Roads And Trails To Be Included In The Next Wave Of Smart Technology?

In the last decade we have watched smart technologies grow at unprecedented rates. Smart phones, meters, appliances, gadgets, homes, and much more have been developed. The smart tech is helping to create a system called “smart growth”.

Now the smart technology is being applied to infrastructure as well consumer gadgets.

Cicso launched a series of advertisements in 2013, debuting what they call the internet of things. Below is a video promoting Cisco’s smart growth. (The TV commercial from Cisco, that goes into smart infrastructure, known as the ambulance commercial. is not available online)

Many of the technologies promoted by cisco are now being implemented around the world.

In the Netherlands, smart roads are being built.

This infographic displays many of the advancements being worked on for road and highways systems from all around the world.
Source

There is discussion about smart birdges and water systems in the U.S. that can be read about HERE, and here in my city of Hamilton. The 2014 recreation guide for the city is highlighting what they call smart fitness trails.

Which are described as: “Hamilton is blazing a trail of affordable fitness opportunities by bringing
smartphone technology to the city’s prized recreational trail and park system. Beginning this spring, five trails will feature signs displaying Qr codes that link your smartphone directly to videos of a fitness instructor leading you through a variety of exercises.”
hamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres

While all of these innovations show very promising developments for human society. Technology is a double edged sword. Meaning that there is and could be downfalls. Many have been pointing to this reality and they do have facts to back up their claims.

surveillance

As smart appliances flood the market, a huge admission happened and most people have never heard about it. Former C.I.A director David Petraeus stated “We will spy on you through your dishwasher”

“Earlier this month, Petraeus mused about the emergence of an “Internet of Things” — that is, wired devices — at a summit for In-Q-Tel, the CIA’s venture capital firm. “‘Transformational’ is an overused word, but I do believe it properly applies to these technologies,” Petraeus enthused, “particularly to their effect on clandestine tradecraft.”

All those new online devices are a treasure trove of data if you’re a “person of interest” to the spy community. Once upon a time, spies had to place a bug in your chandelier to hear your conversation. With the rise of the “smart home,” you’d be sending tagged, geolocated data that a spy agency can intercept in real time when you use the lighting app on your phone to adjust your living room’s ambiance.”
wired.com

News about smart televisions spying has also come to light.

“Is your TV spying on YOU? It sounds like science fiction but many new TVs can watch you - telling advertisers your favourite shows or even filming you on the sofa. And there’s no off switch!”
dailymail.co.uk

Smart Growth

Smart growth is a term being used by governments and NGO’s alike. It is a title for a plan to totally overhaul societies into a centralized planning scheme of sustainable development/United Nations Agenda 21. Many will try to liken the idea of it being part of a United Nations “conspiracy theory”, even though the U.N. openly discusses their plans and goals. Below is a table from a 2012 United Nations sustainability report that mentions the smart grid as part of the course necessary to achieve a “culture of sustainability.”

Also note: The titel of the report is “Back to our common future”.

The original sustainable development report that lead to the creation of United Nations Agenda 21, was authored by the former vice president of the world socialist party Gro Bruntland and Maurice Strong. It was titled Our Common Future.

Conclusion

Innovation and creativity has brought mankind all of its technologies. The human race is racing forward because of this fact. But many of those technologies where originally created for very distopic reasons (a perfect example is the computer, which was created to inventory people under eugenics programs).

With the current control structure that we find ourselves living under. It would take a huge leap of faith without remember what has happened in human history. To trust these types of technologies in a centralized system.