I inspired by the article (linked at the end) talking about how technology is, and can change the way citizens interact with their cities. It really interested me, seemingly a lot of ideas should not be that hard to implement.<p>Public Safety: When I hear this term I think of mainly construction sites, traffic jams, etc. I was thinking, how can we integrate tech to alert users to changing conditions?<p>You know those alert signs? That display closings etc.? What if they were modified with a piece of hardware broadcasting its location to an API, and a correlating phone app using a push notification or voice alert to let the user know they are approaching. This could be applied to many things such as bike lanes, etc.<p>Thoughts? What are your ideas?<p>Article: http://techcrunch.com/2015/03/24/cities-take-lead-on-app-development/#tmhmdj:QzLJ
Very interesting article, especially for a technology enthusiast with a formal background in urban development. I think there is tremendous opportunity in this market, as cities start sharing data and aim to build "smart cities".<p>As for your idea, I'm not sure I understand / or see the need. Hardware sounds less scalable, but couldn't you crowdsource that data in real-time, like Waze does? Data in cities can be used in so many ways, it's unbelievable.. example: in university we look at correlation with graffiti and vacancy.. other students did studies on linkages between health issues arising from school yard proximity to traffic... the point being is geo-locational data is has high value.<p>In relation to your idea, I definitely see opportunity for tracking and collecting data... especially if it can be sold to Urban Planning Departments for research (rather than just another advertising budget). Here is a Montreal based project: <a href="http://www.datamobileapp.ca.." rel="nofollow">http://www.datamobileapp.ca..</a>. challenge is finding an engaging way to get people to use it (obviously ).<p>Any idea on a better way engaging people? There has to be a better way to vote on local issues than attending public meetings.. Right?
>What if they were modified with a piece of hardware broadcasting its location to an API, and a correlating phone app using a push notification or voice alert to let the user know they are approaching.<p>You could use a beacon attached to a telephone pole, this is just some random idea, that will broadcast the location and push notifications. Or something in that nature, because I know retailers do this when you walk by a certain section and you have their app you will get a notification. So for public safety you could just have a app and if there is a crime that was reported, like a shooting, if you are within a certain block radius you get a notification.<p>This is something that I have thought about especially living in Philadelphia, constant crime is going on. I don't know what I am walking into or riding my bike into. It would be awesome to have updated information like this.
Here in the US, Google Maps with traffic data provides <i>situational awareness</i> as I drive, albeit without voice alerts [but at far longer ranges than make sense for alert based notification]. This suggests that over the long haul, the technology stack from my pocket to the map server may ultimately become public service infrastructure along the same logical path that propelled fire fighting from a private to a public sector service.
I just love all the ideas on LifeEdited for improving urban living.<p><a href="http://www.lifeedited.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.lifeedited.com/</a>