch
Publications (2)
• Technology Watch Reports
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Intelligent Transport Systems and CALM (10/2007)
TelePresence: High performance video-conferencing (11/2007)
ICTs and Climate Change (12/2007)
Ubiquitous Sensor Networks (02/2008)
Remote Collaboration Tools (03/2008)
Technical aspects of Lawful Interception (05/2008)
NGNs and Energy Efficiency (08/2008)
Standardization Activities for Intelligent Transport Systems (10/2008)
Distributed Computing: Utilities, Grids & Clouds (03/2009)
The Future Internet (04/2009)
ICTs and Food Security (08/2009)
Biometrics and Standards (12/2009)
Decreasing Driver Distraction (08/2010)
ICT as an Enabler for Smart Water Management (10/2010)
Using Submarine Communications Networks to Monitor the Climate
(11/2010)
– Standards and eHealth (01/2011)
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http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/techwatch
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ITU-T Technology Watch
Publications (3)
• Where can you find our work?
– Technology Watch website
• http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/techwatch
– ITU News magazine (extracts)
• http://www.itu.int/itunews
– ITU-T Newslog (announcements)
• http://www.itu.int/ITU-T/newslog
– Mailing list (announcements)
• techwatch@lists.itu.int
– Scribd (“YouTube for documents”)
• http://www.scribd.com/ITUtechwatch
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ITU-T Technology Watch
Possible Impact (example of ICT & Climate Change)
Standards
Workshops
Scientific articles
Focus
Group
Technology
Watch Report
Study
Group
COP15
Resolutions
Idea
28 February 2011
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ITU-T Technology Watch
Working methods
• Status quo:
– Topics proposed mainly by TSB Secretariat, based on
discussions, literature review, etc.
– Drafts by TechWatch Secretariat, based on literature
research, Study Group documents, web resources, etc.
– Internal review, in consultation with ITU Sectors, limited
external participation/feedback
→This approach has limitations, e.g., on impact,
relevance and visibility of Technology Watch
publications
28 February 2011
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ITU-T Technology Watch
Working methods (2)
• Desirable:
– Collaborating network of experts: open to Study
Group delegates, ITU members, academia,
universities, other interested parties, TSB
– Provide a platform to spotlight and promote new
ideas to “non-experts”
→Outside authorship welcome
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ITU-T Technology Watch
Summary
• Standardization needs mechanism to identify
emerging technologies and introduce them to
standardization work programme as early as possible
• Technology Watch is a tool to survey new
technologies and to identify work items for
standardization work
• Collaboration of experts is required and welcome to
improve quality and impact of Technology Watch
• Subscribe to techwatch@lists.itu.int to get involved
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