Answering the big questions on blockchain and Smart Cities

A panel discussion on blockchain and the Internet of Things (IoT) emphasises the need for firms of all shapes, sizes and sectors to collaborate when it comes to creating Smart Cities.

Blockchain, IoT and Smart Cities: Collaboration is the key to realising a huge opportunity

As a society we’re more than used to having technology as a driving force in our lives. From the smartphones we carry around with us to the apps we use to stream entertainment or bank online, we’re no strangers to the digital world. But how will our lives change when Smart Cities built on digital tech become a reality?

Smart Cities are urban areas that use electronic IoT-enabled sensors to collect data – using the insights gained from this information to manage resources and services efficiently. We might see some of this technology in various places already, but the difference with Smart Cities is that they’ll connect all the services we use. This encompasses traffic and transportation systems, power plants, utilities, water supply networks, waste management, crime detection, information systems, schools, libraries, hospitals, and other community services.

It’s set to be a huge shift in how we interact with urban areas, which is why it raises so many big questions. What will be the technology that sits behind Smart Cities? How do we build them? Who will build them? What do they mean for businesses? And what impact will they have on citizens?

That’s why, on 5th March 2020, Invenica hosted a live broadcast from Blockchain Connect at Dogpatch labs in the heart of Dublin’s tech innovation district. Entitled Smart Cities: The facts of IoT & Blockchain, the webinar explored the fact and fiction behind the IoT and blockchain technologies, what Smart Cities mean for people and the environments we live in, and what products and services are in development to create true Smart Cities.

It was a fascinating exchange of expertise, with our panel featuring David Palmer, Blockchain Lead for IoT at Vodafone; Thomas Spencer, Business Development Director and Telco Lead at R3; Gareth Mee, CEO of Invenica; and Mike Wilson, CEO & Founder of ditto.

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Smart Cities

This webinar includes a panel of industry experts from across the market, discussing how firms are preparing to capture the opportunities of Smart Cities. Learn about the real-life applications of Blockchain & IoT technology, what products and services are leading the way, and where is the smart money being invested.

Our Speaker Bios

Gareth Mee is responsible for the growth and strategic direction of Invenica, a specialist software services business. He is currently working extensively within the emerging technologies space covering AI, Blockchain, Chatbots and Conversational Language, with experience in enterprise integration, mobility and UX – delivering mission critical solutions and complex enterprise projects.

David Palmer has worked in the IoT sector for 10 years and has been instrumental in the Vodafone Business assessment and exploration of blockchain technology and its potential to add value in the IoT eco-system.

Thomas Spencer is the Industry Business Unit lead for Telecoms at R3. He has been with the firm for over two years, leading their engagement with carriers, software vendors and consortiums across a wide range of use cases.

Monty Munford has been keynote speaker/emcee/panellist/moderator/interviewer who has spoken at more than 200 tech events around the world, focusing on technology change;, good and bad.He has also interviewed on stage leading icons such as Kim Kardashian, Steve Wozniak, Gary Vaynerchuk, John McAfee, Brock Pierce, Brian Solis and many others.He was previously a weekly tech columnist for Forbes in New York, the Telegraph in the UK and continues to write regularly for the BBC and The Economist. He is also the founder of tech consultancy Mob76 that helps leading companies raise their profile and he publishes a Google News-verified blog, Mob76 Outlook, which has more than 110,000 unique visitors per month.