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Google Launches Sidewalk Labs

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Re: Google Launches Sidewalk Labs

#161

Post by angdis »

icebraining wrote: post #154
angdis wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, hire cleaners to staff the restrooms and charge a small amount to use them. Its not rocket science, it works (see European train stations), and it puts people to work. Its a shame we don't have more of that here in the USA.

Ugh. As an European, I really dislike this new move to charge for bathroom use. It's often expensive, it requires having change (yay, trip to the ATM!) and it means having to wait if the staffer is him/herself in the loo.

I would not call it a "new" move. It is an old idea that works. I would rather come up with a coin or two than use a toilet stall sprayed with diarrhea on the floor and walls (and sometimes ceiling :-) ).

Re: Google Launches Sidewalk Labs

#162

Post by jarek »

gull wrote: post #148
jarek wrote: post #105

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Could one design a new city from scratch? Yes, but the result is Milton Keynes.

Thanks for Milton Keynes but that can't be the only result in the whole world. One proposal is Arcosanti, an urban laboratory focused on innovative design, community, and environmental accountability. https://arcosanti.org/

With all due respect to the project, I don't consider a 150-person community a city. Letchworth is closer but it's still not going to tip the scales or become a second Newcastle or London anytime soon.

Re: Google Launches Sidewalk Labs

#163

Post by filiwickers »

bsbechtel wrote: post #33

So if you choose to live in X urban area, could you potentially be forced into using Google technology because of where you live?

That is probably already true of other companies. The systems that run the traffic lights may be run by IBM, train routes may be overseen by Cisco, etc.

Re: Google Launches Sidewalk Labs

#164

Post by filiwickers »

chvid wrote: post #68

From their homepage: "By 2050, the population in cities will double, intensifying existing socioeconomic, public health and environmental problems." Yes. People move into a few big cities because companies companies like Google congregate there, ultimately creating problems such as skyrocketing rents, congestion, declining real living standards, homelessness. Google holds an obvious solution in its hand. By altering…

Most of that doubling will not be in the US (or other developed countries). It will mostly be in India & China with Africa following not far behind.

Re: Google Launches Sidewalk Labs

#165

Post by TeMPOraL »

aphexairlines wrote: post #150
acdha wrote: post #146

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I realize we're all programmers but why does this have to be a complex self-cleaning toilet rather than, say, hiring a few people to clean them? It's not like there aren't plenty of people looking for steady work and humans have the advantage of being really flexible when something breaks in a novel manner.

Because within half an hour of being cleaned those toilets will be unusable again.

Then you should hire people to clean every half an hour.

Re: Google Launches Sidewalk Labs

#166

Post by icebraining »

angdis wrote: post #161
icebraining wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ugh. As an European, I really dislike this new move to charge for bathroom use. It's often expensive, it requires having change (yay, trip to the ATM!) and it means having to wait if the staffer is him/herself in the loo.

I would not call it a "new" move. It is an old idea that works. I would rather come up with a coin or two than use a toilet stall sprayed with diarrhea on the floor and walls (and sometimes ceiling :-) ).

It's new around here; until a couple of years ago, I don't remember any paid toilets.

And there are other choices besides "diarrhea floors" and coin payment; in train stations, for example, they could simply charge a fee to the train company to pay for the permanent staff, which could then (very slightly) increase the price of tickets to accommodate it.

Re: Google Launches Sidewalk Labs

#167

Post by TeMPOraL »

angdis wrote: post #161
icebraining wrote: post #154

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ugh. As an European, I really dislike this new move to charge for bathroom use. It's often expensive, it requires having change (yay, trip to the ATM!) and it means having to wait if the staffer is him/herself in the loo.

I would not call it a "new" move. It is an old idea that works. I would rather come up with a coin or two than use a toilet stall sprayed with diarrhea on the floor and walls (and sometimes ceiling :-) ).

If it works it only works by making most of the people avoid them :). I don't expect much from a free toilet but I usually don't have spare coins with me to use (especially abroad) so I end up going to various establishments like McDonald's hoping they don't lock down the toilets. Even if they do, I can buy a cheeseburger for the same price, which buys me both a clean paid toilet and something to eat.

Re: Google Launches Sidewalk Labs

#168

Post by filiwickers »

vlasev wrote: post #110
chvid wrote: post #68

From their homepage: "By 2050, the population in cities will double, intensifying existing socioeconomic, public health and environmental problems." Yes. People move into a few big cities because companies companies like Google congregate there, ultimately creating problems such as skyrocketing rents, congestion, declining real living standards, homelessness. Google holds an obvious solution in its hand. By altering…

If you look at settlements from a scaling point of view you will inevitably find that not only are larger cities more efficient structures but they lead to an improved quality of life. This is not just because of "companies like Google". Here are some slides ( http://www.complexcity.info/files/2011/12/BATTY-Scaling-Laws... ) and a TED talk ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XyCY6mjWOPc ).

Yes, large cities make humans more productive! It's not necessarily intuitive but more interactions leads to more innovations.

(Shameless Plug) You can read a bit more about the research in the TED talk here: http://santafe.edu/research/cities-scaling-and-sustainabilit...

Our research group (started by Geoffrey West & Luis Bettencourt) is also trying to understand (and help address) the issues of growing cities in the developing world, where the biggest issue are slums: http://santafe.edu/research/informal-settlements/

Re: Google Launches Sidewalk Labs

#170

Post by archlight »

robzyb wrote: post #23
abalone wrote: post #20

I don't understand the desire to do vague announcements. Why bother announcing at all until you have something more concrete? What does "time to get to work" even mean here? Doing what?

> What does "time to get to work" even mean here? Doing what? Sometimes the first challenge is to figure that out. Sometimes it makes sense to note the problem in the early stages. I think its kinda cool that Google is exploring this.

what about if you already start working during the commute? it is "shortening time" travelling to work.
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