Citizens are a fundamental component for the success of the smart cities vision. The actor-observant duality of people in urban environments is one of the key arguments of the smart cities debate: how can citizens be empowered in the detection, analysis, and solution of modern urban challenges? How can public authorities support collective awareness, encourage social deliberation, and drive positive behavioural change? How can inclusive decision making processes be enabled that are also effective and sustainable? Which role can universities and private organizations play in this picture? These questions help frame the multi-actor and multidimensional nature of the smart citizen discourse and point to some of the most important challenges that affect the systematic and durable success of smart citizen initiatives.
In this white paper we outline a conceptual framework aimed at providing a foundation for the smart cities versus smart citizens debate. This document is targeted at readers who are interested in the topic, but it does not require any advanced conceptual or technical knowledge in this field. Our goal is to inform the development of future smart cities efforts centred around citizens by identifying and relating important areas of research and experimentation.
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Icon image: Smart City - metamorworks/Getty Images.png