Seoul, London, Tokyo, Singapore, Berlin. You might ask what is the connection between these cities besides being the capitals? Technologies make a connection between them. Parking lots with sensors making notifications for drivers about any free space; street lights, which begins to work when someone passes by; mobile applications sending messages in case of emergency care being required or making it to where you can get a license for opening a restaurant. All those features make a city smart.
Besides that, city authorities believe that the comfort of the citizens comes first. Thus, a smart home is a fundamental component of such a city.
This issue is even more pressing if to take into account UN projections that 84% of the people are going to settle down the cities over the end of the century, which is why specialists able to provide the city with a smart status are becoming increasingly valuable. Where to be educated, where else to go, and a specialist in what field to be to become a smart home developer or a smart city founder.
The theory of a smart city:
Today, if a town could not boast of being smart, it at least strives for it. In its content, it is a compliant system of technologies and innovations that are used to interact with government bodies and get administrative services, in the transport network and road traffic, energy and water supply, healthcare, and housing.
However, every smart city has a common goal, which is to benefit its residents, to ensure energy efficiency and economy, and to give society a valuable resource that is sorely lacking and it is time. Researchers from Juniper Research, a British analytical company, have calculated that indeed, a "smart" city has the potential to return 125 hours a year to each person. Analysts explain that this can be achieved by introducing the Internet of Things (IoT ) technologies and related services in four key areas, which are transport, healthcare, public safety, and public services.
Using transport, a person loses almost three days each year. However, a smart system, which includes a parking system, mobile applications, and an open database of traffic jams or short routes from point A to point B, allows saving 60 hours.
Preventive healthcare or telemedicine applications save 9 hours every year, protection of public safety saves another 35 hours, including the latest video control systems, predictive modeling for the fire and policing services, mobile applications in the provision of administrative services - up to 21 hours a year.
The practice of a smart city:
Since 2015, Juniper Research has been rating smart cities. So far, Barcelona has won the championship in 2015 and Singapore in 2016 and 2017.
What is smart about Barcelona? Digital chips in trash cans that indicate when they are full; mini-sensors in parking lots, which make it easier to find a free parking space; stops with information on the timetable of departures of public transportation means and places of interest. Lanterns are equipped with systems measuring noise, traffic, pollution, crowds, even the number of selfies that have been uploaded to the network on this street.
You might ask another question how? They are some kind of telecommunication towers with their IP addresses, which instantly, in real-time, transmit information to Barcelona Security Agency, where a dozen engineers in front of the screens monitor sound signals and flickers. As soon as a fire starts, a pipe breaks or a crowd of drunk tourists go outside, say, El Born at 2 am., specialists in the center, thanks to the system, identify the problem and can take immediate action.
Although, Barcelona gave place to Singapore, by 2018 it had provided about 47,000 jobs in the IoT sector, saved 42.5 million euros in water use and secured an annual 36.5 million euros to the budget through smart parking.
How Singapore did better than Barcelona:
Virtuality of Singapore is not the only thing that makes it smart. This is a city where the implementation of smart systems is not just an initiative, but a national smart program. So, the efforts are made not only by non-governmental organizations or companies that are involved in telecommunications and production of digital technologies but also by the population and the government.
A smart transport system is not only smart stops and buses. These are startups like nuTonomy, which, with government support, are testing self-driving vehicles - Singapore intends to introduce it as soon as possible.
Smart healthcare solutions are Telehealth remote medical services that allow you to consult and be treated at home. Thanks to specially designed tablets that capture movements through cameras and sensors, therapists examine and analyze the patient's condition. Thus, Singaporeans even recovered from a stroke. It is also an online platform that maintains health records and also interacts with health information systems and government agencies.
They even created an application you can use if necessary and get first aid or help with heart attacks. By clicking on the button, the user informs people within a radius of accessibility, including health care workers, about a critical situation.
Smart systems in cooperation with the state are online platforms of the government and departments that minimize the need to visit government agencies. Open a bank account, register the birth of a child and find a kindergarten for him through the mobile application? Here you are.
At the same time, “smart” Singapore is primarily “smart” houses. So, for example, thousands of sensors were installed in the Yuhua area, which allowed authorities to measure energy, litter production and water use on a real-time basis, and residents to get feedback to regulate the resources usage at home.
A connected home means energy-saving lighting, Wi-Fi, sockets connected to smartphones, “smart” televisions with high-quality sound and images, robotic vacuum cleaners, and, of course, “smart” meters that provide energy-efficient housing and savings, because day and night tariffs are various.
It is worth noting that they are very popular in the world of smartmeters, as the basic part of intelligent systems. For instance, the Enel multinational energy company, serving at least 70 million users in 35 countries, has provided 100% of its customers with smart meters.
However, the concept of smart housing is not a novelty of the 21st century. Push-Button Manor is the first "smart" home designed by American engineer Emil Matthias in 1950 for his family. These are 2 km of wires and several buttons that provided remote control of lighting, garage doors, curtains, household appliances, and mechanisms, plus a security and alarm system. More inventors of the XX century put creative technologies at home to make life easier.
Who are to create brains for cities and houses:
If Cisco Systems predictions come true, by 2050 more than 60% of the world's population will live in cities. That is why very soon a large number of specialists will be needed who will ensure the functioning of “smart” cities and houses.
Next to IT specialists, developers of mobile applications and classical experts in specific areas, builders of smart roads, IT doctors, information stylists or robot designers will appear.
About the author
Working as a freelancer for more than 5 years now, Melisa Marzett writes content for professional resume perk at the time traveling throughout the world. She has been to many places by now and there is still a lot in plans. Seeing is believing and the more she sees, the more she believes in her dreams and strive for more. She stands for wishing much and no regrets because she believes that we live once.