Ubiquitous computing, mobile devices, and big data come together to give rise to a new urban paradigm being celebrated by many technology corporations and municipalities alike: the smart city. Yet, the general tenor of the current hype around smart cities is mainly about efficiency and productivity gains through automation and algorithmic analysis, and growth.

What evidence is there to suggest that the smart city can provide genuine answers to a number of wicked problems humanity faces?

In this talk, Professor Marcus Foth will focus on the question of sustainability in cities. He will critically review examples and case studies with a view to widen the scope of the debate. Concluding remarks around co-creation, mutualism and governance beg further questions about not just the future of cities, but the future of deliberative democracy.

Professor Marcus Foth is the director of the QUT Design Lab, founder and former director of the Urban Informatics Research Lab, and Professor in Interactive & Visual Design, School of Design, Creative Industries Faculty at Queensland University of Technology. He is also an Honorary Professor in the School of Communication and Culture at Aarhus University, Denmark.

Marcus’ research focuses on the relationships between people, place and technology. He leads a cross-disciplinary team that develops practical approaches to complex urban problems. He adopts human-computer interaction and design methodologies to build engagement around emerging issues facing our cities. Marcus’ recent work has examined:

• Urban planning – new approaches to community participation and engagement
• Environmental sustainability – new strategies for energy monitoring in domestic settings
• Food futures – new ideas to re-think eating, cooking and growing food in the city
• Collaboration and co-working spaces – new aspirations for libraries in the 21st century