Information Technologies: threats and opportunities for contemporary urban transformations

Abstract

At a stage of deep and very rapid changes in society it is important to understand the effects they can have on the built environment that surrounds us. The transformations of the beginning of the twentieth century that led to the definition of a properly modern society can serve to understand those that are shaping the future of the twenty-first century. Recognizing the importance of flows in the configuration of the contemporary city, and the role of certain technological companies by their impact on the media and economies of different scale, their possible effects on the city are evident. In addition to the physical transformations, we intuit the possibility that different solutions for our needs will be produced, customized according to what companies know about our habits. It is therefore easy to imagine how each citizen can live in a fragmented and tangent world to the people around him, although this same technology offers opportunities for participatory transformation.

Although there are numerous studies on ICT companies that are driving these innovations and the effects of social transformations in the city, this study poses the possible effects on the configuration of the city of the future, recognizing the increasing impact of links and connections on urban development. Its hypothetical fulfillment should be an alert for those responsible for urban planning to take into account these trends, assess possible threats, and take advantage of the opportunities that open up for an increasing enjoyment and social inclusion in the urban context.