Creating an Inclusive and Accessible Society
Vulnerable groups need a bigger voice in city planning
Smart city initiatives have sought to focus on the needs and preferences of residents rather than the capabilities of connected infrastructure, shifting from being technology-centric to citizen-centric. It is estimated that by 2050, two-thirds of the world’s population will live in cities. In the 100 largest cities in the United States, nearly 25% of citizens are currently over the age of 65, including people with disabilities.
“My fear is that smart cities end up benefiting the elite white men,” said Catherine D’Ignazio, an assistant professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. National politics and other social spheres are shaped by “the privilege hazard”, in which a small, dominant group — often of rich, older men — make decisions for others whose lives and experiences they know little about.
The key to the success of a smart city is to address the current and future needs of every citizen, which is particularly important for the elderly or the disabled. Every smart city strategy should put inclusiveness first. Designing for inclusiveness is crucial because it helps to narrow the digital divide and narrow gap. In addition, the city contains a variety of interpersonal networks, in which the elderly and the disabled are intertwined with their families, neighbors, and carers.
Create solutions that meet the needs of several groups of people
A recent panel discussion hosted by the Society for Innovation, Technology, and Modernisation and chaired by Graeme Neill, Editor of SmartCitiesWorld, debated how cities need to bake inaccessibility for those with disabilities as part of their future plans.
In the development of smart cities, we must not only develop technology but also consider people. For example, for disadvantaged groups, many smart city applications are on mobile apps, but some people can’t afford a smartphone, or the elderly cannot use a smartphone, and people with disabilities, etc. Are some technologies that they can easily use? These details should be taken into consideration in the process of our smart city development.
Sources:
SmartCitiesWorld news team. (2021, February). WATCH: Accessible smart cities, from https://www.smartcitiesworld.net/special-reports/watch-accessible-smart-cities
Megan Rowling. (2019, Nov). Cities on a digital path to a greener future risk excluding the poor, elderly and disabled — and women need a bigger voice as well, from https://news.trust.org/item/20191121165730-w14i4/
