CTIN kicked off its Urban Festival 2020 programme with the “Smarter Cities — Consciousness” webinar with Anuraj Gambhir. In the session, Gambhir shared his insights on how we can engage with tech and cities while shifting our consciousness to focus on what matters and is meaningful for humanity to survive and thrive on this planet.
Smart cities, in technological terms, refer to how the big data, the Internet of Things, sensors, and automation, among other things, can change and innovate cities. With this said, Gambhir explained that smarter and conscious cities require the use of more contextually adapted digital innovations with more human-centric approaches to develop citizen-driven, smart, all-inclusive and sustainable environments, with a new governance framework in which citizens and government engage in listening and talking to each other. Moreover, he identified the need for more integrated and holistic approaches to address urban challenges through digital innovation in city planning, governance and infrastructure investment. This approach favours the emergence of a participatory and innovative ecosystem. An ecosystem if strategically applied, can effectively leverage digitalisation, from the bottom up, from the real needs of citizens, can boost civic engagement, citizen-centred services, and deliver more efficient, sustainable and inclusive urban environment, ultimately generating happier citizens, he said.
“The future is already here — it’s just not very evenly distributed” William Gibson, NPR
Gambhir emphasised the urgent need for cities and local communities to rethink how to harness the power of technology for an enhanced quality of life for all. He identified a combination of technological innovations, new modes of transportation, and the development of holistic strategies that tackle societal challenges and make it easy for all citizens to embrace digital innovation as pivotal in putting people at the heart of progressive, smart and conscious cities. He referred to several ‘Blue Zones’ — the longevity hotspots, such as the Nicoya Peninsula in Costa Rica, that cities can look to for inspiration to change the way communities move and connect. Stating that urban planners and governments can draw inspiration from the longevity hotspots, and include public broadband access, including smart sensors, to create sidewalks and bike paths, improving places people live, work, which can also redress existing urban inequalities. The use of Biophilic designs can create ‘City in a Garden’, as opposed to a ‘Garden in a city’ environment because nature has a vital role to play in moving cities forward.
The second revolution; electrification began in 1870 where electric power was used to create mass production, improving transportation and communication. In 1970, automation; the third revolution began, and it involved the use of electronics and information technology to automate production, providing improved employment opportunities. The digital revolution, which started during the middle of the 21st century involves the fusion of technologies, connecting devices, data analytics, robotics, augmented reality and artificial intelligence technologies to automate processes further, blurring the lines between digital, physical and biological spheres.
Looking to the future, he spoke about the 5th industrial revolution; personalisation. The fifth industrial revolution will require cities to reimagine and reshape their existence. For urban planners, governments and investors to use intentionality and moral clarity in integrating new technologies into the way citizens live, in order to create new opportunities, improve life and incorporate the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that are central tenets of humanity, purpose and inclusivity.
He spoke about the five emerging technology trends that drive Gartner’s hype cycle 2020: sensing and mobility augmented human technology, quantum computing, digital ecosystems and advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics. These technologies will not only drive tech innovation for the next decade but will provide a more seamless experience that improves the health, intelligence and strength of humans. Furthermore, he referred to the Three Horizons model, which if applied, can help us think about the future differently. The Three Horizons model is an adaptable futures tool, an effective method for making sense of and facilitating cultural transformation and exploring innovation in the face of uncertainty.
Gambhir continued to link the way we do business with the SDGs 2030 milestones, which require a new mindset.
Gambhir gave an overview of the history of the industrial revolution, stating that the first industrial revolution began in the 1780s, where water and steam power were used to mechanise production. The second revolution; electrification began in 1870 where electric power was used to create mass production, improving transportation and communication. In 1970, automation; the third revolution began, and it involved the use of electronics and information technology to automate production, providing improved employment opportunities. The digital revolution, which started during the middle of the 21st century involves the fusion of technologies, connecting devices, data analytics, robotics, augmented reality and artificial intelligence technologies to automate processes further, blurring the lines between digital, physical and biological spheres.
Looking to the future, he spoke about the 5th industrial revolution; personalisation. The fifth industrial revolution will require cities to reimagine and reshape their existence. For urban planners, governments and investors to use intentionality and moral clarity in integrating new technologies into the way citizens live, in order to create new opportunities, improve life and incorporate the United Nation’s 2030 Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) that are central tenets of humanity, purpose and inclusivity.
He spoke about the five emerging technology trends that drive Gartner’s hype cycle 2020: sensing and mobility augmented human technology, quantum computing, digital ecosystems and advanced artificial intelligence (AI) and analytics. These technologies will not only drive tech innovation for the next decade but will provide a more seamless experience that improves the health, intelligence and strength of humans. Furthermore, he referred to the Three Horizons model, which if applied, can help us think about the future differently. The Three Horizons model is an adaptable futures tool, an effective method for making sense of and facilitating cultural transformation and exploring innovation in the face of uncertainty.
Gambhir continued to link the way we do business with the SDGs 2030 milestones, which require a new mindset. This exponential mindset will see leaders thinking more sustainably, socially, leaner, integrated and circular to build a new world order. Expanding on how to move from linear to an exponential growth trajectory, he referred to Peter Diamandis, co-founder of Singularity University and Steven Kotler’s 6 D’s for exponential organisations. These require organisations to be; Digitised, Deceptive, Disruptive, Demonetised, Dematerialised and Democratised. “The Six Ds are a chain reaction of technological progression, a road map of rapid development that always leads to enormous upheaval and opportunity.” -Peter Diamandis and Steven Kotler, Bold
“…Think frugal, be flexible, generate breakthrough growth” — Jugaad Innovation
Furthermore, he implored the participants to read up on the Jugaad Innovation — a frugal, flexible, and inclusive way to grow, a breakthrough growth strategy, which is essentially about the art of overcoming harsh constraints by improvising an effective solution using limited resources. The Jagaad innovation, based on six operating principles requires organisations, cities and citizens to: seek opportunity in adversity, do more with less, think and act flexibly, keep everything about the business simple, tap the margins of society for employees and customers, and most importantly, follow their heart.
“We tend to overestimate the effect of a technology in the short run and underestimate the effect in the long run.” — Roy Amara
Progressing into the Fifth industrial revolution will be a gradual process, it will require exponential shifts in the way people live their lives, reimagining and reshaping the ‘world of tomorrow’. A series of interventions will be required to alter how cities and society function. These changes present exciting opportunities in terms of productivity and conscious living, remembering that it has to be “Less about things. More people.”
Anuraj Gambhir is a futurist, speaker, consultant and educator, who is recognised worldwide as a forward-thinking techpreneur. Gambhir has worked with some of the biggest and brightest companies in the world. He now helps businesses transition into innovative organisations through speaking, consulting and educational engagements.