Fridays with Attar: Smart Cities as Consciousness Gateways
In the allegorical story of the Conference of the Birds, Attar uses birds as a metaphor of various degrees of consciousness stations one human can occupy during his or her lifetime. Attar’s point of view is democratic and compassionate to the extent that he gives each state of consciousness attention and time and a unique therapeutic yield to a higher state.Through the narrative of Conference of the Birds (COB), Attar is reminding the readers that the path of transformation is complex and challenging and requires connecting with the deepest paradigms and worldviews one holds deep in their minds. The aspiring transformation is in a journey of a unique hero that, in the Attar system, takes the form of the Seven Valleys.
The allegorical nature of this ancient story allows us to replace the character of birds with people, groups, communities and even cities. The TAI/T approach to smart cities is therapeutic, meaning we consider each city’s journey to smart city to be unique. At the same time, at TAI/T our main objective of making cities smarter is to help them become Mindful Smart Cities, cities that are designed to serve people and not machines, AI or technology.
The current rhetoric of smart cities is a global phenomenon, initially centred on the use of advances in information and communication technologies (ICTs) and transition to digital data bases and communications in urban systems.But this falls short of a comprehensive human centred paradigm.It is therefore important to critically analyse and evaluate how and to what extent smart cities also support a conscious urban experience.
One of our contribution to the smart city space is the development of The Triple AI model within which three axes of intelligence support and accompany cities’ smart city agendas. Integrating social sustainability and conscious urban living at the core of a smart city framework requires rethinking smart cities as whole. The Mindful Smart City framework takes into account the critical role people play in bringing what is seen as ‘intelligent’ to urban systems and therefore offers a roadmap to build smart cities. The roadmap includes: 3 building blocks, 7 levels of smartness, 10 design philosophies and 5 urban digital rights.
“In this vision, smart cities are more just a collection of technologically wired places, but rather places where human transformation can take place. Granted, smart cities become consciousness gateways to better, more mindful, resilient and sustainable urbanised civilisations. Places where humanity can find a sense of meaning, purpose and eventually even reach higher states of consciousness or enlightenment. In such quest, we see technology as an ally, not an enemy. ”
— Shima Beigi, CEO & Co-founder.
Smart Cities as consciousness gateways is a bold technological standpoint in the tech dominated world of smart cities. In this Friday, TAI/T CEO and Co-founder Shima Beigi is joined with Dan Mapes Technology Advisor of TAI/T and Founder and CEO of VERSEs. They discuss how the practice of smart city creation can be used as a vehicle of human consciousness transformation and evolution.
Watch this Episode now on YouTube
