After announcing our partnership with Ability Concept last week, we wanted to talk a bit more about why their products got us so excited in the first place. And this goes far beyond smart benches: we’re talking smart, connected cities. Cities that not only make life easier for us all, but also protect the environment — and even empower local democracy.

An Ability smart bench in Prague; Generating revenue through WIFI and Advertising.

In this blog, we’re going to take a look at the emergence of smart cities and the opportunity they provide for MyBit investors, now we’re making inroads in this space.

First off, the concept of a smart city is a fairly new one. But all agree that what makes one is the use of sensors and data to manage cities better. Traffic. Transport. Waste. Water and gas. Almost every part of a city can be improved by studying how it works and planning accordingly.

A perfect combination of functionality and ambiance thanks to smart street lighting

Take the smart street lighting initiative in Amsterdam, where street lights change their brightness based on the time of day and existing light levels. Or the smart trash cans in Groningen that inform the local government when they need to be emptied. At the heart of this revolution is the Internet of Things: connected devices with a range of sensors.

And make no mistake, a huge industry is developing around this new economy. For users, investors and local governments, it’s a win-win. There’s a real potential here for investors because they can invest in infrastructure that previously only governments could. Equally, local governments can revolutionize the way they procure and maintain their city’s infrastructure — with investors providing the funds, rather than taxpayers.

In smart cities, people can not only benefit from leaner, more efficient public services, but they can even own the infrastructure itself.

That’s where MyBit comes in. Through our platform, we’re pioneering a way for everyone to own a share of this emerging urban renewal.

Ability’s smart benches are just the start. They’re already developing a sensor platform that can monitor everything from air quality, water levels and gas to sensing smoke, humidity and more. All powered through green technology. And we’re working tirelessly on building further partnerships in this space.

The future of the world’s cities lies in a smart, connected Internet of Things. The only question is — are you ready to join the revolution?

Until next time,

Your MyBit Team.