Survey by Capterra reveals that smart cities are evolving, but steps must be taken to foster trust from residents with data protection the biggest concern.
5G is the most widely available smart technology in the UK, identified by more than half of respondents (54 per cent) in a recent survey, followed by artificial intelligence (AI) (42 per cent) and the Internet of Things (IoT) (37 per cent).
5G is the most widely available smart technology in the UK, identified by more than half of respondents (54 per cent) in a recent survey, followed by artificial intelligence (AI) (42 per cent) and the Internet of Things (IoT) (37 per cent).
5G, AI, and IoT: UK’s Top Smart City Drivers survey, released by software and services marketplace Capterra, also reveals that data security concerns are hindering urban developments.
Smart living drivers
Capterra surveyed 1,058 UK residents to understand what technologies are driving smart living and how they are being embraced. The survey revealed that smart cities are evolving, but important steps must be taken to foster trust and acceptance from residents.
In addition to 5G, AI and IoT, respondents noticed the availability of the following other smart city technologies:
- Biometrics (35 per cent)
- Information communication technologies (32 per cent)
- Geospatial technologies (for example, GPS mapping) (26 per cent)
- Blockchain (23 per cent)
- Robotics (17 per cent).
According to residents, the three main challenges pertaining to the use of smart technologies are:
- The lack of data protection (62 per cent)
- Increased surveillance (49 per cent)
- Dematerialisation or loss of human touch (42 per cent).
“Data protection is the top concern among UK residents in the face of smart city technology. As smart cities depend on the use of large volumes of data from various sources, companies and other urban authorities need to do everything they can to reassure residents that their data is being collected in a responsible and legal manner,” said Capterra UK content analyst, Eduardo Garcia Rodriguez.
In particular, a combined 69 per cent of respondents were ‘quite’ or ‘extremely’ concerned about cyberattacks and ransomware in case of a data breach.
To help mitigate these risks and build trust among residents, there is a call for regulation: nearly half (45 per cent) reckon that the lack of regulation and data privacy policies are the biggest barriers to smart city development.
Nearly half of survey respondents said they want access to free training resources to learn how to use digital tools they may encounter in smart cities. If smart services require the use of apps, they also want them to be free or affordable.
---
Quelle/Source: Smart Cities World, 14.11.2023
Bitte besuchen Sie/Please visit:
