You know the questions visitors ask, "Where are the city's hot spots?" Then there are the resident questions, "Where are the hot spots tonight?" Ideally, one ideal 'superpower' would be to visit every single venue in a city simultaneously to see what's worth checking out. Citysense was invented for us mere mortals.

Built by Sense Networks for Blackberries and soon iPhones, the free application is based on the company's Macrosense technology which analyzes existing data (e.g. demographics, weather, economic information, sales...) in real time.

The result? A visual 'heat map' showing you not only where people are currently spending time (and money) at that moment, but also where people that share your demographics (perhaps even psychographics) are doing so. It'll be interesting to see if the system indicates a free downtown concert...

Find out more here.

While the market has already assumed a digital infrastructure will succeed our asphalt one, city government leaders still haven't accepted that by making the same financial commitment to free public wi-fi. It's largely a generation thing and it's inevitable the investment will come eventually, but for the cities with progressive leaders that implement them now, they'll realize an economic and cultural windfall as a reward for 'letting go'.

Santa Monica is one of those cities, with their City Wi-Fi program offering free public wi-fi in key hot spots downtown as they prepare to scale up. They're also planning a city-wide wi-fi network for $20/mo. The key difference between Santa Monica's success and other cities' failures? In the words of the City of Santa Monica's Chief Information Officer, "If we don't get an offer we like, we are prepared to blanket the City ourselves."

It should be no surprise Santa Monica is also leading the nationwide trend of establishing pedestrian-only districts - it goes hand in hand with a digital infrastructure.

Image: The pedestrian-only Third Street Promenade, by Malingering.

In 1956 the Federal Aid Highway Act ushered in the auto age, with the U.S. government funding 90% of the costs to build 41,000 miles of interstate highways over 20 years, an equivalent of $200 billion today. Highways are still being built, but they're also coming down as cities are realizing that a digital infrastructure (ie the internet; wi-fi, fiber optic, cellular, satellite networks) negates a continued need for heavy asphalt investment, and at a much lower economic, environmental and social price. It's no coincidence that the rise of a digital economy is being accompanied by a rise in pedestrian-oriented places.

President Eisenhower was inspired to legislate the highway act based on his experience as an army officer on a convoy across the U.S., "The old convoy had started me thinking about good, two-lane highways, but Germany had made me see the wisdom of broader ribbons across the land." This is an interesting counter-perspective to the thousands of critics of the pedestrian-oriented transition that says we're too Euro-centric.

The question is, who will be today's Eisenhower who states, "The old networks had started me thinking about good, fiber optic cables, but cities around the world had made me see the wisdom of broadband wireless across the land... and executes the digital equivalent of the 1956 Highway Act.

Maybe it's you.

Image source: Wi-fi in Bryant Park, Manhattan by Marionzetta.

The quintessential internet city? Tallinn, Estonia

Where?!!! That's probably a fairly common reaction. Located south of Finland and bordering west of Russia, this fast-growing city of 400,000 enjoy life on the fast lane as far as the internet goes, but it's key to success is being able to maintain life its enviable slow city, slow food culture.

Summarizing Tallinn's profile in Spiegel as part of its Coolest Cities story:

The internet is essentially free throughout what is known as the most-wired country in Eastern Europe, with the government committing to providing free internet access as a basic right. The city even has a name for their mission to wire the entire country, 'tiigrihüppe' (tiger leap). As a result, since gaining their independence in 1991, Tallinn is:



- reputed as the "Hong Kong of the Baltics";
- one of the seven most intelligent cities in the world";
- referred to as the "boom town of the new Europe";
- listed as one of the The 30 Fastest Cities to Work, Live and Play.
- serving as a gateway between eastern and western Europe.

90% of bank transactions are online, citizens vote for their government leaders online, all schools are online... meanwhile, citywide wi-fi plans are falling through in major U.S. cities. C'mon now.

It's no coincidence that such a modern knowledge economy network and dedication to its usage has indirectly resulted in Skype locating their research division in Tallinn; the town's programmers are in demand globally, and the city sponsoring an alternative hangout in a renovated factory for artists and 'grunge parties'.

'10 Most Connected Cities in the World'

The most economically, culturally competitive cities will be the first to transition from an industrial-economy auto-oriented infrastructure to an information-economy digital one. Who's in the lead? According to Daily Wireless' 10 Most Connected Cities in the World:

1. Seoul, South Korea (pictured) - The second most populated metro area in the world (22 million) plus a reputation as the world leader in modern technology helps make Seoul the undisputed leader. With 10mbps broadband (four times faster than in most U.S. households) for $20/mo. in 83% of homes, it's no wonder video games in Seoul is the cultural equivalent of baseball in the U.S.
2. Taipei, Taiwan - With 90% of the 2.6M population has wi-fi access from $4.5-$12/mo., Taipei is #1 in the world when it comes to wireless.
3. Tokyo, Japan - With the most populated metro area in the world, connectivity is a must, and at 100mbps for $50/mo., it's the biggest network in the world for ultra-high-speed networking and VOIP phone usage.
4. Hong Kong, China - At $16/mo. for 10mbps and $34/mo. for 100mbps and ubiquitous on-demand TV, it's the best deal in the world.
5. Singapore - Already at 65% broadband penetration, Singapore's government is arguably the most aggressive in establishing policies to make it a world leader.
6. Stockholm, Sweden - Limited by high costs, Stockholm is the most digitally connected in Europe and one of the most active internet gaming cafe cultures in the world.
7. 'Various Municipal Projects, United States' - St. Cloud FL (free wifi) and Mountain View CA (free wifi) lead the way in the U.S., while San Francisco, Philadelphia and Boston have plans for city-wide wifi as well.
8. Paris, France - Within 5 years the city will have $50mbps at $40/mo., and by then it's world leading cafe culture will take on a whole new meaning.
9. Shoreditch, England - With Shoreditch TV, the entire city is a reality show.
10. Silicon Valley, United States - You'd think the home of the leading tech companies in the world would have something up their sleeves, and they do - free 1Mbps wifi for all 4.2M residents, lead by IBM and Cisco.

Image source: mangonmilk

The most intelligent communities in 2007?

The NY-based Intelligent Community Forum recently announced their Intelligent Communities of 2007 (don't shoot the messenger!) based on the following criteria:

- deploying broadband
- building a knowledge-based workforce
- combining government and private-sector 'digital inclusion' for all
- fostering innovation and marketing economic development.

One of the cities on the list, Dundee, Scotland, like in many other regions, suffered sweeping job losses in the 70s to mid-90s as manufacturing plants relentlessly shut down. However, a knowledge-economy-based refocus at their major universities resulted in new job sectors like life sciences, computer games, software development, animation, film and television. However, the city also upped its intelligence ranking by investing $39M in an urban digital media district. adjacent to one of the major universities (although a bit too much U.S. research park influence in its design) and implementing 100% broadband coverage with a little Web 2.0 no doubt. The results? The number of knowledge-based businesses has nearly doubled and the number of knowledge workers have tripled since 2003, while U.S. life scientists rank it the third best place to work outside the North America. Other cities on the list include:

Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea
Issy-les-Moulineaux, France
Ottawa-Gatineau, Ontario-Quebec, Canada
Sunderland, Tyne & Wear, United Kingdom
Tallinn, Estonia
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

Cleveland is the only U.S. city to make the list in the last three years, with Spokane WA, LaGrange GA and the Florida Tech Corridor within two years prior. While they did show significant progress toward establishing a digital infrastructure in a short period of time, their momentum fell short in developing a compelling creative class district to work in; a cool town if you will. The industrial age equivalent would be a city having an incomparable network of roads and highways, but no destinations worth driving to.

The above image of Dundee, Scotland is representative of the historical districts that are highly appealing to creatives.

Wow! Free wi-fi AND internet for ALL in San Francisco

Above: Patrons of People's Cafe in Upper Haight, San Francisco. Soon they'll be able to work via their laptops too...

As we all know, since 1949 the government's been paying for all our roads (ie our asphalt infrastructure), but since the advent of the internet we've had to pay for it. Well, San Francisco is the first city to sign a contract to provide free wi-fi and internet for all in the city... a digital infrastructure. Earthlink is providing the wi-fi network, and Google the free internet access.

What's the significance? As an envious Pasadena entrepreneur puts it, "It's also good for the continued development and maturation of what Richard Florida dubbed The Creative Class. Cities that offer free WiFi service will do much to attract the young, the hip, the creative, the geeky, the artists and entrepreneurs and aspirers who breathe life, business, and spending into the urban... It's time for the Powers That Be in Pasadena to beg and worship and plead with Google/EarthLink to bring some of the free WiFi love to Pasadena."

It also means in an ever increasing information-based economy, we'll be relying less and less on vehicular traffic and experiencing less downtime in traffic congestion, and more on literally working wherever, whenever we want for pennies a day (the equivalent of taxes.) No other U.S. city can claim that for every single resident as far as I know. Internationally, that's another story.

This story would have been published several hours sooner if DC had city-wide wi-fi as well...

...and the winner is Taipei, Taiwan. Taipei just this summer completed its citywide wi-fi network of 4000 hot spots (wi-fi transmitters) covering 90% of its 2.6 million residents. The major reason for the unprecedented wi-fi investment? To reduce traffic on city roads, says the city's mayor.

Yes, there still isn't a single major U.S. city with comprehensive wi-fi, though many are talking about it, with San Francisco apparently taking the lead (promising citywide wi-fi by year's end). Boston's will come a year or so later, but will be the first to be a city-based, nonprofit, wholesale network not controlled by private interests. This could prove to be a breakthrough...

The main hold up in the U.S. is that the major telecom companies want to control the infrastructure. It's like if GM in the 1940s did everything they could to prevent city governments from building roads because GM wanted the auto industry to themselves. GM was smarter than that, and instead lobbied the U.S. to enact the infamous 1956 Highway Act that initiated the freeway system we have today. It seems ironic that the Verizons of today don't see the same logic for taking their industry beyond what even GM ever dreamed it would be back then. This is where global competition comes in handy...

Typical response found on the internet when it was announced two years ago that Taipei was implementing city-wide wi-fi: "Amazing! I'm heading to Taiwan " Soon enough, that'll include San Francisco and Boston.

NY's newest workplaces - wifi parks

With 8 million people living within its borders and a model for urban working and living, one would have thought that the City of New York had established a plan to provide free wi-fi in their parks by now. They haven't. However, with the possibility of being leapfrogged by San Francisco and Philadelphia, the City may finally have a plan for free wifi in all their parks. The reason?

The City will no longer try to make money on the wi-fi networks off of the private sector companies building them.*

Not surprisingly, without such municipal financial demands there is now widespread interest by private sector companies in setting up wi-fi networks in parks throughout New York City, namely Nokia. The numerous parks that already do feature free wi-fi, such as Bryant Park (pictured) did so through nonprofits and business groups.

More on this story in the NY Times.

*If governments lose money on constructing a transportation infrastructure (e.g. roads, freeways), why in the world would they expect to make money on a digital one?

Using 'cool tech' to allow indies to compete with chains

If you read yesterday's entry, you are now aware of what infolust is and what dumb buildings are. Here's how the technology arising from this trend/opportunity can be applied to helping innovative local indie merchants compete with the national chains...

Many people favor chains because they know exactly what they're going to get. This is not the case when they come across a unique restaurant or store while walking down the street, there's a bit of risk involved. In due time, RFID (radio frequency ID) and next generation bar code scanning (see how it works with your cell phone here) can even the score.

As the storyboard image shows, an infolust patron walks by and notices a rather appealing restaurant she's never seen. With her interest piqued, her RFID-enabled cell phone can remotely pick up reviews of the restaurant (or via the code scan) while the other two info-deprived passersby must rely solely on the menu pasted on the window for evaluation. Happy with the reviews, our newly informed patron walks in (the other two walk on, not realizing what they're missing), and the restaurant welcomes its latest regular.