Enhancing Lives One Smart Device at a Time: The Importance of Using Technology to Develop Smarter Communities

The term ‘smart technology’ has become a commonly used expression and has been integrated into many products and services to provide more efficiency when completing everyday tasks. But what happens when this technology is implemented on a larger scale, such as a community or even a city? This exploratory study uses findings from 15 interviews with technology practitioners from across North America to understand why this technology lacks adoption in North American cities, compared to other cities around the world. A conceptual model is proposed for municipalities considering the adoption of smart technology and the findings suggest that in order for municipalities to continuously improve, cities must provide their citizens and businesses with easier and convenient products and services, while educating on the risks to decrease digital illiteracy. Once a comfort level is established amongst citizens, adoption levels will increase, creating a smarter city.