Please discuss today’s presentation from Michael Higgins, “When Tech Took A Bite Off Our Cities.” How has technology been a positive and negative force in the recent development of the cities Mike discussed?
Technology has been a positive force in the recent development of cities through the use of Google Maps being used to “get around the city”, without physically getting around, and being able to see how communities are changing. Then comparing these results after time passes, using the same tech, and seeing what needs to be improved or noted. The same way this tech is used in this way for good can also have adverse effects. Community leaders and developers may use this technology to identify ways to indirectly push people away from their home communities and out of their actual homes. Downtown Brooklyn is a prime example. It changed “for the better” for those on the outside of the community, but caused many people living in it to feel uncomfortable and eventually leading to many people having to leave their homes because they could not afford to live there any more.
Diversity+Tech 