在過去的幾個月里,針對新冠疫情所采取的封鎖措施對全球各地的城市和社區造成了巨大影響。這就提出了一個問題:城市還有存在的空間嗎?
答案并不簡單。它需要我們從過去幾個月發生的事情中吸取教訓,并重新思考我們如何利用技術來重新構想城市的模樣,以及城市在人類的未來生活中扮演的關鍵角色。
疫情教會了我們什么?
?重新構想工作。一大批員工最近開始居家辦公,這種轉變對城市、企業乃至個人的健康和幸福都有著重大影響。在疫情爆發之初,城市內的企業都專注于讓員工利用適當的工具,安全地從事遠程工作。隨著愈演愈烈的新冠疫情讓這種轉變邁向長期化,企業亟需學會如何維持遠程工作模式,并有效管理混合型(居家和在辦公室工作)員工團隊。我們還看到,遠程醫療和遠程教育正在高歌猛進,更多人有望成為受益者。正如世界經濟論壇所觀察到的那樣,技術正在發揮關鍵作用。諸如“連通北方計劃”(Connected North)這類舉措早在疫情爆發前就已經啟動——這項計劃旨在為加拿大北部偏遠的因紐特人社區提供遠程教育——但在未來,遠程教育、遠程醫療和遠程工作機會必然會惠及更廣泛的人群。
?全球本土化:政府和私營部門正在開展更加聰明、更加密切地合作。在世界各地的城市,特殊時期迫使人們重新關注身心健康,更加重視連通性、協作和公共衛生數據。盡管不同城鎮、城市和州采取的策略和方法各有不同,但最重要的是,整個國家和全世界在遏制病毒的傳播方面表現得非常團結。我們正在一起研發疫苗,并以新的方式進行創新。這種團隊合作精神能夠,并且也應該會塑造我們前進的方向。我們之前已經開始邁向一個智能且互聯的未來,而當前的事件充分表明,我們需要更快地抵達那里。
?治理環境。美國國家航空航天局(NASA)、美國國家海洋和大氣局(NOAA)和其他來源的數據顯示,世界各地的二氧化氮和其他污染物顯著減少。從中國到印度,再到美國,世界正在經歷自20世紀上半葉以來從未有過的空氣污染水平。事實上,許多人甚至從未見過如此潔凈的空氣。在疫情爆發前,一些城市一直在利用技術來改變交通模式,降低污染,改善人們的生活。但這種改善非常緩慢,而且在世界各地分布不均。
?人際交往的重要性:與人交往是人類社會的一個固有特征。每當經歷生活重壓的時候,我們總是尋求并依靠人與人之間的互動。這種生理機能驅使我們聚集在一起,這通常會保護我們的精神和身體免受傷害。今天,我們正面臨一項危及整個社區的挑戰。新冠疫情和政治動蕩帶來的新威脅,要求我們必須采用創造性的方式來保持社交聯系,并管理好自己的身心健康。當城市再次重啟的時候,我們每個人都需要調整社交距離策略,以確保我們對于身體、社交聯系和互動的基本需求得以滿足。
重新定義城市
我們必須解決好上述問題,而現在正是一個前所未有的轉折點??萍颊趲椭覀冎匦露x未來的城市。一大挑戰是,我們如何攜手管理這種轉變?過去六個月以來,有一件事情已經變得很清楚:盡管這些時日是全球社會有史以來最艱難的時期之一,但它也有可能躋身人類歷史上最偉大的時刻。我們在集體抗擊新冠病毒和反思人類生活方式方面所取得的進展,是許多人在2020年年初萬萬想象不到的。實際上,我仿佛看到人類正在走向這樣一個未來:在創新和技術的推動下,人們眾志成城,齊心協力地改善我們的城市和社區。
現在,世界比以往任何時候都更需要勇敢的解決方案
新冠疫情還遠未結束,但“智能”計劃已經受到重視。這些舉措尋求利用量子計算和數字映射等創新技術,為智能路燈和自動水表等城市生活解決方案提供支持。從新冠疫情到氣候危機,再到地球上所有生命的福祉,我認為技術是解決當今世界面臨的這些最重大問題的關鍵一環。
給全球領導者的啟示
領導者現在需要在實現短期季度利潤的同時,越來越多地關注長期目標。例如,一些商界領袖致力于實現聯合國開發計劃署所確定的17項可持續發展目標,他們現在有理由百尺竿頭更進一步。而那些此前認為這種努力不切實際的企業領導者,則有理由重新審視各自的反對意見。
這有悖于傳統觀念,也是對傳統領導力的挑戰。在新冠疫情過去后,我們務必要從全世界在如此短時間內做出的大膽承諾,并采取的解決方案中汲取教益。
重塑城市的未來
隨著城市漸次重啟,我們有機會重新想象城市的模樣。我絕對相信,城市將繼續成為人類的社交中心、文化心臟;但現在,借助技術帶來的美好憧憬,我們有機會讓城市變得更清潔、更安全、更智能、更創新。我們與城市不斷發展的關系需要更強的計算能力(因為我們還要繼續處理指數級增長的數據)、更好的連通性,以及更先進的網絡作為后盾。
然而,我們也將減輕環境承受的壓力,因為與昔日城市生活息息相關的供應鏈正在被重新定位。我們將保留我們所熱愛的城市特質,并在悉心汲取經驗教訓的基礎上進一步改善城市生活。
新冠疫情給所有人帶來了巨大的挑戰,但它也向我們表明,只要攜手努力,人類社會就完全有能力共建一個更加美好的世界,以及許許多多給予大于索取的宜居城市。(財富中文網)
本文作者杰森?古道爾是NTT Ltd.公司的全球首席執行官。
譯者:任文科
在過去的幾個月里,針對新冠疫情所采取的封鎖措施對全球各地的城市和社區造成了巨大影響。這就提出了一個問題:城市還有存在的空間嗎?
答案并不簡單。它需要我們從過去幾個月發生的事情中吸取教訓,并重新思考我們如何利用技術來重新構想城市的模樣,以及城市在人類的未來生活中扮演的關鍵角色。
疫情教會了我們什么?
?重新構想工作。一大批員工最近開始居家辦公,這種轉變對城市、企業乃至個人的健康和幸福都有著重大影響。在疫情爆發之初,城市內的企業都專注于讓員工利用適當的工具,安全地從事遠程工作。隨著愈演愈烈的新冠疫情讓這種轉變邁向長期化,企業亟需學會如何維持遠程工作模式,并有效管理混合型(居家和在辦公室工作)員工團隊。我們還看到,遠程醫療和遠程教育正在高歌猛進,更多人有望成為受益者。正如世界經濟論壇所觀察到的那樣,技術正在發揮關鍵作用。諸如“連通北方計劃”(Connected North)這類舉措早在疫情爆發前就已經啟動——這項計劃旨在為加拿大北部偏遠的因紐特人社區提供遠程教育——但在未來,遠程教育、遠程醫療和遠程工作機會必然會惠及更廣泛的人群。
?全球本土化:政府和私營部門正在開展更加聰明、更加密切地合作。在世界各地的城市,特殊時期迫使人們重新關注身心健康,更加重視連通性、協作和公共衛生數據。盡管不同城鎮、城市和州采取的策略和方法各有不同,但最重要的是,整個國家和全世界在遏制病毒的傳播方面表現得非常團結。我們正在一起研發疫苗,并以新的方式進行創新。這種團隊合作精神能夠,并且也應該會塑造我們前進的方向。我們之前已經開始邁向一個智能且互聯的未來,而當前的事件充分表明,我們需要更快地抵達那里。
?治理環境。美國國家航空航天局(NASA)、美國國家海洋和大氣局(NOAA)和其他來源的數據顯示,世界各地的二氧化氮和其他污染物顯著減少。從中國到印度,再到美國,世界正在經歷自20世紀上半葉以來從未有過的空氣污染水平。事實上,許多人甚至從未見過如此潔凈的空氣。在疫情爆發前,一些城市一直在利用技術來改變交通模式,降低污染,改善人們的生活。但這種改善非常緩慢,而且在世界各地分布不均。
?人際交往的重要性:與人交往是人類社會的一個固有特征。每當經歷生活重壓的時候,我們總是尋求并依靠人與人之間的互動。這種生理機能驅使我們聚集在一起,這通常會保護我們的精神和身體免受傷害。今天,我們正面臨一項危及整個社區的挑戰。新冠疫情和政治動蕩帶來的新威脅,要求我們必須采用創造性的方式來保持社交聯系,并管理好自己的身心健康。當城市再次重啟的時候,我們每個人都需要調整社交距離策略,以確保我們對于身體、社交聯系和互動的基本需求得以滿足。
重新定義城市
我們必須解決好上述問題,而現在正是一個前所未有的轉折點??萍颊趲椭覀冎匦露x未來的城市。一大挑戰是,我們如何攜手管理這種轉變?過去六個月以來,有一件事情已經變得很清楚:盡管這些時日是全球社會有史以來最艱難的時期之一,但它也有可能躋身人類歷史上最偉大的時刻。我們在集體抗擊新冠病毒和反思人類生活方式方面所取得的進展,是許多人在2020年年初萬萬想象不到的。實際上,我仿佛看到人類正在走向這樣一個未來:在創新和技術的推動下,人們眾志成城,齊心協力地改善我們的城市和社區。
現在,世界比以往任何時候都更需要勇敢的解決方案
新冠疫情還遠未結束,但“智能”計劃已經受到重視。這些舉措尋求利用量子計算和數字映射等創新技術,為智能路燈和自動水表等城市生活解決方案提供支持。從新冠疫情到氣候危機,再到地球上所有生命的福祉,我認為技術是解決當今世界面臨的這些最重大問題的關鍵一環。
給全球領導者的啟示
領導者現在需要在實現短期季度利潤的同時,越來越多地關注長期目標。例如,一些商界領袖致力于實現聯合國開發計劃署所確定的17項可持續發展目標,他們現在有理由百尺竿頭更進一步。而那些此前認為這種努力不切實際的企業領導者,則有理由重新審視各自的反對意見。
這有悖于傳統觀念,也是對傳統領導力的挑戰。在新冠疫情過去后,我們務必要從全世界在如此短時間內做出的大膽承諾,并采取的解決方案中汲取教益。
重塑城市的未來
隨著城市漸次重啟,我們有機會重新想象城市的模樣。我絕對相信,城市將繼續成為人類的社交中心、文化心臟;但現在,借助技術帶來的美好憧憬,我們有機會讓城市變得更清潔、更安全、更智能、更創新。我們與城市不斷發展的關系需要更強的計算能力(因為我們還要繼續處理指數級增長的數據)、更好的連通性,以及更先進的網絡作為后盾。
然而,我們也將減輕環境承受的壓力,因為與昔日城市生活息息相關的供應鏈正在被重新定位。我們將保留我們所熱愛的城市特質,并在悉心汲取經驗教訓的基礎上進一步改善城市生活。
新冠疫情給所有人帶來了巨大的挑戰,但它也向我們表明,只要攜手努力,人類社會就完全有能力共建一個更加美好的世界,以及許許多多給予大于索取的宜居城市。(財富中文網)
本文作者杰森?古道爾是NTT Ltd.公司的全球首席執行官。
作者:Jason Goodall
譯者:任文科
Over the past few months, coronavirus lockdowns have impacted cities and communities all over the globe in dramatic ways. This has raised the question: Is there still a place for cities?
The answer is not simple; it requires us to learn from what has happened over the past few months and rethink how we leverage technology to reimagine what cities can be, and the critical role they play in our collective future.
What has COVID-19 taught us?
?Reimagining work. The recent shift to work-from-home workforces has major implications for our cities, businesses, and individual health and happiness. At the start of the pandemic, businesses within cities were focused on getting their employees working remotely and securely, with access to the appropriate tools. As the reality of the pandemic as a long-term shift sets in, businesses will need to learn how to sustain a remote working model and manage a hybrid (home- and office-based) workforce. We’ve also seen telehealth and distance learning take giant leaps forward, potentially making health and education more accessible to a wider population. Technology is playing a key role, as the World Economic Forum has observed. While initiatives like the Connected North program, which provided remote learning for far-flung Inuit communities across Northern Canada, were underway before COVID-19, post-pandemic access to remote learning, medicine, and employment will be much broader.
?Glocalization: Governments and the private sector are working smarter and more closely together. In cities around the world, COVID-19 has forced renewed attention to health and wellness, and put a premium on connectivity, collaboration, and public health data. While different towns, cities, and states have taken multiple strategies and approaches, the bottom line is that we have worked together as a nation and a world to curb the spread of the virus. Together we are researching vaccines, and innovating in new ways. This teamwork can and should shape how we move forward. We were on our way to a smart, connected future before the pandemic; this has shown us we need to get there faster.
?Cleaning up the environment. Data from NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Agency (NOAA), and other sources indicate dramatic reductions in nitrogen dioxide and other pollutants around the world. From China to India to the U.S., the world is experiencing air pollution levels not seen since the first half of the 20th century. That is so far back in history that many have never even seen this level of clean air. Prior to COVID-19, some cities had been using technology to shift traffic patterns, drive down pollution, and improve life for people. But this growth has been slow and unevenly distributed around the globe.
?The importance of human interaction: Connection with people is an inherent aspect of our human society. We seek out and lean on human interaction when we are experiencing the stress of life's challenges. This biological programming drives us to gather in groups, usually shielding us from mental and physical harm. Today, we are faced with a community challenge. The new threats of COVID-19 and political unrest challenge us to be creative in how we maintain our social connections and manage our mental and physical health. As we start to open up our cities again, we will all need to adapt our social distancing strategies to ensure we meet our basic human needs of physical, social connection and interaction.
Redefining our post-pandemic cities
We are now faced with an unprecedented pivot to address what we have learned. And technology is helping us to redefine post-pandemic cities. The challenge is: How do we work together to manage that pivot? Over the past six months, one thing has become clear: Even though this is one of our most trying times as a global community, it also has the possibility to be one of our greatest moments. The progress we’re making as a collective in fighting the virus and rethinking our way of life is something many didn’t think possible at the beginning of 2020. In effect, I see one possible future—a future where people, powered by innovation and technology, pull together to improve our cities and communities.
Now more than ever, the world needs brave solutions
The fight against COVID-19 is far from over, but there is already a premium placed on “smart” initiatives that leverage innovations such as quantum computing and digital twinning for solutions like smart street lighting and automated water meters. From the COVID-19 pandemic to the climate crisis to the well-being of all life on earth, I believe that technology holds the key to solving some of the world’s greatest problems.
Lessons for global leaders
Leadership now needs to increasingly focus on long-range targets, as well as on achieving short-term quarterly profits. For example, business leaders looking at achieving the UN Development Program’s 17 goals for sustainable development now have reason to renew their efforts. Those who have previously dismissed such efforts as unrealistic or aspirational have reason to reconsider their objections.
This is a departure from traditional thinking and a challenge for conventional leadership. As we emerge from this pandemic, it’s important that we learn from the bold commitments and brave solutions the world has undertaken over such a short time.
Reimagining our cities of the future
As our cities reopen, we have the chance to reimagine them. I absolutely believe that cities will continue to be our social centers, our cultural hearts; but now we have the chance to make them cleaner, safer, smarter, and more innovative than ever thanks to the promise of technology. Our evolving relationship with cities will require increased computing power as we continue to process exponential amounts of data, and require better connectivity and more advanced networks.
However, we will also relieve pressure on the environment, as the supply chain linked to the relationship we once had with cities is redirected. We will preserve what we love about cities and build upon the lessons we’ve learned from the coronavirus pandemic.
COVID-19 has created a significant challenge for all of us, but it has also shown us what we as a human team can accomplish working together—a better world and cities that give more than they take.
Jason Goodall is global CEO of NTT Ltd.