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Back to To the Point

To the Point

The Pros and Cons of "Smart Cities"

Big tech companies including IBM and Cisco invented the idea of "smart cities" using Big Data to systematize public services and improve the quality of life. Complex networks of sensors and cameras would monitor everything from traffic congestion, crime and disease to temperatures and the weather.

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By Warren Olney • Dec 22, 2015 • 34m Listen

Big tech companies including IBM and Cisco invented the idea of "smart cities" using Big Data to systematize public services and improve the quality of life. Complex networks of sensors and cameras would monitor everything from traffic congestion, crime and disease to temperatures and the weather. That's a hard sell to local officials with limited budgets — and it's raised concerns about the invasion of privacy and other abuses. But "The Internet of Things" offers limitless opportunities, and they're not going away. Neither are "smart cities." We get a progress report.

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    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

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    Sarah Sweeney

    Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

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    Christine Detz

    Producer, 'To the Point'

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    Gideon Brower

    Independent Producer

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    Joshua New

    Center for Data Innovation

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    Constantine Kontokosta

    New York University

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    Aaron Renn

    Manhattan Institute

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