From Nick Bowden:

Stephen Hardy and I have been fortunate to spend our entire careers working with and for public agencies. We’ve worked in communities grappling with unknown futures, communities devastated by natural disasters, and communities trying to accommodate rapid growth. Each facing unique, yet seemingly familiar challenges with transportation and transit, land use, zoning, urban design, sustainability, immigration, brain-drain, and economic development.

Our front row seat over the last decade, and our deep passion for the work we do, has led us to some interesting observations about what we might see in the future.

The company that has grown up around us echoes our commitment to community building and is itself a breeding ground for discussions about any technology that has the potential to change the shape and form of cities. It’s not uncommon to find yourself in a lunch debate that starts with the future of cars, moves to the neurological development of children, and ends with self-built residential water storage. After a recent lunch discussion, Stephen and I decided it was time to formalize some of the observations, discussions, and fantasies we have about the future of cities and technology. Over the next eight weeks, we will (attempt) to post on the following topics:

• History of Cities and Technology
• Technology as the Third Megatrend to Impact Cities and Urban Form
• The Block Chain and its Potential to Radically Change Government
• Autonomous Vehicles: The Single Biggest Determinant on the Future of Urban Form
• The Movement of Citizens as Sensors and the Power of Data to Change Policy
• The Power of Unusual Voices — Why hearing from the Disenfranchised Matters

By no means do we consider ourselves experts in each of these respective topics. We have simply gathered a variety of perspectives related to our intimacy with the space. It’s possible the posts will stir a variety of emotions ranging from excitement to discontent to denial. It’s also possible all of our observations and subsequent conclusions will be wrong 10 years from now, and that’s okay. Our aim, as it is with our work, is to involve as many people as possible in a discussion about the future of government and technology.

To learn more about type of work Nick, Stephen and the mySidewalk team are doing, visit mysidewalk.com.

About the Authors:

Nick Bowden is the CEO of mySidewalk. He spent time as an urban planner at various firms, including Olsson Associates. Nick has devoted the last 5 years to understanding communities better through the combined powers of engagement and data.

Stephen Hardy is the CPO of mySidewalk. Stephen is responsible for providing the strategic vision for mySidewalk’s team of designers and developers working on our world-class engagement technology. Before joining mySidewalk, he used the platform as an urban planner with BNIM Architects. Stephen is certified by the American Institute of Certified Planners and holds a LEED AP credential.