The discussion of context-specific sensing, especially the reference by Sagl et al. to internal considerations, is relevant to my topic of spatial cognition. Geo-sensors for smart cities take into account knowledge acquisition of spatial information down to the individual level. Contextual reasoning within the geospatial domain therefore is a vital component for the development of geo-sensors for smart cities. Understanding public perception about urban areas and observing the individual and societal behavioral responses pertains to how greater research in spatial cognition could likely benefit the design of smart city concepts. In addition, the paper’s discussion of mobile based sensors reminds me of papers I am reading for my topic about studies that compare spatial knowledge acquisition of maps to mobile maps. These studies share this article’s examination of the mingled forces that emerge from the interactions between humans, the environment, and technology. Therefore, how do geo-spatial technologies mimic and simultaneously effect how we move through the urban environment?
In addition, the discussion of involuntary geographic information brings to mind how smart cities are faced with ethical dilemmas regarding privacy and human tracking. Not only does involuntary crowdsourced information reflect the pragmatic ethical issues of the development of geo-sensors for smart cities, but it also brings to light different interpretations and perception of the law and issues surrounding liability.
In addition, can we contribute an increase in democratization to the fact that geo-sensors for smart cities are becoming more dependent on smart-citizen contributions? Do “smarter” citizens really refer to more empowered citizens? I’m slightly skeptical that this is the case, and I find myself agreeing with the authors that, at the moment, there is little indication that the technologies for smart cities have substantially improved the quality of life for its inhabitants. The focus on development and increase of prevalence of geo-sensors in smart cities will not alone yield positive impacts. Instead, we must be critical and focus more on how the sensors are implemented and for what social/societal causes.
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