Smart city: past, present and future
While there is no sole definition of a smart city/community/campus, it can generally be deduced that the goal is to simply Make Life Better. — Rachel Yoka
Smart cities have become a hot topic in recent years, as they significantly make our society connected with digital technology. People have “dream” of a smart city. We are living in a digital revolution world, where new technologies keep changing our lifestyles. Smart city inventions (which is called information and communication technologies), such as intelligent transport systems, smart and portable devices, and sustainable urban planning, are rapidly spreading worldwide. These are aimed for enhancing the quality and performance of urban services in order to reduce resource consumption, waste and overall costs. I have become fascinated by this evolution, and I am eager to explore how smart cities are transforming our urban environments, improving citizens’ lives, and shaping the future. Also, I find this topic really connect with my daily life. And topic 6 gives me a chance to study deeper about it and I am gonna share my insights and observations on this exciting topic.
Smart City 1.0, Technology-Driven but Isolated
‘ICT(information and communication technologies) is the lifeline of a Smart City. Without it, the Smart City idea cannot exist.’ — Dr. Sudip Misra
Smart City 1.0 was characterized by a technology-focused approach that aimed to control everything in the city through a network. However, this approach was too idealistic and did not consider the importance of human activities and relationships between dwellers and urban environments. The result is, without doubt, under-expectation. Smart City 1.0 was often criticized as a cold and lonely place(i.e.: Songdo, South Korea), people struggled to connect and create meaningful relationships in there. Massive spending on technology reduces investment in society which may improve the relationship between the city and its citizens. The shortcomings of Smart City 1.0 have highlighted the need for a new approach that prioritizes the social and cultural aspects of urban life.
Smart City 2.0: Technology as a Tool for a Better Future
After the failure experience of Smart City 1.0, the smart city 2.0 strategy is using technology as a tool for residents. Transportation systems can be one of the examples of the positive influence by digital technology. Government can reduce traffic congestion and improve safety using real-time traffic monitoring and smart parking systems. Healthcare is another area using digital technology quite often. Health care access, quality, and efficiency are improved using technology. Telemedicine, remote patient monitoring, and electronic health records are widely used in hospitals around the world. It can provide better healthcare services to patients in different dimensions. By using technology as a tool for citizens to improve their lives, Smart City 2.0 can give us a better future.
Challenges of Smart City 2.0: Balancing Technology with Security and Integration
‘Since privacy and security vulnerabilities are amplified by the smart city’s interconnectivity, user confidence in the system can be more easily shaken.’ — Trevor Braun
At the same time, smart city 2.0 has a lot of challenges. Privacy and data security is the area most problems come out. Smart city technology needs lots of data for analysis, which can be a potential target for hackers or misuse, leading to privacy violations or even identity theft. Therefore, it is essential to implement strong data security measures. It is not simply about protecting citizens’ personal information, but also related to citizens’ trust in government. Also, the smart city facility installation will put great pressure on city infrastructure. It will become clearly shown in older cities that may have outdated infrastructure. In Shenzhen, the city where I was born and bred, the second best performance city in China, took decades to renovate and redevelop the old building and still have not finished it. Old infrastructure would make the integration of smart city technology become a complex and time-consuming process. To tackle these challenges, smart city planners must work towards balancing the benefits of technology with the need for security and integration to ensure a smooth transition to a more advanced and efficient urban environment.
Smart City 3.0: Building a Better Future through User Engagement
Active citizen participation is an important part of developing a successful smart city, allowing governments to respond to constantly evolving situations, and implementing changes that are in the public’s best interests. — Joe Appleton
As smart cities continue to evolve, the method starts to involve more user engagement. Smart City 3.0 is willing to engage citizens in the design. With more reflection, the government can better implement and evaluate the project. With good projects, people would be satisfied and create a good circuit at the end. User-centered design which involves citizens in the design process, is one of the ways to achieve smart city 3.0. This would create a more intuitive, user-friendly connection. Also, a better overall user experience. The feedback system can also be improved(such as using a more detailed but easier survey sheet), enabling citizens to provide valuable feedback on the effectiveness of smart city technology. It would be easy to identify areas that need improvement and optimize resource allocation with a good feedback system. By putting citizens’ opinions as the first preference of smart city development, Smart City 3.0 has the potential to improve the quality of life for all and create a more sustainable, efficient, and equitable future.
Smart City 3.0: Overcoming Limitations to Build a More Inclusive Future
If we move towards Smart City 3.0, there’s no doubt that we can get a more citizen-centric and efficient urban environment. But innovation comes with challenges. One of the biggest obstacles is cultural differences. The adoption and design of smart city solutions can vary significantly across different cultures according to different attitudes and preferences towards technology. This can create resistance or limited adoption of smart city technology. Furthermore, citizen engagement level can be affected by education and literacy levels (like in some cities with uneven distribution of development, people may have difficult access to engagement with smart cities (which Shenzhen can also be taken as an example)), which may pose a significant barrier for these projects to implement. Smart city planners need to focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the design and implementation of smart city technology to help these issues. This would include considering different cultural perspectives and providing user-friendly interfaces for citizens of all literacy levels. By prioritizing inclusivity, Smart City 3.0 can truly create a more sustainable and equitable future for everyone.
Reflection
I was excited to attend a course that integrated my interests in economics and high technology, as I had studied both subjects since high school. The flexibility of the schedule was one of the aspects of this course that I particularly liked. Having the option to learn on a different platform like Medium was highly effective and time-saving for me because I had so many other coursework.
In particular, the discussion on smart cities was one of the most interacting of the subjects addressed in this course. I was attracted to the subject and anxious to learn more as someone who resides in a busy metropolitan setting. It was enlightening to observe how research and studies may be utilised in practical ways to raise residents’ standards of living.
The engagement style of the class was what I loved the most. I felt completely involved throughout the whole semester, from the polls and video presentations throughout the audio lectures and online idea sharing. Being able to talk to other students and gain knowledge from their experiences was wonderful.
I initially found it difficult to write blogs in the special assignment manner. I had first assumed it would be a simple work, but I soon became aware of the many elements, such as correct citation and critical thinking techniques, that had to be taken care of. However, over the course of the semester, I was able to develop my blogging and writing skills through practise and feedback. Due to the three tasks’ requirements that I analyse and evaluate various points of view and arguments, they helped me improve my critical thinking abilities.
In conclusion, I had a great time taking this course and learned a lot from it. I value how it has increased my employability and equipped me for potential future professional options. Overall, I am appreciative of the chance to enrol in this course as well as the information and abilities I have acquired.
