By Carly Smith
In Dream States, John Lorinc chips away at the opportunities and obstacles that future urban settings will bear, whether deliberately or inadvertently. With an abundance of useful examples and sound quotes from expert sources, the book exposes readers to the benefits and detriments of the use of smart technology in current and future cities. Dream States starts with an introduction to a “smart community” that was, at one time, a possibility in a neighbourhood in Toronto, Ontario. Lorinc then moves into a brief history of technology’s role in urban development around the globe, and finally settles into the bulk of the book, which examines how technology’s evolution affects the evolution of urban areas. The book covers topics like data collection, data usage, surveillance, technological advancements related to automated systems, and the politics surrounding smart technology in urban planning. Finally, Lorinc comes full circle to connect much of the information presented in the book to the initial example of Toronto’s once-possible smart community.
It is obvious that, from start to finish, Lorinc worked meticulously to gather applicable, credible information to support the content. Dream States includes a table of contents, index, and bibliography, all of which are helpful, considering the breadth of information presented to the readers. Lorinc’s writing is detailed and academic; if readers are unfamiliar with certain topics, it would be valuable to jot notes and flag specific pages to revisit. I appreciate that Lorinc offers both the pros and cons to the potential outcomes that may arise as a result of incorporating more and more smart tech into urban development. There were parts, however, that felt convoluted, and at times, over-described yet lacking connection to the topic at hand. This may not be the case for all readers, though, especially those with a stronger grasp of technology and its place in urbanism.
Dream States delivers a takeaway for all readers, whether they absorb the book in its entirety or pick and choose different segments. Whatever readers desire to learn from this book, it is important to know that it is not a light read and can almost be treated as a textbook. In fact, I found myself thinking repeatedly while reading, “This would be the most interesting textbook a teacher could add to a syllabus”. It will help skeptics of smart technology understand why it is beneficial while offering a perspective of caution to those who feel like new age technology should be automatically included in all new urban developments. Finishing the book does not mean you will finish thinking about a future utopia in the age of smart technology.
Thank you to Coach House Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.