The multiplexed metropolis
Enthusiasts think that data services can change cities in this century as much as electricity did in the last one. They are a long way from proving their case
EVEN thieves, it seems, now have a smartphone app. Makkie Klauwe (it means something like “easy pickings” in Amsterdam slang) reveals the city’s best places for pilfering—for instance Reestraat and Tuinstraat, where bicycles appear to be a good target. The app depends for its dark arts on pulling together publicly available data on disposable income, crime levels and other problems reported in a district. A good place to steal might, for instance, have high income, low reported crime and broken streetlights.
This article appeared in the Briefing section of the print edition under the headline “The multiplexed metropolis”
Briefing September 7th 2013
From the September 7th 2013 edition
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