Establishing Public Trust in Smart Cities

CMU expert says key is to focus on psychological, sociological and ethical consequences of new technologies. The deployment of smart city technologies forms a fascinating social quandary. On one hand, smart city technologies have already proven they can make our lives more convenient, and even transform individuals who were previously limited based on factors such as health and socioeconomic status. On the other hand, these technologies also have caused fatalities. So, how do practitioners of smart city technologies - researchers, technologists, policymakers, corporations, and governments - ensure they are working in the interests of social good, rather than contributing to the erosion of public trust? The answer, according to Carnegie Mellon University's David Danks , the L.L. Thurstone Professor of Philosophy and Psychology, is to make sure they use all the tools in their toolbox. "If you're trying to build a house, you're not just going to use a hammer,” said Danks, head of CMU's Philosophy Department. "You're going to use every tool that is appropriate and at your disposal.