The City as an R&D Lab
The evolution of cities as labs is clear in a Fast Company interview with Dan Doctoroff, CEO of Sidewalk Labs, a Google startup company. They discuss the opportunity technology presents to tackle big urban issues such as housing, transportation and the environment, the need for scalable solutions and a fourth technology revolution in modern cities. Notably, they dig into the potential for performance based zoning as a smarter, more market-responsive, way to shape cities. Perhaps most interestingly, Doctoroff emphasizes the need for new technologies to benefit the triple-helix of urban stakeholders: the City, the public and the private sector. A shift towards a kinder, gentler smart city?