IE: Dublin City University rolls out e-scooter scheme on its campuses
Pilot scheme to monitor scooter safety will be open to 18,000 students and 2,000 staff
Dublin City University is launching a shared scooter scheme that will allow staff, students and companies located on its campuses to get around more easily.
The electric scooters are being made available as part of a research pilot project intended to monitor how artificial intelligence and computer vision can improve safety for both riders and pedestrians. The initiative will also consider how e-scooters could be used to replace other modes of transport.
This is how we create the age-friendly smart city
Senior citizens need help and encouragement to remain active as they age in their own communities. Given the choice, that’s what most would prefer. The smart city can provide the digital infrastructure for them to find and tailor the local neighbourhood information they need to achieve this.
Australia has a growing population of older adults, the majority living in cities. The challenge, then, is to ensure city environments meet their needs and personal goals.
US: Smart Cities Connect Opens With Calls for Digital Equity
The eighth annual Smart Cities Connect Conference & Expo opened with a panel discussion around digital equity and the need for all communities to expand access to broadband as they emerge from the COVID-19 crisis.
Broadband connectivity and digital equity have been themes and goals echoed among smart city leaders for years — with varying degrees of fulfillment — but a new sense of urgency is taking over the conversation.
The digital infrastructure imperative in African markets
Over the past two decades, Chinese companies have come to dominate the telecom infrastructure landscape in emerging markets. Around 50% of Africa’s 3G networks and 70% of its 4G networks are built by Huawei.
The Clean Network initiative was the central Trump administration policy aimed at curbing the expansion of Chinese technology infrastructure but has only found success in getting European countries to agree to use non-Chinese infrastructure in expanding telecom networks. Countries such as the United Kingdom (UK), Czech Republic, and Poland, as well as telecom companies such as Orange and Telstra, notably signed on to the initiative.
Panama Borrows $330 Million for Digital Transformation
Panama has borrowed US$330 million in loan from Latin American development bank, CAF, for financing its massive ICT program designed to bring about digital transformation in all economic sectors.
The Central American country is hoping to become what it calls a “digital infrastructure hub” and has already launched initiatives to build 5G networks and enact laws to regulate financial technology (fintech) and cybercrime.