Web
Analytics
top of page

DL Seminar | Techno-Optimistic Smart City Imaginaries: A Patchwork of Four Urban Futures

  • Writer: Jessie G Taft
    Jessie G Taft
  • Nov 3, 2018
  • 2 min read

Updated: Apr 16, 2019

By Annalisa Choy | Law Student | Cornell Tech


Illustration by Gary Zamchick

DL Speaker Laura Forlano

Laura Forlano’s work has centered around the following question: “How do you study people, things, and societies that don’t exist yet?” To do so, Forlano (pictured above) uses four different “imaginaries”: the City as a Platform, the City as a Testbed, the City as a Lab, and the City as a New, Urban Manufacturer.


According to Forlano, the City as a Platform is “defined by the integration of digital technologies such as WiFi terminals—is a streamlined version of city government in which many services are provided by third party companies rather than by the government itself.” To illustrate, New York has installed LinkNYC terminals (“Links”) around the city, replacing phone booths with kiosks that offer nationwide phone calls and free WiFi. The Links are part of the City’s goal to bring Internet access to its citizens, bridging the digital divide. Each Link has an interactive screen that provides information such as weather and transit updates. The Links used to have internet browsers, but the City removed this feature after receiving a slew of complaints about users camping out in front of the units, listening to loud music and watching inappropriate content.


Forlano describes the City as a Testbed as “the use of public roadways and simulations that are used for the testing of autonomous vehicles [and] an experimental space for future technologies.” Because this poses safety concerns, the University of Michigan has developed a “Mcity” testing facility for autonomous vehicles, simulating urban and suburban driving environments. This testbed is 32 acres of streets, with added trees to test communication between vehicles and scratched street signs to test the strength of computer vision.


Forlano asserts that the City as a Lab is “defined by the measurement, control, tracking and surveillance of a wide range of urban processes—is a highly scientific and systematic management of urban life.” For example, Chicago is installing modular sensors around the city, albeit slowly, to collect information including noise and pollution.

Finally, the City as a New, Urban Manufacturer, as per Forlano, is “the development of new businesses around design, digital fabrication, and local manufacturing—is a rebirth of manufacturing for the purpose of economic growth.” Chicago’s mHub is an innovation center that focuses on manufacturing, fostering a connection between local manufacturers and university researchers.


While Forlano’s four constructs carry much promise, there will likely be huge cybersecurity and privacy implications with the implementation of these smart cities. Hopefully these constructs are taking these concerns into consideration.

414 comentários


Ghalib shaikh
Ghalib shaikh
an hour ago

I visited a lot of website but I believe this one has got something extra in it. https://linklist.bio/gus77/


Curtir

yousuf khan
yousuf khan
2 hours ago

icture above an issue that you know nothing about! I dont want to sound mean, right here. But do you definitely think that you can get away with adding some quite pictures and not really say anything? https://linklist.bio/gus77/

Curtir

Ahmed Raza
Ahmed Raza
19 hours ago

This is such a great post, and was thinking much the same myself. Another great update. bijan robinson outer banks


Curtir

Ahnmed Ali
Ahnmed Ali
21 hours ago

You actually make it appear really easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be really something which I believe I might never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I’m taking a look forward for your next post, I will try to get the cling of it!

write for us home improvement

Curtir

Office Office
Office Office
a day ago

Wonderful site you have here but I was wondering if you knew of any user discussion forums that cover the same topics discussed here? I’d really like to be a part of online community where I can get comments from other knowledgeable people that share the same interest. If you have any suggestions, please let me know. Appreciate it!betmarino

Curtir
bottom of page