How can technology improve city life?

[Tim]

More than 6.5 billion people are expected to live in cities by 2050, according to UN estimates. That figure represents more than double the number of people currently living in such settlements. In order to withstand the pressure on the infrastructure that this process of urbanization will bring, smart cities referring to a concept by which cities’ traditionally offline systems such as water supply networks are brought online and connected to sophisticated analysis and control systems are expected to grow commensurate with this process of worldwide urbanization.

The convergence of smart technologies coming together to create the emerging properties of smart cities is on the whole already here with us today. We only need to implement them bring them together to really gain the benefits they can afford us.

Here are five primary technologies that together will form the backbone of our cities of the future.

1. The Internet of things

The Internet of things (IoT) is the network of devices, vehicles, and home appliances that contain electronics, software, actuators, and connectivity which allows these things to connect, interact and exchange data.

IoT involves extending Internet connectivity beyond standard devices, such as desktops, laptops, smartphones and tablets, to any range of traditionally dumb or non-internet-enabled physical devices and everyday objects. Embedded with technology, these devices can communicate and interact over the Internet, and they can be remotely monitored and controlled.

Smart city IoT starts with a smart public infrastructure to deliver clean water, dependable power, safe gas, and efficient public lighting. As smart cities free up resources by intelligently delivering essential services, they are able to invest in other services to improve the quality of life.

2. Quantum Cryptography

Quantum cryptography draws its strength from the weirdness of reality at small scales. The particles making up our universe are inherently uncertain creatures, able to simultaneously exist in more than one place or more than one state of being. They choose how to behave only when they bump into something else or when we measure their properties.

Quantum Cryptography Explained

Quantum key distribution (QKD) is a secure communication method which implements a cryptographic protocol involving components of quantum mechanics. It enables two parties to produce a shared random secret key known only to them, which can then be used to encrypt and decrypt messages. It is often incorrectly called quantum cryptography, as it is the best-known example of a quantum cryptographic task.

An important and unique property of quantum key distribution is the ability of the two communicating users to detect the presence of any third party trying to gain knowledge of the key. QKD is already available commercially, from vendors like Toshiba, Qubitekk and ID Quantique. Yet QKD continues to be expensive and requires independent infrastructure, unlike post-quantum encryption that can run over pre-existing networks.

It is critical to the scalability of automated systems such as is required within Smart cities to ensure public safety and security.

3. Automation

Automation is the technology by which a process or procedure is performed with minimum human assistance which will be critical in creating smart systems that our future cities will run on. Coupled with artificial intelligence we will be able to automate many of the tasks that previously could only be managed by humans, leading us toward a time where we may be able to automate all of our societies requirements.

4. Artificial Intelligence.

Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science that aims to create intelligent machines.

Research associated with artificial intelligence is highly technical and specialized. The core problems of artificial intelligence include programming computers for certain traits such as: Knowledge / Reasoning / Problem solving/ Perception / Learning / Planning / Ability to manipulate and move objects.

Coupled with Machine Learning it is possible to create artificially intelligent systems that can adapt to their surroundings taking advantage of ‘big data’ and make decisions that are based on real-world learning.

The impact of AI on Smart cities and the wider economy is immense

5. Decentralisation

Decentralization is the process by which the activities of an organization, particularly those regarding planning and decision-making, are distributed or delegated away from a central, authoritative location or group. Concepts of decentralization have been applied to group dynamics and management science in private businesses and organizations, political science, law and public administration, economics, money and technology.

These broad technologies break down into a myriad of smart technologies such as smart sensors, automated vehicles and the decentralised autonomous organisations that will govern many of the public services of the future.

So today on #AGICHAT we ask ‘How can technology improve city life?’

#AGICHAT #futurism #artificialintelligence #debate singularitynet #emergingtechnologies #futureofcities #decentralisation #dao

[DavidO]

Well, I would call our current situation a data stream for this topic, and certainly there are many areas that will be looked at.

My little piece involves the study of cyclical human behavior that correlates with a compilation of ancient calendars. Through this, I produced a day by day predictive set of “likely” thematic content for each day starting May 21 and through June 9, and shared on May 21.
As I watch the results come in, the thought I have is an alert system similar to what we use for forest fires. As more data is integrated into location specific information, I firmly believe we are on the precipice of the ability to forewarn of particular thematic content pertinent to specific locations.
In the current case, an alert system warning of “Highly Likely” civil demonstration would have warded off, the large scale violence by preparing people for the event. This type of predictive information is already usable for other things such as animal attacks, or weather events on a non-area specific format, but with a proper data base, I feel pretty strongly it could be tuned for "location specific " renderings.

A coordinated alert system between law enforcement and the populace would have prevented a massive amount of damage and injury.

Now, the hurtle is , my own alarm bells as to misuse of the data, and crossing that line into predictive policing, which I understand is “strongly desired” but infantile in its current form.

But, if we can get where misuse potential is reduced to a sufficient level, and the data base is formed, then yes, I can say, a calm alert could have been issued, instructing the entire community of a likelihood of large gathering in protest or civil demonstration, along with instructions of how to prevent infiltrators or violent actors. This prevention is already a large part of US demonstrations as the participants who are activists have a decent set of instructive techniques for self policing, but in this case, had no warning, or window, to prepare.

This potential could also expand to “optimal time frames” type of prediction for nearly every facet of scientific study and wider applications into areas currently held as “unpredictable”.

The result would be a less stressful flow of activity in the workplace with a higher degree of success, which in turn amplifies the former. The hurtle I see here, is the standard 7 day work week, which I expect will be used only in small niches in the future. I am not suggesting longer work schedules, I am suggesting targeted windows of opportunity for success for human endeavors in every sector of community.

Integrating and applying this type of data, even in its current primal form, shows reason to be highly optimistic for use on a wide scale. The issue will be integrity of the communal system, and prevention of misuse. On that topic, I see the initial application as being directed at the larger benefit of the community, instead of targeted areas of commercial or law enforcement sectors. They both already have their predictive systems anyway, though far less effective as it pertains to the result of the action. The product.

So, I guess our technological abilities will once again, be ahead of our ability to maintain integrity and proper usage of it, but, that has certainly a part of life since we started the first fire.