As part of my work with the US Conference of Mayors on a future-oriented economic growth strategy for American cities, I point out that, in the past, quality of life was traded off for economic growth. (This same approach seems to have been part of the more recent industrialization of China.)
But in the future, quality of life becomes a part of the economic strategy since it is a way of attracting people, many of whom who can choose to live anywhere.
However, quality won’t just be about the existing physical aspects of a city. More than that, cities will blend physical and virtual spaces to create new destinations. So it was with interest that I read this article about how “Augmented Reality Will Make Boring Cities Beautiful” – http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/cities/video-how-8216augmented-reality-will-make-boring-cities-beautiful/691
The key lesson:
“Once augmented reality is widespread, the difference between a great and a mediocre city won’t just be its built environment. To some extent, it will also be the degree to which that environment is a suitable tapestry for the creatives who will paint it with their augmented reality brush. Digital artists who learn to re-appropriate the city with the most innovative augmented reality add-ons won’t just bring themselves fame and fortune — they’ll also be attracting others to the places they love.”
© 2011 Norman Jacknis
[http://njacknis.tumblr.com/post/11610950221/blending-physical-and-virtual-spaces]