B2 – Upper Intermediate
Smart cities are urban areas that utilize technology and data to improve the quality of life for their residents. These cities integrate various systems such as transportation, energy, healthcare, and communication to create a more efficient and sustainable environment. The goal of a smart city is to enhance the overall well-being of its citizens by providing better services and infrastructure.
One key aspect of a smart city is the use of IoT (Internet of Things) devices to collect data and analyze patterns. This data can then be used to make informed decisions about resource allocation and city planning. For example, sensors can monitor traffic flow in real-time, allowing for adjustments to be made to reduce congestion and improve air quality.
Watch the video and learn how Colorado Springs is turning itself into a smart city.
Vocabulary Questions:
- What does “hidden in plain sight” mean? “This is one of 40 smart trash cans in Colorado Springs, which since 2017, has been implementing different kinds of smart technology hidden in plain sight throughout the city.” Use this idiom in a sentence.
- What does “informed decision” mean? “And so by deploying these technologies, it enables us to get data from this infrastructure that’s out there and help us make more informed decisions.” Use this phrase in a sentence.
- What does “micromobility” mean? “And we’re beginning to expand where scooters are throughout our community. Micromobility wasn’t even a concept 5-10 years ago.” Use this word in a sentence.
Discussion Questions:
- What makes Colorado Springs a “Smart City”?
- Which forms of smart technologies are being employed in your city? Which ones do you think are needed to be added?
- Is there free wifi available everywhere in your city, and if so, how is it? If not, do you think they should equip the every area of the city with wi-fi?
- What technological advancement, in your opinion, can foster a stronger sense of community?
- Share your thoughts on this, “Technology won’t solve our problems, but the data that we’re collecting and the people that are utilizing that data will have an impact on improving that situation into the future.“
2 replies on “Colorado Springs Is Becoming a Smart City”
1. What does “hidden in plain sight” mean?
It means that there are plenty of smart devices in the city. It seems to be hidden, but really it is very easy to see or find.
Ashtrays in street seems to be hidden in plain sight and for this reason cities are full of cigarretes.
2. What does “informed decision” mean?
It is to take a decision with the necessary information to avoid going wrong.
I went to a nutritionist with the main intention of taking informed decisions related with my daily diet.
3. What does “micromobility” mean?
Possibility of moving yourself with small vehicles like electric scooters what you can find in the street and you can use them thanks to your mobile phone and the internet connection.
Nowadays, many cities have micromovility available for their citizens and it is possible to travel easily thanks to the internet connectivity in our smartphones
1. What makes Colorado Springs a “Smart City”?
They have smart devices in their streets what allow them to collect data and to have informed decision to benefit population.
2. Which forms of smart technologies are being employed in your city?
Scooters that you can rent with your smartphone. Microbolity.
Something similat to small cells to get better the connectivity in the city. You have internet connection in public buses for example.
3. Which ones do you think are needed to be added?
Something to monitor the traffic and the semaphores. It would allow taking informed decission to regulate traffic lights and to decrease the traffic jams.
Is there free wifi available everywhere in your city, and if so, how is it? If not, do you think they should equip the every area of the city with wi-fi?
Yes. For instance in the public buses or the airports have free wifi. However, I think that it would be possible to provide free wifi in more places to enhance the connectivity.
4. What technological advancement, in your opinion, can foster a stronger sense of community?
Sensor to monitor and to regulate the traffic. I think that there are a lot of traffic in big cities and this is something that damages a lot of people every day.
5. Share your thoughts.
I agree with that. I think that technology can help us and teach us in how to solve problems or how to take informed decisions to avoid problems. For instance, nowadays, new cars have a lot of new technology that can help you to avoid accidents. However, every information that technology provides to you it could be useful to try to avoid problems not to solve it. The final decision is taking by the human being and this is something that technology cannot change and it could be dangerous to try doing that.
You did a good job writing your answers.
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