Quote:
Originally Posted by La lamy
Made me think of Japan's new "Woven City" that is about to be built.
What Toyota's 175-Acre Smart City in Japan Will Look Like: Photos
"Toyota Motor Corporation started construction this week on a 175-acre smart city at the base of Japan's Mount Fuji, about 62 miles from Tokyo, the company announced Tuesday.
The city, which Toyota has dubbed the "Woven City," is expected to function as a testing ground for technologies like robotics, smart homes, and artificial intelligence. A starting population of about 360 inventors, senior citizens, and families with young children will test and develop these technologies.
These residents, who are expected to move into the Woven City within five years, will live in smart homes with in-home robotics systems to assist with daily living and sensor-based artificial intelligence to monitor health and take care of other basic needs, according to the company."
I'm personally optimistic for IT to be helpful for us. There's a massive shortage of workers in all sectors at this point, maybe robots could help. |
I can think of few more frightening scenarios for living, if you can call it that. This "woven city" may begin innocently enough but as I read the article, one thought kept recurring. These people are giving up the responsibility of making their own decisions.
How does it end? Societies so ordered and structured that every move by the residents is scripted? Health needs met? What if there are people there who enjoy taking risks? Will the risks be allowed, or will the "woven city" powers-that-be insulate the residents from the risks even though that might NOT be what the residents want. Oh, I know it is not that way now, but the direction seems pretty well determined.
There have been many ways societies have been oppressed in the past. But this has the promise of eclipsing them all.