What are the most effective ways to make smart city technology accessible for low-income residents?

First of all, be critical about the need for a 'smart', technology solution and critically assess the research question at hand. Is a 'smart' and/or technological solutions the best approach? Next, talk to a broad group of possible users. Apply a design thinking approach to make, test and rework possible solutions, and build in sufficient design freedom for constant rethinking. In addition, reach out to a broad range of possible users through civil society context/field experts. They can bring the necessary trust into the equation. Finally, critically evaluate if the solution might negatively impact other user groups in a discriminative way. And don't be afraid to fail - better to fail in your experiments!

Subsidizing devices and services is crucial for addressing affordability challenges among low-income residents. This support can bridge the digital divide, ensuring equitable access to smartphones, tablets, laptops, broadband, and data plans, regardless of income. The #SMART_ECI initiative expands its focus to urban areas, emphasizing equitable access and sustainable practices to enhance EV infrastructure, fostering a cleaner and more inclusive transportation system. This approach aligns with social justice goals, combating discrimination, and respecting especially to the African American community.

Promoting equity in smart cities could be triggered with some of the following strategies: 1. Subsidized programs for low-income access. 2. Community engagement for inclusive planning. 3. Boost digital literacy in low-income areas. 4.Fair distribution of smart infrastructure. 5. Mobile-friendly tech for broader accessibility. 6. Transparent data governance for trust. 7. Public-private collaborations for inclusivity. 8. Tailored solutions for diverse urban needs. 9. Financial aid for low-income tech adoption. 10. Regular assessments for continual improvement. Strategies for inclusive smart cities ensure benefits reach all community members, fostering technological advancement with social equity.

I think achieving accessibility to smart city technology for low-income residents includes actions such as subsidizing devices, offering free public Wi-Fi, and implementing digital literacy programs. Partnering with community organizations can further customize solutions to specific needs and overcome potential barriers.

Contrapartidas de empresas de comunica??o relacionadas ao fornecimento de servi?os podem ainda fazer parte dos contratos de concess?o.

It's worth noting that the digital divide is still a major issue, with educational, ethnic and racial disparities still present. And this is not something that can be easily fixed by "installing free Wi-Fi", ha-ha. I recall a 2014 study in New York City that found a negative relationship between the submission of online applications and the percentage of elderly citizens and low-income households (Cavallo et al., 2014).

L'extension du wifi public apparait comme une solution viable pour réduire la fracture numérique. Dans un pays comme le Sénégal où les forfait internet sont excessivement chers, installer des wifi publics dans les établissements recevant du public, permettrait aux usagers de s'informer à temps réel, de faciliter les recherches pour les études, de s'orienter (map).certains lieux dans le centre- ville dakarois disposent d'installations wifi.cependant l'extension du wifi vers les periphéries dakaroises, les lieux d'habitation de la quasi totalité de la ville laisse à désirer.

As a great smart city ideology it's applausable. We need to work on the thought of power/energy. Power-stations powering the charging stations taking note of security and public maintenance. Let's have solar power for Charging stations and also let's think of Energy-in-Motion and thermal harvesting for sustainable power in Smart City development.

Publicly accessible Wi-Fi and charging stations are easy, yet effective ways to provide essential infrastructure for a vast number of people across economic backgrounds. Being able to connect to the internet and having the ability to power your various devices can significantly improve access to technology and in essence manifest a smart city. Being able to couple these with off grid technology, such a solar power, reduces maintenance and improves the feasibility of smart city ideologies.

Esse é inclusive um recurso importantíssimo para auxiliar trabalhadores informais e vinculados a aplicativos de entrega e transportes que passam muito tempo na rua.

Communities can offer comprehensive digital literacy programs through social programmes, non-profit and non-government agencies. This move can equip vulnerable communities with the skills and knowledge to mobilise smart city services and navigate the digital landscape with increased confidence.

La littéracie numérique est en effet un challenge dans la réduction de la fracture numérique. Cependant, en premier plan de ce challenge, il ya le faible taux d'alphabétisation dans plusieurs pays d'Afrique subsaharienne. Plusieurs millions d'adultes ont une utilisation limitée des outils numériques à cause de la barrière de la langue. Rendre les solutions numériques et leurs contenus accessibles dans les différentes langues locales permettrait de faciliter l'accès aux compétences numériques en Afrique subsaharienne.

Fundamental a inclus?o digital permitindo acesso democrático a linguagem, ferramentas, plataformas e equipamentos em espa?os públicos e seguros.

If you want solutions, policies and practices that will be adopted and actually be used, the end users must be involved in the process. People are experts of their own lives and should be given the opportunity to weigh in on what they need, want, and will use. Residents in low-income communities have ideas and solutions - they are not merely service recipients.

Around the world, it is apparent that almost all people have transitioned to smart phones (across income levels). With this in mind, solar powered e-stations that come equipped with charging points, transit cards, wifi access and other e-services must be made a standard on every 1 km stretch. Pay-it-forward top ups where people can contribute to fund transit cards or other e-services must be made an easy part of such interfaces to allow residents to help each other out.

This is a really important factor. Not all smart cities technology os considered critical or necessary and local residents have the best views on which technology would work best.

Population Management, the challenge for 21st Century. It is my invention, Where I Have tried to shows how we can overcome the effect of over population in a developing countries.

I've found that trying to think of what other people need can be hard to get right. Having these conversations is can be start of so many life-changing technologies and development decisions.

Yearly/ bi- yearly Cultural festivals and theme based programmes organized in public parks/ spaces with free wifi would encourage low income residents to document the same through photographs and videos. This would entail communication about the event to distant relatives, engaging them into participation and deeply involve their sense of ownership and pride. It could also lead them into participating with the cultural event in other forms such as community cooking. Introduction of smart technologies such as payment apps for purchase of local handicrafts, cuisines, etc further would boost their confidence in using smart technology. Social interactions within the premise would result in development of capacity building and resilience.

Smart infrastructure is a massive enabler for people with disabilities. The infrastructure of a city must by default cater for braille, sound and physically accessible design to all levels of the urban realm.

A participa??o constante através de fóruns e ambientes democráticos é o que garante o engajamento da popula??o de forma contínua. Porém essa participa??o precisa ser verdadeiramente transformada e a??o para que as pessoas n?o percam o interesse em participar.

City authorities should establish public technology centres that are open and affordable for all families, especially those from low-income or disadvantaged communities. These centres would provide access to devices, internet, and digital services that can enhance education, health, mobility, and civic participation. In addition, these centres would create opportunities for many businesses to participate in the development and delivery of smart city solutions.

With tech enabled infrastructrure becoming a norm, city authorities should not shy away from on-ground understanding of peoples habits and how they use the city. Data analysis of 'urban' users of the city must be processed as a way to constantly inform and innovate the city services, to understand the needs of various demographics such as women, caregivers, elderly, low/middle/high income, special needs etc.

Additional strategies to make smart city technology more accessible for low-income residents: Digital Literacy Programs - Offer programs that educate and train residents on using smart technologies. Provide workshops or classes to enhance digital literacy, enabling them to access and benefit from these technologies. Localized Service Centers: Establish community centers or hubs within low-income areas that provide assistance, training, and support for utilizing smart city technologies, ensuring accessibility and guidance for residents. This could be done through a city department or within a partnership with an organization.