What is 5G? It is the fifth generation of mobile network technology. China’s telecom companies have been able to offer 5G networks for mobile phone users since 2019.

Do you know the development of mobile network technology? Each mobile network generation is faster and more powerful than the one before it. 1G let us talk to each other. 2G let us send messages. 3G gave us data and the Internet. And 4G made all of these things faster. What’s special about 5G?

5G has a very short delay between sending and receiving information. 4G takes about 100 to 200 milliseconds (毫秒) to send and receive data. But 5G will get it down to 1 millisecond or less. This is almost real-time.

This big change will not only make our mobile Internet faster, but also deeply change our lives. Read on to find out how.

5G+entertainment: 5G networks are about 100 times faster than 4G. This means you can download a movie in seconds using 5G. Also. virtual reality (VR) games will become more popular with 5G. The short delay of 5G will make the games feel even more real.

5G+transport: 5G will also bring us safer self-driving cars. These cars can send signals to each other. They also talk to traffic lights and road sensors (传感器). 5G will allow cars to react even faster than human drivers.

5G+smart homes: 5G also makes the Internet of things (IoT) (物联网) possible. IoT is a large network that connects everything to the Internet. Smart homes are part of it. For example, your toaster can automatically start making breakfast after your alarm rings. And if its sensor feels the air becoming dry, a smart sprinkler could water your plants by itself.

At Alexandria Country Day School in Virginia, a group of sixth-graders had a special project. They used 3D printers to create mini 3D-printed model villages which were designed (设计) for homeless people.

The student got the idea from a company called Icon, which makes homes with 3D printers and whose goal is to make cheap housing for everyone. Icon’s homes are made of concrete-like (混凝土类) materials, which are very cheap. And building these homes just takes a few days.

Allison McDonald is the science teacher and the director of the sixth-grade project. She said, “Through the project, the students not only learned about invention and teamwork, but they also learned to understand the true needs of homeless people.” While creating their mini 3D buildings, the students explored (探索) how such technology allows the freedom of design and how to better use the technology in daily life. They said getting the details correct before printing was hard. Putting a lot of thought into their communities, they made houses, stores, and schools. Besides, they also made churches, health centers, community gardens, theaters and even bus stops to make the people who will live there get a sense of belonging.

Amber Fogarty is the president of Mobile Loaves & Fishes, which is an organization in Austin, Texas and provides homes for people in need for free. After learning about the students’ project, Amber said, “Both the project and the students are excellent!” Imagine the possibilities. How can you use your brains and hearts to solve problems? I don’t know what the future holds with 3D printing. But the possibilities are very exciting. It is a journey of discovery.