Building Human Centered Systems Based on Communication Infrastructures:
Evidence from Portugal
Jose Moutinho and Manuel Heitor
ESD SymposiumMIT, CambridgeMarch 31th, 2004
Agenda• Empirical research
– New paradigm of urban systems– Why cities?– Digital cities– Portuguese digital cities– Framework of analysis– Semantic grids: the next generation of territory related
knowledge networks.– Conclusions
• Objectives:– Mobilization of the Information Society– Building next generation city infrastructure
New Paradigm of Urban Systems• Manuel Castells’ Informational City (1991)
– “the restructuring of capitalism involved, first the concentration of knowledge as the source of profit and, secondly, the export of production to increase profitability”, requiring “a flexible organization of manufacturing and greatly increased subcontracting, so that, as a consequence, horizontal, loosely connected networks directed by elite experts at the centre replaced the vertical integration of the industrial era”.
• Bill Mitchell´s City of bits (1995)• ...a conceptual question:
Space of places vs Space of Flows?
WhyCities?
Source: Kostof, S. (1991) “ The City Shaped: Urban Patterns and Meanings through History”.
a) Energized crowding
b) Urban Clusters
c) Physical circunscription
d) Differentiation of uses
e) Urban resources
f) Written records
g) City and countryside
h) Monumental framework
i) Buildings and people
Citiesare...
“...a relatively large, dense, andpermanent settement of sociallyheterogeneous individuals...“(Spiro Kostof, 1991)
Source: Kostof, S. (1991) “ The City Shaped: UrbanPatterns and Meanings through History”.
Urban vs. Rural Population
Why Portugal?
Lisbon and Porto: Metropolization
Source: United Nations - Department of Economic and Social Affairs, (2002), “World Urbanization Prospects: The 2001 Revision – Data Tables and Highlights”, http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wup2001/wup2001dh.pdf
Lisboa and Porto: Metropolization
Source: United Nations - Department of Economic and Social Affairs, (2002), “World Urbanization Prospects: The 2001 Revision – Data Tables and Highlights”, http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wup2001/wup2001dh.pdf
Percentagem da População Total a Viver em Cidadescom 750.000 habitantes ou mais - Previsões 2015
0102030405060708090
100
Singapore
Hong Kon
g
Beirut
Brazza
ville
Lisbo
nPan
ama C
ityKuw
ait C
ityYere
van
Montevid
eo
Dubai
Cidades
Perc
enta
gem 1975
1985199520052015
Lisboa and Porto: MetropolizationPercentagem da População Total a Viver em Capitais Europeias
com 750.000 habitantes ou mais - Previsões 2015
4.14.8
6.16.87.07.0
12.012.6
15.918.1
19.723.9
24.726.026.4
30.034.2
45.3
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
BerlinRome
WarsawAmsterdam
BarcelonaMadridPragueLondon
ParisHelsinki
BudapestPorto
CopenhagenDublin
ViennaAthens
RigaLisbon
Áre
a U
rban
a
Percentagem
Source: United Nations - Department of Economic and Social Affairs, (2002), “World Urbanization Prospects: The 2001 Revision – Data Tables and Highlights”, http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wup2001/wup2001dh.pdf
What’is a Digital City?
Source: Woolman, M. (2000) “Digital Information Graphics”
Digital Cities...
Loca
l Gov
ernm
entP
orta
l
City
Gui
des
–A
OL
3D V
isua
lliza
tion
Virt
ual C
Om
mun
ities
Source: Woolman, M. (2000) “Digital Information Graphics”
Source: Besselaar, P. (2000) “Amsterdam Digital City”Sour
ce: Is
hida,
T. (2
000)
“Kyo
toDi
gital
City”
Kyoto Digital City• Launched by NTT and
Kyoto University in 1998• Relaunched as Digital City
Kyoto Experimentation Forum in 1999
• 34 services divided in four categories– Information– Community– Showroom– Laboratory
• PersonalPages• GeoLink• 3D Kyoto
Source: Ishida, T. (2000) “Kyoto Digital City”
Amsterdam Digital City• Electronic space for
political discussion and participation
• 10,000 registered users in the first weeks
• Quickly transformed• The demand for these
services declined steadily• Most important assets
discontinued (content production) or sold (school portal in 2000.
Source: Besselaar, P. (2000) “Amsterdam Digital City”
Some Facts about Portugal
Bra
ganç
a 19
99
Mar
inha
Gra
nde
1999
Ave
iro 1
998.
..
Bra
ganç
a 20
00
Digital Cities/Regions - Portugal
Interactive Services
Information Services
Information Systems
Networking and Connectivty
ContextContent(non-physical infrastructures)
Physical Infrastructures
Legend:Strong Investment Medium Investment Insignificant Investment
Framework of Analysis
Typical Infrastructure (Alentejo)
Source: http://www.alentejodigital.pt/
A system study: Alentejo Digital
“Ilities” have not been considered...
Aveiro Digital City
Source: http://www.aveiro-digital.pt
Interactive TV pilot project; On-line news; Digital arts workshops; Interactive listening music; 12 public access information Kiosks (city guides, tourist information, etc.)
Computers, Internet access and ICT training; Port authority telecommunication infrastructure and Information Systems eCommerce service centre; On-line shopping mall; Livestosck information network; eLearnng.
Computers, Internet access, ICT training and focused information for low income families and people with special needs, Teleworking
Computers, Internet access and ICT training for the local public health professionals
Biology knowledge network about local biodiversity, molecular biology and estuary ecosystems
Computers, Internet access and ICT training in local basic and secondary schools for teachers, parents and students; Cybergames and interactive leaning applications
Aveiro Municipality geographical and administrative information systems; Water and sewage municipal services one-stop shop; Water quality sensing and monitoring system; Justice Court Intranet
Internet access points in 13 public buildings and 5 cultural or social organizations
CommunitiyBuilding
E-Government
Education
Environment
Health
SocialCohesion
E-Business
Entertain.Culture
Arts
Further Evidences
Extranet managed by Technological Centre Marinha Grande local-industry (moulding, plastics and glass) network (www.marinhagrandedigital.com/ )
Corporate strategy and competitiveness
Raise public awareness about water quality, flooding and other public risks
Water quality monitoring and public diffusion system (www.simoqua.pt )
Managing Public Risks
Portable computers and Internet access to foster the communication and information exchange between doctors and patients
Health information and communication network of the BragançaDigital City extension services (www.espigueiro.pt/servico_cooperativo/servico_coop_puh.html )
Public Health
Learning materials and information exchange between experts, teachers and students; Website managed by Research Centre
“Engineering in Portugal”, providing historical data and information for Basic and Secondary Schools, as well as university students (http://www.engenharia.com.pt/)
Education / Training
Website developed and managed by Research CentreBiorede - Biology knowledge network about local biodiversity, molecular biology and estuary ecosystems launched at Aveiro(www.biorede.pt )
Scientific
RemarksSample ExperiencesDriving factor
Marinha Grande and Aveiro clearly shows the important mutual relationships that specific project-based communities have on the facilitation of network societies, but also the fact that the implementation of digital cities may significantly improve the efficiency of those communities
Some Conclusions• Value-based networks have the potential to make both public
administration and markets more effective, which helps promoting learning trajectories for the inclusive development of society, …
• ... but require effective infrastructures, incentives and adequate institutional frameworks;
• A continuous pubic effort is needed, as also a better understanding of the effectiveness of the mix of public support mechanisms and private incentives for the development of digital cities;
• In early stage developments, digital cities do require continuous support, together with adequate monitoring and evaluation procedures.
• Mobilization of the Information Society is one of the most criticalfactors to be considered in the design, implementation and exploitationof digital cities;
• Market mechanisms do not necessarily work at the level of the issues associated with digital cities, namely in less favourable zones.
• They require an effective mix of public support mechanisms that take a relatively long-term perspective
• Digital cities cannot be promoted independently of an innovation policy fostering capacity and connectivity
Linked Resources
Emerging Trends of Next Generation Digital Cities
Building individual and social competences through knowledge-based adaptive human centred environments
InteroperabilityStandards
Mobilizing “change agents” to foster communities of practice, CoP´s, and user involvement
Mobilization of users
Technology supply
Human and social Context
New competences in content and services development, enhancing user activities and networks
Networked Activities
Web functionalities
Specific knowledge of institutional and local contexts in order to help developing interactive contents
On-line collaboration and participation
One-way distribution of information
Content/ services
Competitive mobile services and improved regulatory framework for increased individual participation
RoamingFixed access
Embedding ICT infrastructures in urban daily life, fostering human-centered systems
Invisible infrastructure
Conspicuous objects
Infrastructure/access
Implications and requirementsToFromLayer of Analysis
Semantic Grids
Territory Related Semantic Grids• Communication networks, computing and data
management will become embedded in urban daily life, therefore, they will become invisible to most of the city dwellers as any other town infrastructure.
• Territory-related semantic grids will provide a integrated virtual platform for communications and learning in the same way electric grids and transportation systems support urban daily life.
• They will be, nonetheless, embedded in a human context that calls for the development for human-centeredsystems, in terms of recognizing the importance of social and cultural shaping forces while developing, and exploiting technological systems.
• The goal is to move from the current situation of complexityand frustration to one where technology serves humanneeds invisibly (Normam, 1999).