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Week 5 [08-14.04] Smart living. Smart city. Be smart!


Every day we meet with unusual and intelligent solutions. We are evolving all the time. Technology is growing and growing, surprising us with all technology news and interesting facts. We can't avoid the future.
Watch the video...:

... and answer the questions:

1.      What do you think about the smart solutions presented in this video?
2.      Have you ever encountered such smart solutions? If yes, what are your feelings?
3.      Would you like to live in smart city? Why/why not?

Comments

1. These are some really great ideas. Some of them are not very hard to implement, for example intelligent traffic lights. The current way of reading water and electricity meters is so primitive that it is hard to believe that a real man has to come to your house instead of uploading the data to the operator. I hope that the change would come soon.

2. The only “smart” solution I have encountered was the counter on the pedestrian crossing traffic light, unfortunately not in Warsaw. It’s such a small thing, but does a great job helping to make the decision – enter the crossing or not. I haven’t encountered any smart solution in Warsaw. All I know about is the intelligent management of a couple of intersections and a tram priority on some routes.

3. Yes, of course. Such solutions can improve the quality of living in a city quite significantly. In my opinion this is the way cities should develop instead of narrowing the streets or banning cars which doesn’t help but makes life of particular groups only worse. I wish those ideas presented in the video would come into life soon, because it’s a shame the didn’t do it already.
1. Yes, I agree with you. Real man has to come to house and read water and electricity meters. This is oldschool and a bit strange.

2. Excatly, in Warsaw I see only smart traffic lights for trams, giving them a priority on intersections. Nothing more.

3. Definitely, yes. No doubt, these solutions can improve the quality of living in city, but it costs a lot. And where will you get the money?
Anton Medvediev said…

Do you know that video from 2015?;)
1. What do you think about the smart solutions presented in this video?
Some countries had some smart think that we saw in this video, it’s nice and do our life easier.
2. Have you ever encountered such smart solutions? If yes, what are your feelings?
It’s save our time and some stressful things like traffic jam or searching for parking lot became to less stressful.
3. Would you like to live in smart city? Why/why not?
Ofcourse, because it’s do our life easier and less stressful, we dont need an internet on mobile phone if we will have it on street, can waste less time in traffic jam, or for searching a parking lot, so it’s very nice
Thanks for answers ;)

Yes, I know that video is from 2015. I have tried to find something newer, but unfortunately, I couldn't. But I have the feelings that many cities do not have such solutions presented in video.
By the way, could you name the countries you are talking about at answer no 1?
1. What do you think about the smart solutions presented in this video?

I think it looks nice, but it's not quite realisitic for now.

2. Have you ever encountered such smart solutions? If yes, what are your feelings?

I'm actually not a huge fan of it. I have Amazon Alexa and it's enough for me ;) I'm not big fan of making "smart-things" because more devices you have, there is a bigger chance of being hacked or something. Despite being coder, there is a ton of situations in my life that I like more analog things.

3. Would you like to live in smart city? Why/why not?

I think that I have answered it partially before - I would not like to live in such a city. This can be risky! Especially in Poland, haha.
Bartosz Barnat said…
1. What do you think about the smart solutions presented in this video?

I think that solutions presented in this video are really interesting and can be implemented even right now because we have this technology to do that, all we need is a budget. But many of this solutions might help us with every day life.
2. Have you ever encountered such smart solutions? If yes, what are your feelings?

I encountered many smart solutions but I'm not a fan of them yet. I think that I need few more years to accept them.


3. Would you like to live in smart city? Why/why not?

I don't want to live in this type of city right now just because we don't know how community would react in it. It might be a total disaster. Plan is good and about the execution we will see.
Why do you think that smart solutions are not realistic now?

Yes, I know, not everyone likes new technology, new solutions, etc. But Amazon Alexa is very helpful cloud-based voice service, don't you think?
Yes, I agree with you that such solutions require a budget. And not a small one. But if we see these smart solutions, definitely we will have a better, smarter and more comfortable life.
What do you think when the best period for implementing the smart solutions will be?
Maciej Sadoś said…
1. What do you think about the smart solutions presented in this video?
I think that these are brilliant and simple to do ideas and implementing such smart solutions is possible nowadays. Not only in newly built cities but also in existing. The thing is that city authorities have to have an interest in such a development.

2. Have you ever encountered such smart solutions? If yes, what are your feelings?
I have encountered smart city lights like those on the video, but I can't remember where. I really like the idea especially that those lights were built on pedestrian crossing and when a pedestrian was near they turned on. It is beneficial not only for the pedestrian and for a driver, who can see the person in the night, but it is also economically beneficial. Another brilliant idea for me are counters on city lights that tell you how much time left on a green and on a red light, that kind of counters are for example in Płock.

3. Would you like to live in smart city? Why/why not?
On the one hand I would like to live in a smart city because of it's efficient, modern, environmentally friendly etc. but on the other hand I'm afraid of too broad collection of data about people. In such a city sharing data about every aspect of your life could be required. But that's another topic for a longer discussion.
By the way I recommend you a book "Zero" by Marc Elsberg, it contains a really realistic perspective on the future of the world where all our data is collected by external companies. It's from 2014 and many of author's predictions appeared to be real already when I read in a year ago.
I love any kind of automation and getting rid of bureracracy and thus corruption and inneficiency. I encountered some of them, but usually they are a bit cranky, not because idea is bad, but rather execution is rashed or unproffesional. I would love to live in a smart city, but where i could make some decisions regarding controlling system.
1. They are certainly clever and can be very helpful.
2. I had the opportunity to participate in projects on such solutions and they are cool, however, I personally sometimes it will be terrifying how much depends on the machines.
3. No. I just do not like cities and I prefer to live far away from cities.
I think that some of the solutions are interesting, especially information about free parking spots. Leaving a car in city center during rush hours can be sometimes impossible and having information about closest free spot is priceless. On the other hand, having cameras everywhere, watching our every movement is a little bit scary and violates our privacy too much. I have encountered few such smart solutions, for example a pedestrian crossing turns on warning lights when people are walking threw it. I believe such solutions are great ideas under condition they are to help people live not to monitor them. I think that it could be an interesting adventure to live in smart city and I would like to try it for a some time. But I’m not sure If I would like to live in such city my whole life.
In fact, a smart city is very interesting. I think this is a matter of time. Many would not want to live in a smart city. I think the reason for this will be privacy, a sense of surveillance. But it does not bother me. And already in Warsaw, probably, most of the ideas have already been implemented. For example, a traffic light that will never turn on a red light for cars if there is no one waiting to cross of afoot the road.
1. What do you think about the smart solutions presented in this video?
The solutions are fine. Controlling the light and other things that help you save money will always be important. It seems to me that with some solutions the problem may appear when creating them. I mean, it may turn out that it is more expensive than saving or it is an overflow of form over the content.
2. Have you ever encountered such smart solutions? If yes, what are your feelings?
I had the opportunity to observe how an intelligent home works. Generally everything is nice but somehow it did not attract me as it should. Maybe I am old minded.
3. Would you like to live in smart city? Why/why not?
I think I would like it anyway. All in all, it's all about making life easier and more efficient at the same time
Yana Lytvynenko said…
No wonder they say "the simplicity of genius", this video is proof of this. After all, most of the ideas built on the most common sensors (traffic lights and lighting in the city), but have great benefits, at least saving electrical and reducing traffic jams in the city.
In Warsaw, at some traffic lights there are motion sensors, that is, so where there is, for example, a turn, then if the sensor noticed the car, the traffic light adjusts itself and turns on the green light to it. This is designed to ensure that the main street just did not stop the movement, if there are no cars on the turn.
I think that there are hardly any people who say no to a smart city, because this is an environmental benefit and the comfort of the people themselves who live there.
Illia Lukisha said…
1. What do you think about the smart solutions presented in this video?

I think this video is outdated, but of course connected city is great idea. Many of those solutions are already implemented in many cities.

2. Have you ever encountered such smart solutions? If yes, what are your feelings?

Sweden has even better garbage system, where rubbish is transported over network of tubes to factories without any smart sensors and trucks even needed. Even Warsaw has traffic lights that are adjusting for traffic conditions.

3. Would you like to live in smart city? Why/why not?

Of course I would like to live in smart city, but changing the infrastructure is more costly then implementing new one, so I'm waiting for construction of new cities that will be designed from the ground up to be accessible and smart.
Zygmunt Z said…
1. What do you think about the smart solutions presented in this video?

It may look nice but I guess right now we are far from it in terms of development.

2. Have you ever encountered such smart solutions? If yes, what are your feelings?

I'm actually not a huge fan of it. I have Amazon Alexa and it's enough for me ;) I'm not big fan of making "smart-things" because more devices you have, there is a bigger chance of being hacked or something. Despite being coder, there is a ton of situations in my life that I like more analog things.
I may have encountered similar and simpler solutions but I am not huge fan of them. Some of my friends have some of those “toys” but I prefer analog solutions as they are more reliable, easier to fix and right now they are an endangered species so they gain additional value.

3. Would you like to live in smart city? Why/why not?

I think that I have answered this question in the previous one. Beside that, Poland… it is far from being a “smart” country where coal and miners rule
What do you think about the smart solutions presented in this video?
I really like them, my favorite is the one which points to you free parking spaces. It’s a nightmare to find available parking spot, especially in city center, and it would make my life so much easier.

Have you ever encountered such smart solutions? If yes, what are your feelings?
I think that everybody has encountered some kind of smart solutions, but none of them was REALLY helpful. I would love the ones presented in this video though.

Would you like to live in smart city? Why/why not?
Yes, I would like to live in smart city. Why? Because it’s designed to be a better place to live. This solutions would make everybody’s life easier.
Thanks for answers :)

About answer no 3:
You know, if you go to shop, especially supermarket or shopping mall there are cameras that collect data about people - your face, how many times and when you have entered specific places, shops etc. That's why I do not care. I have nothing to hide, I do not do black business.

Thanks for recommending book. I will certainly read it someday :)
Excatly, and another example in Warsaw, smart traffic lights for trams, giving them a priority on intersections. Or smart pedestrian crossing - turn on warning lights when walking is approaching to pedestrian crossing, or is already on it.
In general, intelligent solutions are something that I like very much. Some of them are very interesting and useful. It seems to me that some of these ideas are easy to implement. The smart light system is, in my opinion, the coolest.

I met with many intelligent solutions like siri from apple, Google assistant, etc. I really like these solutions. They make life easier!

It depends how intelligent this city would be. For sure I would like to try to live in such a smart city. For sure it is something different and new. I do not trust 100% technology.
Anyway, I'd like to try living in a city like this. Only do not be too many of these smart solutions.
I'm not the biggest fan of this topic at all. I just don't really care about it. When it comes to some of this, i can already see some problems with them. For example this trashcan meter. What company would collect trash in real time? It would make you make dumb routes to empty two trashcans that are next to each other just becouse some group of people leaves mcdonald's. Eh, the only smart thing i can remember that i'm using is google assistant. Still i'm not really depending on it or smth. So yeah, when it comes to smart city. I wouldn't mind to live in one but im cool with living in Warsaw too.
1. What do you think about the smart solutions presented in this video?

The solutions used are very helpful and useful. Each of them would make life easier for every person. Furthermore! I am even working on the idea of smart garbage bins and the issue of automatic waste sorting

2. Have you ever encountered such smart solutions? If yes, what are your feelings?

I have constant contact with smart solutions, because I often create such solutions and projects for my own needs. Smart issues are very important for every person, because they allow to simplify the activities we perform. Let's think how much time will we save thanks to this solution!
However, we must remember that modern, innovative solutions can often become dangerous to our security. We hear a lot about spying on users and collecting sensitive information. It is important not to fully trust the devices that surround us.

3. Would you like to live in smart city? Why/why not?

Of course! All applied smart solutions would allow us simpler, more pleasant and effective use of time, and would also increase our safety in the city. It is possible, however, that life in the city will require a habit. And all due to surveillance of cameras located at every step.
ExoKuzo said…
Im strongly against "smart cities". Why?
Well unfortunately we live in an age when we cannot trust anyone not even our government, nowadays we are treated more and more like statistical data than humans the giving more ways for anyone to spy on us, scares me.

I dread what our and everyone else gov would do if they had so much power over what , when how we do. Smart icy could easily turn into "experiments on humans" city and most of us would not even notice, or they would not care, until it would be too late.
I like the idea of smart city itself. It doesn't matter if it will be implemented in traffic lights, lamp posts, benches or in the pavement. Smart solutions will allow us to be more efficent on whatever we are doing. The implementation presented in the video is a clever one but i will need to mostly rebuild entire infrstructure in whole city. I think more realisty approach is to build new city as a smart from ground up. I encountered one smart sollution, it was indicator whenever trash bin is full. It was implemented in Amsterdam and i think it worked fine. I will definetly want to live in smart city.
Yes some of those ideas are brilliant , but requires constant data about each person it somehow terrifies me. System would know everything about us much more than it is nowadays. But it would save a lot of energy and water, for the good of the environment I think it should be implemented.
Kind of, but it drives me crazy :D e.g. automatic lights in the toilets it is very good energy saver but... Imagin you sit on the toilet and every 30 seconds you must wave above your head just to delay switching off the lights, it is very uncomfortable.
Yes I would, I belive that living there could be much cheaper and healthier.
Adam Nguyen said…
Those ideas were very interesting. I like that most of them can be done today and others in the near future. Most of these ideas would make our lives easier and safer.
I have encountered it in Warsaw, the smart traffic lights. They really help with traffic jams.
Sure, life would be easier and much safer. Such ideas could help decrease air pollution as well as traffic jams.
1. What do you think about the smart solutions presented in this video?
Those ideas presented in the video looks great, most of them would be very usefull and it will be great if we could use them.
2. Have you ever encountered such smart solutions? If yes, what are your feelings?
Unfortunately no, I was thinking about buying Alexa from Amazon and some smart-home impuvements(e.g. smart bulb or smart lock) but it is still in me plans.
3. Would you like to live in smart city? Why/why not?
Living in a smart city sound like a great idea, but I think there are some problems. First of all it is privacy. Livig in a smart city mean, that there is no such think as your privacy, because you will be monitored 24/7. Every your action will recorded and saved somewhere and this is a big problem. It is hard to buid such city from scretch and there is some problems with modifying already existing cities. But all in all it sounds like a great idea.
1. What do you think about the smart solutions presented in this video?
Nice, i really love these ideas that are presented in the video above. They make our life become easier and we don't need to waste a lot of our time
2. Have you ever encountered such smart solutions? If yes, what are your feelings?
Sure, there are a lot of examples over the city. Some of them are not useful as they seem to be, but in most cases, it really makes our life saver, easier, more comfortable to live in.
3. Would you like to live in smart city? Why/why not?
We are approaching to that kind of city. I can't say that we stay on the place and not moving forward. In nearest future we will see more "features" on the streets, public places.
All of you guys say about privacy, spying via camera and microphones. I know that is some kind a lack of privacy, more or less, but without exaggeration. In my opinion, if you are "clear", not doing black business and not a businessman/VIP then you should not worry about it because you have nothing to hide. At least I think so.
1. It’s very interesting and is hard to do, maybe in some small cities you could create this kind of environment. How exactly this flood prevention would work?
2. No, I didn’t. My light only turns on with motion detector sensors, but they are not smart. I have only smartphone.
3. Yes of course, who wouldn’t everything in city is helpful. They will help you find parking, help you when you are hurt, they care about the environment life is bliss. I know that they will monitor all your action but tell me a place where they don’t do this.
This comment has been removed by the author.
1. The topics that were presented in the short presentation are really good. Many of them are already implemented, eg automatic counters or intelligent lights.
Reading the above comments, I was wondering if it was only me who had the water meters listed for electric :)? Returning to the subject, all the solutions on the film that have not been installed yet, I really like them and I am looking forward to implementing them

2. I've come across many intelligent solutions. One of them are intelligent lights that control the flow of traffic.

3. In a smart city, I could live without a problem. That's why smart solutions are implemented to make life easier and give them more time.
Living in an automated city would not be a problem for me
1. This huge number of sensors may be challenging in implementation. Enormous streams of data need to be consumed, processed and forwarded to users by an army of machines. Maintenance of such a system would be too expensive.

2. I think that there are already smart intersection lights even in Warsaw. Also, one time I stumbled upon a website displaying environmental parameters from all cities in Poland, which has such sophisticated sensor stations online.

3. It's obvious that I would love to live in a smart city. However, it's a little bit too much surveillance in e.g. gps transmitter in every car for emergency. I'm rather into sharing with big brother as low amount of data as I can.
Peter Clemenza said…
1. What do you think about the smart solutions presented in this video?
Useless crap that will require tons of electronic and repairs

2. Have you ever encountered such smart solutions? If yes, what are your feelings?
I generally prefer stupid solutions. But yeah, maybe just lets start with those things that easy instead of trying to complicate more stuff.

3. Would you like to live in smart city? Why/why not?
Yes, but i would have to kill dozens of people, Have you seen Falling Down (1993)? You got the idea.
1. On one hand it sounds citizen-friendly and amazing, it seems like that's how we picture our future, but on the other hand it seems like an absolutely terrifying perspective- if just having facebook accounts and smartphones there have been numerous scandals in regards to governments and companies spying on us and then selling all the gathered data without our consent- how would we prevent the same thing from happening with such “smart” sollutions? If the street lights will know where and when what user is exactly, or what time he leaves his parking spot with the ability to track him wherever he goes or recording what ever noise/sound he makes(or his car- doesn't really matter at this point) we loose a lot of our already stripped privacy.
2. I did, some of them came out to be more useful than others. Sometimes there is no need to replace simplicity.
3. As mentioned before- it sounds amazing, but I don't think I would feel comfortable in a place where everything that happens is strictly monitored.

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