Innovation vs Inequality Mind Map by Brianna

Group 1: Infrastructural Innovation

bribrianderson7 — 2024-09-15 18:42:51 UTC

The construction of the tech hub will need infrastructural renovation to attract investors, tech companies and other businesses. The city plans to revitalize its existing infrastructure which will increase the property value (home equity, rent etc) of the surrounding area.

Example Project: Digital Security

bribrianderson7 — 2024-09-15 18:45:45 UTC

Group 2: Social Innovation

bribrianderson7 — 2024-09-16 15:41:06 UTC

The city also wants to include some community-focused projects with technology! The city plans to create digital platforms where residents can access their social services, health care and job placements online! More educational resources will be dedicated towards technology from kindergarten to university (workshops, coding camps, tech networking events and tech job fairs).

Group 3: Transportation Innovation

bribrianderson7 — 2024-09-16 15:42:04 UTC

This new tech district will bring in more commuters, tourists and traffic! The city plans on building a highway through a neighbourhood for easier access to the tech hub.

Group 4: Green Innovation

bribrianderson7 — 2024-09-16 15:50:45 UTC

The city also wants to mitigate the environmental impact of a growing population, so they plan to create green spaces (parks, green roofs etc.) in neighbourhoods surrounding the tech district. They will also add more pedestrian spaces and bike lanes leading to the tech district centre.

Low income communities

bribrianderson7 — 2024-09-16 16:10:15 UTC

May be displaced through rising housing costs (gentrification), putting the residents in more instability

Tech companies

bribrianderson7 — 2024-09-16 16:14:45 UTC

Benefits from the city's economic growth and focus on technology

Tech/Engineering University students

bribrianderson7 — 2024-09-16 16:47:59 UTC

More educational, professional development and research opportunities
More job openings in their field

Local Business Owners

bribrianderson7 — 2024-09-16 16:58:45 UTC

More foot traffic from the growing population and increasing property value. They might experience more competition from emerging tech startups.

Rising housing prices

bribrianderson7 — 2024-09-16 16:59:28 UTC

bribrianderson7 — 2024-09-16 17:00:38 UTC

Displace low-income families

bribrianderson7 — 2024-09-16 17:00:51 UTC

More home equity for existing homeowners

Energy Innovation

2024-09-17 16:26:13 UTC

Solar, urban-suited wind

Transport

2024-09-17 16:27:43 UTC

Bus route, sidewalk innovations, street-level greenery, public (electric?) bikes, subway connection,

Architecture

2024-09-17 16:29:33 UTC

High rise for offices, creative architecture to attract investments,

Reduce pollution

2024-09-17 16:29:35 UTC

Create bike lanes helps offer an other way to move in the city that is more ecologic than cars, buses, ...

More trees and vegetals species in the city helps to compensate carbon emission

Agriculture

2024-09-17 16:30:12 UTC

Encourages people to grow their own food, thus potentially reducing food costs in stores

Economic infrastructure

2024-09-17 16:30:54 UTC

Job creation through innovation district: office jobs, construction work, cashier / service work for supporting jobs (eg. coffee shops)

Population growth in local area

Accessibility infrastructure incorporated in newer builds and designs

Transportation

2024-09-17 16:31:09 UTC

Low Income Population:

Negative Consequences:

Displacement

Affordability - How do we pay?/rising housing costs

Risk of Gentrification

Positive Outcomes:

Job opportunities

Socializing

2024-09-17 16:31:39 UTC

Green spaces in a tech district especially can encourage people to leave their screen and interact with each other, rather than being glued to their screen. It can improve moods positively.

Affordability

2024-09-17 16:31:54 UTC

Raised rent -> displacement

Cost of living and food will increase in area (attracting wealthier jobs -> wealthier inhabitants -> more affluent tastes -> more expensive grocers)

Home-owners

2024-09-17 16:32:01 UTC

Home-owners will be attracted to areas with more green spaces, particularly people with young children, families and pets because living next to a park would be convenient to take their kids/pets.

Transportation

2024-09-17 16:32:52 UTC

Suburbanites:

Positive Outcome:

Access to high quality jobs

Can live where it is more affordable

Negative outcomes:

Increased traffic

Air quality/pollution

Commute times are stressful

Housing prices may rise

Community displacement

2024-09-17 16:34:57 UTC

Community disrupted/dissolved by raised rent and displacement

Small businesses out-competed by chains + put out of business due to previous customer base being displaced

Transportation

2024-09-17 16:35:45 UTC

Business owners:

Positive outcomes:

Increase in Customers/Clients

Easier to transport/deliver products

Negative outcomes:

People may move out of neighbourhood

Increased competition if more businesses move in

Big companies might replace "Mom and Pop" shops

Tourism

2024-09-17 16:35:48 UTC

More visiting population, more economic circulation coming into region

Traffic

2024-09-17 16:37:06 UTC

Increased visitors + increased construction + increased maintenance provide traffic challenges

Increased pollution production as a result of traffic

Takes the spaces of other infrastructures

2024-09-17 16:37:17 UTC

Parks are mostly build on public spaces owned by the city. Theses spaces could rather be used for more useful infrastructures such as school, shelter, medical centers,...

Homelessness

2024-09-17 16:37:35 UTC

Displaced people who cannot afford anywhere else in the city

Transportation

2024-09-17 16:38:23 UTC

Affluent Populations:

Negative outcomes:

Could lower property values

More pollution

Positive outcomes:

Economic growth means more amenities

Connectivity to other parts of city

Tech district means higher quality jobs at higher pay

Better schools and services

Greenery

2024-09-17 16:39:14 UTC

Unless specifically included in design, greenery could easily be reduced;

Will certainly be reduced significantly assuming it was a green lot prior to development

Ecosystem disruption, pollution absorption/offset reduction, etc

Safety

2024-09-17 16:39:18 UTC

Despite parks and green spaces providing shelter for animals and those that don't have a home. It can also make people with children "uncomfortable" or feel unsafe taking their children where homeless people or wild animals (eg: coyotes) may be.

Employment

2024-09-17 16:39:19 UTC

Creating green spaces will require them to be upkept. Jobs can be created like cutting grass, maintaining the structures in the park.. etc

Accessibility Difficulties

2024-09-17 16:41:11 UTC

We would be concerned that seniors that are not technology-savvy would struggle greatly if more and more systems were digitized (particularly healthcare). Furthermore, undocumented immigrants would likely not want to register on a system/electronic register or would find themselves lacking the necessary documentation to do so regardless (government ID etc). We would also fear the inequality of access to both technology and internet relative to wealth or lack thereof. To continue, even legal immigrants would struggle to access the system if there were not language and other accessibility features. Finally, having everything digitized would make all of these systems more vulnerable to digital cyberattacks.

Solution for climate change

2024-09-17 16:41:19 UTC

By having green spaces, trees, etc., the city and its residents will be less exposed to heat coming from climate change and rising temperatures (helps creating shaded spaces where people can escape from heat)

Transportation

2024-09-17 16:41:46 UTC

Tourists:

Positive:

Cost effective

Easier access to tech hub

Negative:

Need to have car or harder to access

Higher rent

2024-09-17 16:42:13 UTC

Making the area more attractive thanks to green spaces might increase the rent for residents. This could lead to a lack of diversity, especially for students or low-income families

Tech Program Implementation in Schools

2024-09-17 16:43:21 UTC

Different school districts may have large differences in programs, causing issues for low-income residents who are unable to bring their children to a better school district.

Ease of Access

2024-09-17 16:46:50 UTC

It’s very beneficial to have access to all of these resources without having to contact the government or schedule time to go to a place like a Service Canada/Service Ontario.