Jane Nees BOP Regional Councillor www.janenees.co.nz

We are living through a period of unprecedented technological change – and its impact will be enormous. During the last 20 years we have seen the development of the internet, mobile phones, social media; and now convergence in technology and increasing miniaturisation.

Connectivity is becoming faster, more intelligent and innovative. One smartphone has more computing power than all the computers which we used to put a man on the moon. Computer chips, sensors and cameras have been developed that are the size of a grain of salt.

These technology trends and the increase in connectivity are changing the way we live and work. Overseas, forward thinking governments are leveraging these trends to develop Smart Connected cities. An example is Songdo – a new city in South Korea which has been built from scratch on 600 reclaimed hectares for a population of 250,000. This city uses best practice planning and state of the art technology to provide high levels of connectivity, high standards of living and 'smart” city services. The sort of technological innovations being developed for such 'smart cities” include 'street line” parking which has sensors on parking spaces which can connect to mobile phones to show people where empty parking spaces are, how to get to them, and then enables payment for parking via the mobile phone. Also being used are 'smart streetlights” which use movement and light sensors to turn lights on or off, to signal the need for maintenance, monitor air quality and other applications.

In a New Zealand context we need to learn from such innovative developments overseas. Our local authorities should be considering how we can utilise technology and networked information to provide smart services. Our world is changing rapidly and we need to be prepared to keep up or be left behind.

If you have any views on this or any other issue, please contact me on: neesj@xtra.co.nz or ring me on 07 579 5150. Or you can check out my website at: www.janenees.co.nz