Author: Jane Wakefield – Technology Reporter / February 21, 2013
Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-20957953

Around the world new cities are being built while those we have lived in for centuries are being upgraded for the future.
It is partly a reaction to over-crowding and pollution and partly because in an ever-connected world it makes increasing sense to hook entire cities up to the network.
A smarter city may mean one that uses data on traffic to ease congestion or one that aims to join up services to provide better information for citizens. For many it is about making cities greener and more efficient.
Technology firms such such as IBM and Cisco see smart cities as a huge business opportunity but, alongside the schemes being touted by technology firms, are more grass root projects which aim to empower citizens and allow them a say in how the city will look.






