Reading N° 5

Erasmus+ Project Helps Close Digital Skill Gap

By Alexandra de Castro
August 30, 2021

1 When I was a student, I used to spend hours

“Any sufficiently advanced technology is
at Blockbuster, looking for a movie to rent. The
indistinguishable from magic.”
monster company had branches all over the city; no
Sir Arthur C. Clarke
one could believe it would collapse a few years later.

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It did not collapse because of bad marketing or unpopular movies: the owners did not ride
the wave of new technologies. At the end of the 90s, a shy competitor arose, taking the risk of
adopting new technologies others did not want: Netflix. The now gigantic company,
synonymous with TV series and movies, started by implementing the DVD and the Internet
and, alongside, new ways of operating. For some years, Blockbuster continued to be number
one, and Netflix had a hard time keeping its accounting book positive, but time proved
Netflix was right.

New technologies disrupt life as we know it

3 New technologies can alter the way industries and businesses operate and relate to their
customers. When the customers recognize technologies as superior in attributes and find
them comfortable to use, these new technologies may sweep away habits and become
disruptive.

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Disruptive technologies have the power to
transform markets, citizens’ ways of living, and
even entire cities. Being creators of such
paradigms, they are the focus of discussion on
the emergence of smart cities worldwide.

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But the smart city idea does not merely
include fantastic innovations and amazing
gadgets. Smart cities must also improve
security, sustainability, and lower greenhouse
emissions and pollution. Smart solutions should
enhance the community’s quality of life: from
regulating the traffic to fighting crime assisted
Illustration in the training material—Smart by Design output.
by big data and the Internet of Things.

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While disrupting technologies emerge organically, achieving community goals involves
implementing strategies to make the most of innovations. It is necessary to find new forms of
participation and understanding in an ecosystem where physical and digital infrastructure
systemically co-exist with human capital. One critical dimension to address is citizenship
education closing the so-called “digital skill gap.”

Smart by Design project

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Co-funded by the European Commission Erasmus+ Programme, the Smart by Design (short
for Smart Technologies by Design) project aims to help close the digital skill gap by
developing competencies for managers and owners of small- and medium-sized enterprises,
and vocational education trainers.

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The output comprises a platform for training with materials and tools following a map of
digital disruptive technologies and a toolkit with business models.

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Smart by Design is a multidisciplinary partnership project where twelve organizations from
Bulgaria, Romania, Spain, and the Netherlands converge 1 —pushing forward the city of the
future.

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Map of smart solutions
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The Smart by Design project specifically addresses four key innovation technology areas:
artificial intelligence and data technologies, the Internet of Things, cybersecurity, and visual
intelligence.

Artificial intelligence and data technologies

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Artificial intelligence is a set of algorithms that empowers machines to learn from
experiences, solve problems, and perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings.
It combines computer science and large datasets, which entails an unprecedented power, as
warned by Cathy O’Neil in her book Weapons of Math Destruction.

12 Artificial intelligence spans a significant range of potential applications that communities

might leverage, such as:

 Self-driving cars, trucks, and public transport;

 Logistics and supply chain organized by intelligent machines;
 Smart public and private exterior lights for security, which anticipate the dynamics of
the streets and homes;
 Smart homes for people with disabilities or the elderly, so they can live by themselves
safely;
 Workplace management.

Big data science

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Data science is as old as experimental sciences: analyzing data has always been part of the
scientific method. The math associated with data management and interpretation has evolved
over time. In the last century, the information age sneaked in, unleashing the production of
unprecedented amounts of data, pushing forward the creation of new methods—including
the heavy use of AI—to deal with them.

14 Not only do traditional research institutions analyze large amounts of data but also
companies, banks, governments, and all kinds of organizations are starting to use this
scientific tool. Data science enables companies to draw conclusions that might affect their
business and adopt strategies that could help improve their turnover. It helps governments
strengthen national security or make traffic more efficient.

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Illustration in the training material—Smart by Design output.
Internet of Things
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The Internet of Things is the network
of devices—“things”—exchanging data
using the internet. These devices range
from ordinary household equipment to
sophisticated industrial machines with
minimal human intervention.

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From washing machines that you can control from your office with your smartphone to
your car’s GPS receiving information about the traffic and proposing a better route, these
systems collect tons of data communities might use to improve living conditions.

Cybersecurity
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Cyberspace created a new social dimension. Nowadays, a great deal of information from
citizens and enterprises—such as medical records, banking information, and purchases—is
transmitted and stored online. Communities should develop and enforce policies to protect
the citizen’s privacy.

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Cybersecurity combines advanced technologies and human resources to prevent, detect,
and remediate various forms of digital attacks.

Blockchain
19 Blockchain is a technology that facilitates transactions in a business network with high
levels of security standards. In principle, it represents an incorruptible digital ledger that can
be programmed to record virtually everything of value. The transactions may involve
tangible assets such as cars, houses, and land or intangible assets such as patents, branding,
and copyrights.

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The associated relevant data are stored in cryptographic blocks, which are interconnected
in a sequence, creating a chain of data blocks, giving the name to the technology. One of the
most popular uses of the blockchain is in cryptocurrencies like bitcoin.

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Visual intelligence
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Visual intelligence comprises virtual reality and augmented reality. While virtual
reality creates an artificial new environment for the user, augmented reality combines
physical with virtual experiences. It enhances the natural environment by superimposing
computer-generated images over a user’s picture of the real world.

The future lies in the present

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Smart cities are booming: whether we like it or not, disrupting technologies will change the
way we live—and even who we are—forever. What we really can do is observe their process
and make the most of them as citizens, organizations, and communities.

Taken from: https://www.ua-magazine.com/2021/08/30/erasmus-project-helps-close-digital-skill-gap/