Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

acceptedVersion

Publication Date

2-2020

Abstract

This paper argues that the divergent logics of “smartness” and “sustainability” can lead to parallel regimes of sustainability. Whilst sustainability is often used to justify the need for smart cities, smart cities are often undermined by the neoliberal logics of digital governance. Moreover, because the intersection of digital technologies and society is a negotiated one, smart solutions often fail to provide adequate solutions to social problems. This is especially true when smart solutions are used to augment or replace hitherto human-centred processes, like caregiving.Parallel regimes of sustainability are a response to these failures. Drawing onan analysis of a trial of in-home smart eldercare technologies in Singapore, four binary pairings – public-private, individual-community, remote-proximate and passive-active – are used to define the parallel regimes of sustainable eldercare that emerged in response to smart technologies. To conclude, the need for urban paradigms to evolve in conversation with society is emphasised.

Keywords

Smart cities, digital technologies, smart eldercare, social sustainability, Singapore.

Discipline

Asian Studies | Civic and Community Engagement | Gerontology | Urban Studies and Planning

Research Areas

Sociology

Publication

Sustainable Cities and Society

Volume

53

First Page

1

Last Page

7

ISSN

2210-6707

Identifier

10.1016/j.scs.2019.101940

Publisher

Elsevier

Copyright Owner and License

Authors

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2019.101940

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