Smart communities will take (much) more than just being smarter. We have to be better
While watching a movie with the family, my youngest child observed, "they always make the future look better." Other than the occasional apocalyptic, everyone-will-die-zombie-fest, I think her statement is bang on. Think about how "the future" is often portrayed in the movies and TV shows we watch:
- amazing architecture and city infrastructure (but who is paying the energy bills for such impractical structures?!)
- everyone living in prosperity and comfort
- no poverty
- more equitable distribution of wealth and the removal of social classes
- limited/negligible crime
- no resource constraints or pressures
- increased human-connectedness
- machines/robots working side-by-side to optimise economic output
- few, if any people involved in menial labour
- clean, pollution-free air and waterways
Now consider some of the following:
- Poverty/crime rates between 50 years ago and now
- Links between urbanisation and poverty/crime
- Increasing wealth being focused in the top 1-5%
- Impact of wars and terrorism on modern society
- How much human productivity is wasted due to Candy Crush, Pokemon Go and Clash of Clans
- That, despite the wealth of information we have at our disposal, much of our public discourse is dominated by parochial, ideological news services (not to mention all the clickbait and fake news)
- We can't work together as a global community to peacefully solve the Syrian conflict (let alone all the others!)
- The lack of trust (or even respect) we have in many of our political and civic leaders
Smart communities (now and in the future) will need to be more than just sensors, data and technology. We (people) need to evolve, not just the machines we create. Will we use our skills and knowledge to improve the society we live in or to fatten our pockets and entrench (or create new) powerbases?
The future I see in many of these movies suggests societies have evolved by not simply seeking to optimise personal wealth but that communities and cities cooperate to achieve the greater good. Where everyone is integrated, included and contributing.
What am I doing to evolve myself and my community?