The Future of Smart Cities for People with Disabilities

With half of the world’s population living in urban areas and the rapid evolution of technology, it’s not surprising that we continue to hear quite a bit of buzz in the media that there is a global shift towards “smart cities” as the future of urban development. Just what a smart city is exactly is difficult to define because it takes on a different meaning based on the city’s overall goal. From a citizen’s perspective, we can define the ideal smart city as a place that incorporates technology to make city life more accessible and efficient, without feeling like technology is present. The real question is then: accessible for who?

Innovations in technology over the last decade have become a means to empower individuals with disabilities by becoming a tool for independence. We are hoping to see this translate into the blueprint of smart cities as they begin to pop up in developed and emerging nations. Picture a city that’s completely hands-free. Imagine shopping malls and retail stores, schools, corporate offices, medical buildings and more being all fully accessible through mobile applications, voice commands, and mandatory automatic doors.

Image Source — (Sidewalk Labs)

Image Source — (Smart Cities for All)

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