3rd European Digital Cities ConferenceThe Road to Deployment - Dec., 1-2, 1997, Berlin, Germany The EDC conferences are one of the major awareness-raising components of the European Digital Cities project, a support action of the European Commissions Telematics Applications Programme. (For additonal information, see also the European Cities go Digital in ACTS NewsClips No. 25).
The third European Digital Cities (EDC) Conference: "The Road to Deployment" , follows two successful EDC Conferences <http://www.edc.eu.int/events> held in 1996, which focused on the implications of the Information Society for cities, towns and regions and the emerging policy framework surrounding this issue. Proceedings and abstracts of these events are available from the EDC web site at <http://www.edc.eu.int/in-action/library.html>
The Berlin Conference will focus on the socio-economic benefits of telematics for urban areas, covering:
- the achievements so far in pilot applications and services,
- the existing and emerging infrastructures for deployment,
- the identification of the barriers to deployment,
- the challenges and benefits of cross-sector integration of telematics applications.
This event is a great opportunity for you to meet with the key European players involved in such issues: local and regional authorities, research
institutions, industry and network operators.
The event features an exhibition of prototype applications, open debate, a key-note speech by Commissioner Martin Bangemann, majors and high ranking city officials from European capitals and metropoles, as well as industry representatives giving presentations on topics such as
- EU-Member states' policy on the development of Digital Cities, urban planning, cost-effective public services
- The Role of telematics in social integration
- Community life, cultural identity, the underprivileged citizen, self employment
- Social integration of the Internet - American lessons
- The role of community networks in Digital City strategies
- Supporting self-employment through telematics
- Achievements of current trials
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- cost benefit analysis, exploitation plans, real-life trials, transport applications, tourism, services for citizens
- supporting local SMEs, real-life trials, provision of health information and services, home learning
- Infrastructure and technology -
Current trials may vary from a simple web server linked to the analogue telephone network (PSTN) and allowing PC owners to access services through their Internet provider, to more complex solutions based on intranet solutions integrating the full chain of service production and delivery. Most of these trials are based on the Internet protocol as a de facto standard allowing the use of advanced technologies such as "intelligent agents" or 3D geographical systems.
- Trends in telecommunication infrastructure in European cities
- Entering the Digital City: surveying city-related web sites in Europe,
- Applications of intelligent agents to International trade and tourism
Round tables will focus on
- Digital Cities, realising the potential
By 1998, some 40 to 60 cities, towns and regions will have experimental infostructure to test, on a limited scale, advanced service provision. It is now necessary to identify the real barriers and the instruments necessary to achieve a real deployment. Do local and regional authorities have to invest in infrastructure? Do they need to become local regulators?
- Sustainability of new services
The life-cycle of ICT products and services is becoming shorter and shorter. Paradoxically, it can take 10 years from research work to the provision of a viable service in the public sector (e.g. the Mediamobile case, smart cards applications). The role of the private sector working in partnership with the public sector (e.g. in defining a business plan and marketing campaign) is of prime importance. Political representative from cities will react on cases presented.
For further information please contact the EDC coordination office or visit the EDC web site at <
http://www.edc.eu.int/events >
Registration forms for both the hotel and the conference are also available there.
By Reinhard Geiger, Techno-Z FH F&E, 15.10.1997
