The Center for the Study of Art, Architecture, History &
Nature
(C-SAAHN)
Sponsored the following presentation:
Downtown Library 2009 - 2010 Noon Hour Lecture Series
"Imagining Buffalo Niagara in the 21st Century"
| Presented by: | Brian Reilly, Commissioner Economic Development City of Buffalo Tuesday, December 8, 2009 |
By
Summary by Dennis Galucki
The most significant change in the 21st century is 2.0 communications. It can be defined as activities that integrate technology, social interaction and the production of content.
2,0 shifts from one-way communications to multi-ways and networked to interactivity and dialogue # in short, a new way of communicating. We are invited to be content users and providers and see 2.0 as a new tool for democratization, when knowledge is not just presented, but we also help construct it.
President Obama and his team created a new model in winning the election and they are now experimenting with ways to use 2.0 to help govern. How can Buffalo use 2.0 as a tool for collaborative problem solving? Urban areas have three comparative advantages
over suburban and rural areas:
- Proximity # people are much closer together which creates advantages for transit and walking communities.
- Density # people per unit area is a consideration of retailers.
- Diversities # many types of people create sustainability.
These urban advantages can work to Buffalo's favor, especially when 2.0 communications is considered. For example, web sales plus unique identity of place can generate new money for retailers.
What is needed is the development of an infrastructure and culture that appreciates the possibilities of 2.0 communications. This lecture invitation provided the opportunity to begin creating such a structure.
Although many comments were not invitations to dialogue, those that were seemed to point to five themes:
1. Build on existing assets.
2. Need for innovation and a green economy.
3. Restoration and preservation economy.
4. Geographic location.
5. Arts and tourism economy
Buffalo in the 21st century will grow out of Buffalo of the 19th century and the innovation of the people here today.
See also:
Center for the Study of Art, Architecture, History and Nature