We had the pleasure of being entertained by Dr. Non Akraprasertkul, Senior Expert at DEPA, who introduced a radically different way of looking at Smart Cities with the following takeaways:

• People come first. Technology comes second. Daily activities should be augmented by technology, not dictated by it.
• Public-Private Partnerships are useful if they promote development that is sustainable and people-centric. Hence, People-Public-Private Partnership is the best model for all stakeholders.
• Digital solutions in the physical realm should be geared towards enhancing living, working, playing, staying and learning for people from all age groups and socioeconomic backgrounds.
  Additional food for thought:
• Whole cities depend on urban mobility and therefore should provide proper means of getting around.
• 15-minute cities that focus on walkability can create seamless transitions and moments using a combination of physical and digital infrastructure.
• The Metaverse is the ultimate “zero-minute city” that everyone has access to and can be used to expand horizons.
  If you’re still hungry, check out:
  http://bit.ly/smartcityhandbook