Better Cities, Better Lives through Frontier Technology
On Monday, November 4th, IHC Global and Dentons Smart Cities and Communities Think Tank Editorial Board observed United Nations World Cities Day with their first-ever shared panel. Although World Cities Day took place on October 31st, IHC Global and Dentons proved that it’s never a bad time to discuss city issues. The discussion featured IHC Global President and CEO Judith Hermanson and international urban expert Brian English. The event explored World Cities Day theme “Changing the World: Innovations and Better Life for Future Generations.”
The potential of smart cities to improve the life and experiences of urban residents has become an increasing focus of policymakers, non-governmental organizations, and international entities within recent years. In, “Smart City| Just City: Can smart city technologies create more equity in an unequal world?” an IHC Global policy paper authored by Brian, explored ways to use technology to create a more equitable society. Challenges such as health, transportation, and women’s rights are all connected to this movement. But, the implications of smart city projects can be hard to understand, which is why we were happy to have Brian boil smart cities – and Smart City| Just City down into five hopes and fears:
HOPE 1: Cities will navigate Smart Cities/ICT innovations in ways that increase equity, not exacerbate inequality, by improving aspects of inequity through more efficient procedure, recognition, and redistribution.
As the Smart City| Just City policy paper points out, smart cities are often thought to be “satellite cities on the peripheries of mega cities, funded by a mix of public and private funding, as an oasis of luxury and efficiency, away from the snarls of traffic.” This is what Brian fears: that instead of integrating technology within existing city structures and cultural norms, technological innovations will further marginalize some communities economically and socially. For cities that seek to create the “oasis of luxury,” rather than plan for their existing residents, the digital divide would only increase “creating an underclass of people disconnected from the information and tools necessary to stay plugged into economic opportunities in the information age.” The goal of smart cities should be to help the disenfranchised, not create an escape for the wealthy.
HOPE 2:
Cities will stay grounded in the fundamentals of planning, equity, and "who decides?" as they pioneer innovations in Smart Cities/ICT.
As the Smart City| Just City policy paper points out, smart cities are often thought to be “satellite cities on the peripheries of mega cities, funded by a mix of public and private funding, as an oasis of luxury and efficiency, away from the snarls of traffic.” This is what Brian fears: that instead of integrating technology within existing city structures and cultural norms, technological innovations will further marginalize some communities economically and socially. For cities that seek to create the “oasis of luxury,” rather than plan for their existing residents, the digital divide would only increase “creating an underclass of people disconnected from the information and tools necessary to stay plugged into economic opportunities in the information age.” The goal of smart cities should be to help the disenfranchised, not create an escape for the wealthy.
HOPE 3:
Cities will create scalable solutions with manageable complexity that reflects the need to adapt to a rapidly evolving future.
The allure of technology as a fixer of all problems can oftentimes inflate expectations. These expectations are followed by disillusionment. But, as with most types of progress, the successful integration of technologies requires periods of trial and error to assess value and amplify gains. It is only after periods of trial and error that the true value and productivity gains can be assessed for what they are.” Implementation needs to start in pilot cities. Successful trials will then be adopted to work in other cities. As new cities adopt the technologies, their expectations will hold with the progress seen in the pilot city and lead to more efficient implementations.
HOPE 4:
The business of Smart Cities/ICT will not crowd out innovations and innovators and will become collaborative partners for good.
It sometimes seems like the financial potential of and incentives provided to “Big Tech” present a growing threat to market diversification and crowd out individual entrepreneurs and small businesses. But, according to Brian, there is ample opportunity for both to thrive. Technology and good governance can support new innovators with new ideas in a way that prevents “Big Tech” from gaining an economically out-sized over policy, to the point where they could buy government power, be protected from accountability mechanisms, and exclude the disenfranchised.
HOPE 5:
Smart City/ICT innovations will help advance social and cultural norms towards equity, not reinforce inequity.
Technology can bring people together but creating spaces for inclusion are necessary to develop a powerful sense of community. It becomes difficult to create inclusive spaces online, however, when technology itself is not inclusive. In India, for example, 70% of men have mobile phones while only 38% of women can say the same. Ensuring equal access to technology is the first step toward creating fully inclusive online communities. Bringing women’s voices into the Smart City| Just City dialogue, by paying attention to their experiences is one way to advance inclusive social and cultural norms.
Takeways
Smart Cities are unquestionably ambitious. As such a new concept, technology creates much uncertainty about its implementation and implications. As was pointed out in the discussion following Brian’s presentation, in the United States the idea of a “new frontier” has historically connoted the image of expansion into a physical wilderness and unknown- now cities are the “new frontier” for technology, innovation, and new ways of life.
The event outlined many of the issues they see arising in cities and they address the effects that a well implemented Smart City| Just City program can have. Continuing to work and navigate around issues in a proactive manner will lead to successful projects. Panels like this one serve as great resources in identifying and addressing these issues and sharing insights and solutions. What a way to finish Urban October and celebrate World Cities Day!
Author Ben Troutman is a junior at George Washington University and a fall intern for IHC Global. He studies political science, international affairs, and Mandarin. Ben has worked at a number of grassroots organizations raising money for environmental issues in both Pennsylvania and Washington, D.C. He has had an interest in public service ever since he started watching the sitcom Parks and Rec for the first time and loves talking politics, too.