{"id":60325,"date":"2021-11-06T18:12:45","date_gmt":"2021-11-06T23:12:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/?p=60325"},"modified":"2021-11-06T18:12:45","modified_gmt":"2021-11-06T23:12:45","slug":"the-case-for-making-low-tech-dumb-cities-instead-of-smart-ones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/olduvai.ca\/?p=60325","title":{"rendered":"The case for … making low-tech ‘dumb’ cities instead of ‘smart’ ones"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The case for … making low-tech ‘dumb’ cities instead of ‘smart’ ones<\/a><\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The Ma\u2019dan people in Iraq weave buildings and floating islands from reeds.<\/span>\u00a0Photograph: Esme Allen\/TSPL<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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High-tech smart cities promise efficiency by monitoring everything from bins to bridges. But what if we ditched the data and embraced ancient technology instead?<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

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E<\/span><\/span>ver since smartphones hooked us with their limitless possibilities and dopamine hits, mayors and city bureaucrats can\u2019t get enough of the notion of smart-washing their cities. It makes them sound dynamic and attractive to business. What\u2019s not to love about whizzkids streamlining your responsibilities for running services, optimising efficiency and keeping citizens safe into a bunch of fun apps?<\/span><\/p>\n

There\u2019s no concrete definition of a smart city, but high-tech versions promise to use cameras and sensors to monitor everyone and everything, from bins to bridges, and use the resulting data to help the city run smoothly. One high-profile proposal by Google\u2019s sister company, Sidewalk Labs, to give 12 acres of Toronto a smart makeover is facing a massive backlash. In September, an independent report called the plans\u00a0\u201cfrustratingly abstract\u201d<\/a>; in turn US tech investor Roger McNamee warned Google can\u2019t be trusted with such data, calling the project \u201csurveillance capitalism\u201d.<\/p>\n