Lessons India Can Take From Others In Its Pursuit To Turn Smart

As India embarks upon this great plan of building smart cities, they can take a page or two out of the success stories from across the world. India is a rather late aspirant looking to join an elite club of countries well ahead on the smart city road. 

• Take for example the case of the world's first underground park, The Lowline, New York's very own public project. It attempts to use solar energy to light up the terminal and sunlight would pass through a glass shield. No, nothing is being compromised. It would be made in such a way that even photosynthesis wouldn't be a problem and vegetation will bloom in this park. Space being one of the main restrictions in Indian cities, this may be a good way to cultivate green areas for leisure and play.

• Smart cities will take shape with a good amount of investment in information technology. Access to data will not only create a level of equality in terms of dissemination but it will also mean that the populace is educated enough to handle and maintain these technologies. Link NYC is an effort that provides free internet access to the people of New York and helps keep visitors and settlers connected. By 2013, India became the third largest internet user after the United States and China. However, if we need to go 'smart', the inequality of usage, as in the sharp divide between rural and urban populace (who use internet) or men and women needs to be narrowed.

• The concept of smart cities will be a gainful affair if there is a close association between the government and those who are governed. City 24/7 was one such interactive platform that New York came out with collating information from authorities, businesses as well as citizens. This ensures that while one is on-the-move, there is no missing out on what matters.

• San Francisco has been making news for its sustainable initiatives. The city makes sure that its citizens practice energy conservation. The use of electric cars is also encouraged to cut down on pollution and greenhouse gases.  

• If you were in Boston, there is no way you would have missed out on Soofas. All of us have at some point of time ran around to plug our devices to get these charged. The dependency on these gadgets and devices is immense and yet the facilities to keep these ready for use is limited. In Boston, all you need to do is find a Soofa, a bench that uses solar energy not only to charge your gadgets but also to inform you about the quality of air and sound levels around you.

• In Seattle, you would get tax breaks to entertain any environment-friendly technology.

• Real estate developments across the world such as the Songdo in South Korea and Hudson Yards in the US are fine examples of what efficient use of technology can do to bring together a sustainable community living.

• Chicago-based Array of Things or the AoT Project is disseminating is making use of urban sensors to inform and educate the citizens.

• Yinchuan in China has already climbed up the technology ladder with the use of facial recognition systems in buses, solar waste bins, and holograms at the city halls that speak to you to answer the FAQ's. What's more? You need not wait endlessly to meet the doctor. Haodaifu Online shall make sure that you are connected with a doctor online so as to minimise the rush in hospitals. 

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How Long Before We Are Actually 'Smart'