The Internet of Things

    Discussion 1. Many of you live in cities, and for those of you who do not, you likely visit cities for various reasons. What are some of the fundamental reasons that you live in or visit a city? Would you define these reasons primarily as economic, social, cultural, etc.? Discussion 2. Based on the city in which you live or a city that you are very familiar with, can you think of an environmental problem that is seriously impeding the environmental sustainability of your city? Is the problem specifically caused by the urban ‘condition’, or is it related to human activity more generally? Discussion #3   The Internet of Things What are some Internet of Things technologies that you use or are familiar with for navigating in the city (e.g., transit, cycling, etc.), using city services, or reducing energy use in the city? What are some of the benefits and drawbacks of using such technologies? Discussion #4 The Gopalakrishnan et al. (2015) introduction to a special issue in the journal Transport summarizes research on smart and sustainable transportation, providing us with a ‘snapshot’, at least from the mid 2010s, of some of the key areas of research and concerns about transportation technology. Part of the concerns are “the acceptability of ICT solutions and barriers to their implementation” (p. 246). What are some of your key concerns around ICT solutions to urban transportation issues, whether they are about the movement of people or the movement of goods? What are some key barriers to their implementation?