We believe that the time of ‘smart cities’ being thought of in terms of infrastructure and technology has passed. Rather than asking “what systems should be built, using what technology, to create sustainable urban environments?”, we should be engaging directly with all our cities’ users to understand and improve their lives. A ‘sustainable urban environment’ is far more than the sum of its infrastructure. Much as the web has transformed our digital lives, opening up vast potential for new types of interaction, our physical spaces and systems are now becoming part of a connected conversation.
A smart city is not about technology
We are exploring how we can create, share, collaborate and use information to create better cities. We believe that the key to making a city smart is putting people and openness at the heart of its design and operation. Together, people create the cultures that shape a city’s identity, its rhythm, its sense of community, its diversity, and ultimately ensures the collective wellbeing of its citizens.