How 'smart' are smart cities?: The case of Sidewalk Labs, Toronto
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Abstract
This article looks at the debate surrounding the smart city concept in theory and practice using the proposed Smart Labs development in Quayside, Toronto as a case study. My approach has been to familiarize myself with the details of the case and the controversy surrounding it through a literature review and through consulting individuals who were involved, as well through looking at the broader literature on smart cities. As a planning educator, I observe a tendency on the part of students to consider new technology in an uncritical fashion, and the goal here is to promote critical thinking not to dismiss smart cities outright.