I would like to present an article about an idea of smart cities. Smart "things" idea has emerged a few years ago and nowadays it starts to integrate with our cities. From simple smartphone to smart city, in linked article authors are trying to explain urban life in an IT way. They try to solve problems of instrumental rationality, privacy, surveillance and data usage. Authors argue that smart city initiatives and urban science need a new way of approach and better description and they give us plenty of examples how they think it should be done.
Article:
http://rsta.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/374/2083/20160115
Questions:
- What do you think about smart cities idea?
- Do you agree with this statement: Safety takes priority over privacy in public policy ?
- How can we improve our urban life with smart technology?
1.What do you think about smart cities idea?
ReplyDeleteIt is great idea thanks to which we could overcome such problems as:
traffic
security
garbage disposal and many others
2.Do you agree with this statement: Safety takes priority over privacy in public policy ?
It is very hard to debate on this topic. On the one side answer seems to be easy - No privacy should be sacred on any purpose. But in current time when terrorism is getting to be more and more dangerous we should reconsider finding some silver bullet
3.How can we improve our urban life with smart technology?
Connected devices
advanced analytics
predictive analysis
Thank you for the answer. Especially if we think about traffic. Actually, Audi is testing something like this: https://www.audiusa.com/newsroom/news/press-releases/2016/08/audi-announces-first-vehicle-to-infrastructure-service
DeleteMateusz – thank you very much for this interesting article for me. This article is interesting for me because in my research work I am in touch with Smart Grid. On this account I think smart city is a great idea and should be developed in the future. This idea is very useful for all people because smart city integrates information and communication technology and Internet of things technology in a secure fashion to manage a city's assets. In that city government and common citizens can use variable application to live more comfortable and safely. About your second question I agree with this statement. If people want to live in an easy and comfortable manner and use many technology advantages they must sacrifice they privacy. For me this is obvious and clear. In my opinion everybody who wants to live easy and hidden collaterally must be stupid and must be without a basic technical knowledge. About your final question this is very easy to create a new possibility which can develop in a smart city. In my opinion for example all events in such cities like parades, runs and races and other should have all citizens’ approval via for example the web sites.
ReplyDeleteAt least someone read something interesting :) Thank you for the honest answer about privacy. It's an affordable price for the idea, but the most important thing is to educate people. Most of us have no idea how it's working and which information they are sharing.
DeleteThank you very much for an interesting article... The topic of smart cities is very up to date and exciting from a scientific point of view. We cannot underestimate the role of technological progress in the process of shaping our future. I think that smart cities are the next natural and rational step in development of modern world. Nevertheless, I am a bit sceptical when it comes to sacrificing one's privacy for the sake of safety, as for me maintaining my privacy gives me the sense of safety. I don't like sharing personal data and information on websites, via social media etc. I find it extremely dangerous, as the world is full of people who will take advantage of those pieces of information and destroy you and your stable, normal life. As per question no.3 I think that using smart technology to share information about events, dangers, traffic jams, accidents etc is already improving our life on a day-to- day basis.
ReplyDelete1. What do you think about smart cities idea?
ReplyDeleteCalling everything smart does not mean it is smart :)
Generally it is all about collecting data and then picking up some information from it. As long as it is all about only creating some general conclusion there is nothing wrong with this. Problem occurs when we can identify specific people based only on gathered data.
It is all about conclusions.
2. Do you agree with this statement: Safety takes priority over privacy in public policy ?
It depends on the specific point of view. From the government point of view privacy is a problem and of course we are forced to believe it is for our protection. So from this point of view giving citizens more privacy is against the government policy. So they will take our privacy. My conclusion is that only by taking care of privacy by our own hand we can give it to ourselves. We should be aware that every citizen should take care of their own privacy. It will not be given. And finally it is citizens law to protect ourselves.
3. How can we improve our urban life with smart technology?
I am not sure "improve" is a proper word. Improve what? Quality of life? Income? Happiness? Fame? :)
Will this be given? or we will have to buy this?
In my opinion more accurate word would be "make our life easier with smart technology". Do we really need this? :) or we are force to believe that. I am not saying it is bad because it is moral question rather that science. But it looks more like trend than actual need (I call to a preview article i read today).
The future will answer.
I totally agree that we can call anything smart. If you like gadgets, it's easy to fall into this trap.
DeleteTo answer, your last question, do we really need this? Probably not, like with everything. Simple example, smart mirror which can predict your health based on your image. Do we need it? No, is it cool? Yes :D
What do you think about smart cities idea?
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of technological progress. Also in the cities. The proposal seems very interesting.
Do you agree with this statement: Safety takes priority over privacy in public policy?
I believe security is the most important, and when we enter the public space, we can't expect complete anonymity eg. on street.
How can we improve our urban life with smart technology?
This is interesting but it is not my field of interest. I will leave it to the visionaries.
I think of "smart" being very overrated word. I'd prefer to say "well organised", "flexibly organised" rather than "smart". If increasing flexibility means more surveillance, then I would be cautious. Which leads me to your next question. I think that in the era of internet privacy is our most precious right, and there are billions of ways that we can improve to better organise our cities different than putting people under constant observation.
ReplyDeleteHow can we improve our cities then? We, as citizens, should be able to appraise our current administration. Work of a public officer should be paid depending on his/her efficiency, which is countable in such environment. This would cause, in my opinion, sudden burst of great ideas and even better performance in public management.
What do you think about smart cities idea?
ReplyDeleteI like the idea. As cities become bigger and bigger, more people live in them, it may help to improve many processes and solve problems as e.g. traffic jams.
Do you agree with this statement: Safety takes priority over privacy in public policy ?
I am not sure about it. Actually sometimes I feel one and another time the opposite. I strongly believe in our rights to privacy. I think that everyone can live as prefers and be totally independent. But after so many news about terrorist attacks I started to have some doubts. So at this moment I am not able to answer this question.
How can we improve our urban life with smart technology?
As I mentioned in my first answer, the problem of the traffic jam can be solved (or at least better maintained). Cities might be cleaner and safer.
Take a look at the article I've linked in first post. Companies are trying to solve traffic jams. It's getting closer to be production ready.
Delete1. What do you think about smart cities idea?
ReplyDeleteI think it is a great idea. I am very keen on such solutions provided that it does not affect my privacy.
2. Do you agree with this statement: Safety takes priority over privacy in public policy?
It depends on a level the privacy is affected. Each side of that issue has its arguments and each solution has its pros and cons. Personally, I am afraid of any malpractice. My privacy is an intangible asset and I wouldn't be very happy to know that unauthorized group of people knows everything about me.
3. How can we improve our urban life with smart technology?
It depends on the real needs of the society. What do we want to improve? Things like administration will always be a great example of an issue to be improved.
1. What do you think about smart cities idea?
ReplyDeleteIt seams to be very good solution. As a person interested in technology and still not owning a property to live in, I am very open to smart cities. However, I do not think that elderly people or even a generation of our parents or anyone who already owns their own home would be willing to live in such a place. Of course this is because of financial matter. But new agglomerations should be build in this way by default.
2. Do you agree with this statement: Safety takes priority over privacy in public policy ?
I think that this statement is unequivocally set by the police or other governing bodies. As a citizen or simply a private person, I absolutely do not agree to violate my privacy, but if it is to find terrorists or conduct investigations this statement seems wise.
3. How can we improve our urban life with smart technology?
I think it's natural that we want to grow and live in the midst of ever-increasing modernity. When group of people use some new facilities also other people want to try this. We are assured that technology will help us save, simplify operations and so on. I think it's good to aim for higher standards and change our environment for the better.
Taking that forum as an opportunity I would like to present different approach to the "smart city idea".
ReplyDeletePeople tend to see cities through the lens of their own profession. IT related persons say that cities are “a system of systems” and visualize the city as a flow of information to be optimized. Physicists have modelled cities and observed relationships between city scale and activity, treating city residents as atoms and describing cities as conforming to natural “laws.”
If we’re really to understand and appreciate cities, especially smart cities, our focus has to be elsewhere: it has to be on people. Cities are about people, and particularly about bringing people together. We are a social species, and cities serve to create the physical venues for interaction that generate innovation, art, culture, and economic activity.
Building smart city should be seen as a process of creating new ideas that cities excel. They are R&D facilities and incubators, and not just of new businesses, but of art, music, culture, fashion trends, and all manner of social activity. In the process Jane Jacobs so compelling described, by juxtaposing diverse people in close proximity, cities produce the serendipitous interactions that generate what she called new work.
This is a creative answer :) Less technological, but I'm impressed anyway.
DeleteAd. 1
ReplyDeleteI think the idea is brilliant, now we have to implement it in a clever, “smart” way. I mean using new possibilities to solve problems we used to have, without provoking other ones. That’s why we should start from preparing a list of detailed cities’ problems (coming from different aspects of: safety, pollution, transport etc.) and to look for an answers, if it is possible and how to conquer them using this idea. Human has its mind to rule over the ideas and processes they bring.
Ad. 2
Actually, I agree. If we decide to live in such community, we have to be ready to compromise in the name of common, higher good. Otherwise we lose integrity and become separate islands – and it has nothing to do with the city idea. Safety is such important aspect of common life that we should sacrifice privacy. We cannot take risk of danger only in the name of our “peace of mind”.
Ad. 3
For me the most important “to do” thing is effective fight against crime. I believe smart technology can be useful tool in wider than hitherto spectrum of cases. I am sure we do not profit the benefits it can ensure. I know it evaluates, but the limit is unfortunately privacy, protecting personal data etc. I guess we must mature as society to stop thinking: “this will not happen to me” and start thinking: “I do not accept it happens, any more” and to agree for compromise.
Apart from that, our environment pollution is the problem we should take care using new methods. I strongly believe also public transport is such aspect of our life we can improve thanks to “smart” technologies.
I think fighting with any kind of crime would my favourite one. It's the most beneficial one as well. Of course in my opinion. There is a good question: Do We Really Live In Dangerous Times, or Does It Just Feel That Way?
Delete1. What do you think about smart cities idea?
ReplyDeleteI think smart cities is very good idea in general. They can help us to save money and time. Additionally being "smart" can make cities appear more attractive for citizens and tourist.
2. Do you agree with this statement: Safety takes priority over privacy in public policy ?
I think it is not an excuse. We can assure safety without inference into our privacy.
3. How can we improve our urban life with smart technology?
For example, traffic lights managed with intelligent algorithms can prevent traffic jams. This solution has been introduced in some cities in Poland and works quite good as I heard.
1. What do you think about smart cities idea?
ReplyDeletePersonally I believe that it is a great idea that could be officially implemented in few decades.
2. Do you agree with this statement: Safety takes priority over privacy in public policy ?
Yes, I agree. On the other hand I think that respect for privacy should concern only the most basic aspects of our life. Some institutions should have constant insights into this area of life. Although the basic principles of privacy ethics should be taken into account. In the article there is also a statement that understanding of privacy depends on many various factors so it is hard to consider it without a specified context.
3. How can we improve our urban life with smart technology?
I think we can improve it in various ways. The most important for me is the service issue. I mean the electricity service or other media services. In this area we can use all gathered data. Moreover I think that it would be very useful during Smart Grid deployment in our cities.
I see only one disadvantage: we less brain training and he is constantly looking for optimization! Security is related to privacy. Moderate privacy is optimal for our security - this is my opinion. Each field is open ...
ReplyDelete1. What do you think about smart cities idea?
ReplyDeleteIt is great. Ideas about growing city culture advances from foundations of first Babylonian cities. It is hard to discus this architecture in few sentences. People who love living in cities are a true population for this type of research.
2. Do you agree with this statement: Safety takes priority over privacy in public policy ?
I fear to agree. There is few proficiencies that everyone know everything about their coworkers. It is good unless we face conflicts in society and this open discussion in other knowledge domain that goes over the scope of computer science.
3. How can we improve our urban life with smart technology?
I answer shortly: IoT.
As cities are getting bigger and bigger it would be reasonable to improve management of its infrastructure. In transportation it is proven that building new roads will cause bigger traffic jams, because people will buy more cars.
ReplyDeleteI fully disagree with statement about safety. In general cities are safe. The temporary problem with terrorists should be solved by uniform economic growth and fighting with extreme ideas. It is strange idea that police want to search individuals who might be problematic. Such solution may be used during immigration process when people freely give details about their life. Citizen should keep the right to privacy.
In some cities airport authorities measure noise done by each individual aircraft and stop landings when fixed limit is exceeded.