From smart home to smart city: In the future, many new technologies will change everyday lives – at home and in the cities. In the module “Living in the City of the Future” you will learn how we will get around, live, and work, and at the same time help ensure greater sustainability.

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Smart cities are connected cities. In smart cities, many areas of public life are interconnected: healthcare and education, traffic and transportation systems, municipal authorities and much more. This interconnectedness not only opens up new possibilities for mobility, but also for more participation in society.

New, alternative life models will find their place in the cities of the future. Discover smart life models and decide for yourself: Would you like to try out one of these lifestyles?

A higher quality of life, less traffic jams and considerably more time – at first glance this sounds promising. But smart cities also bring new challenges with them. Read the case studies on the following pages and form your own impression.

Paul lives in a smart city, where nearly all areas of life are connected with the authorities. A “social scoring system” indicates how exemplary he is as a citizen. Good behavior (such as donating to a worthy cause) is rewarded, while bad behavior (such as speeding) is penalized by deducting points. The consequence: if Paul’s score is too low, he’ll get significantly worse credit conditions from banks and might even have to fear for his job.

What sounds like something from a bad movie is already reality in Rongcheng, a coastal city in China.

Thea lives in a smart house. In it, the fridge, pantry and other things are connected with her smartphone.

Just now, her garbage can reported that four milk cartons have been thrown away and offers to order more milk directly. And while Thea is still thinking about this, she gets the next notification: the toilet paper holder reports that the roll is running out. What’s more, Thea’s fork just teamed up with her belt to point out that she has been eating too much and too quickly. At least Thea is informed.

“Green buildings” are buildings that were planned and built sustainably from the stat. Green buildings waste no water and use only as much electricity as they need.

Read more about green buildings all over the world.

For many people, going to a government office is an unpleasant task – one that often involves long waiting times and impractical opening hours.

With the help of modern “digital government”, citizens’ matters can be dealt with independently of time and location in the future. An online portal can be used to make complaints or inquiries – for example, changing your residential address or applying for child benefits – and to securely exchange data between public authorities. But the benefits don’t stop at more efficient services. A smart government can also encourage interaction between citizens and the government itself and increase participation.

A smart city can only become reality if the people in the city are actively involved. So now it’s your turn! How would you design your city of the future? What transportation options are available in your city? What does the cityscape look like?

Keep scrolling and decide for yourself!

The transportation system plays an important role in smart cities. Which of the following two statements would you choose when designing your smart city?

Cars are not important any more in this city. Its flexible and sustainable public transportation concept allows fast, convenient travel from A to B – without traffic jams or air pollution.

This also eliminates the annoying search for a parking space in dense city traffic. Car-free zones provide more room for green spaces and leisure areas. The air quality improves, together with the general quality of life.

Hours of waiting at the bus stop or a frustrating announcement at the train station: “This train has been canceled.” In your smart city, this could all be a thing of the past soon. You will travel in autonomous electric cars that transport you from A to B in comfort.

Vienna is already leading the way – by 2050, all private means of transport will move about the city without internal combustion engines.

Do you want your city to become a “smart city”? Many changes will be necessary and they will also influence the cityscape. Which of the following statements do you agree with?

The buildings in this city are “green”. That means: They were planned and built to be sustainable and energy efficient. For example, integrated green areas, and modern insulation solutions ensure sustainable construction concepts and provide for more environmental protection.

One example of this is the Convention Center in Vancouver. Its roof is completely covered with grass, making it a “green building” in the truest sense of the word.

Your city shines in new splendor, but with the old, original facades. The traditional cityscape is preserved and the buildings in it have been renovated and retrofitted to meet the requirements of a smart city.

The city of Prague is an excellent example of this and shows how such a concept can actually be implemented today. The historic buildings in Prague’s city center are gradually being converted into smart buildings.

Approximately 220 kilograms of waste are produced per capita in Germany. Much of the waste does not decompose by itself – and ends up on the roadside, in rivers, or in the sea. But what should we do with the mountains of trash from the city of the future?

“Zero waste” is a lifestyle that aims to produce no waste at all. Unlike recycling, waste is avoided completely. People who live according to the “zero waste” principle deliberately avoid packaging and plastic – such as plastic bags, plastic toothbrushes, and disposable coffee cups. Many people believe that “zero waste” is the solution to our waste problems.

For this reason, ideas such as food sharing and shops without packaging are becoming increasingly popular. Apps like “Too Good To Go” and “ResQ” make food sharing much easier. The special thing about them: Not only users can offer and exchange food with each other, but also restaurants and shops. The network consumes what is otherwise thrown away.

Packaging is sorted by material, cleaned in a specialized facility, and then reused – not a bad idea in itself. However, only about 50 percent of all plastic waste is recycled. In addition, not all plastics can be reused indefinitely.

Science and industry are addressing the topic and are already working on new, environmentally friendly materials – such as alternative packaging made of mushrooms or algae. One thing is certain: The city of the future’s waste problem will need new ideas and concepts for recycling.

Your trip to the city of the future ends here. In this module, you learned about new technologies and concepts for smart cities. Pay attention to which of these aspects might be implemented right at your doorstep. And stay tuned to see what the future has in store for your city.