Scott Page

With all the talk of municipal wireless initiatives, it will be interesting to see what implications (if implemented) these networks will have on individual neighborhoods. As a planner working in a neighborhoods in Philadelphia, how should I assist my clients in best utilizing Philadelphia's wireless to create a stronger fabric between people and place? There are increasing number of community based applications that utilize rather simple technology to create new communication tools between residents.

The Museum of Chinese in Americas is undertaking an installation of a digital media project that explores New York City's Chinatown. <br /> <br /> <a href="http://www.moca-nyc.org/MoCA/content.asp?cid=17">www.moca-nyc.org/MoCA/content.asp?cid=17</a><br /> <br /> Its an extremely interesting example of digital archiving that recognizes the multiple ways we learn about cities - both physically and virtually. A hope of things to come? Putting our information and databases to use in helping us learn more, and subsequently, feel a stronger connection to place is an increasingly utilized concept already expressed in more mundane sites such as Citysearch.

I appreciate Charlie's post on Wifi. Can't we believe that cities are still capable of providing public services? There are a number of problematic examples of private companies taking over public utilities such as water and electricity. The experience from these experiments illustrates a number of useful lessons in who gets left out and how and where the money is spent. <br /> <br /> That said, I also believe that broadband is a fundamentally different kind of service than water and sewer. We no longer live in an age when cities provided all services as well as funding for revitalization activities.

I came across this image created by the Philadelphia Daily News some time ago. It depicts all of the potential problems one might encounter in living within Philadelphia and the associated number to call. Many neighborhood organizations have copies of this image as it was difficult to immediately figure out whom to call for different problems until this information was gathered in one location. The graphic has some particularly interesting graphic depictions of urban issues. In the end, its an amazing contrast to initiatives like the 311 service implemented in New York City.

I wanted to offer this picture as a New Year's gift for those interested in the sometimes strange mix of technology and space. I took this a couple years back in Chang Mai, Thailand. <br /> <br /> <img src="http://www.planetizen.com/tech/files//internet_foot2_small_02.jpg" alt="" />