Press release -

Intelligent technology comes to the city

You might not have realised it, but it’s very likely you live in what they call a ‘smart city’. Copenhagen declared itself a ‘smart city’ in 2015, with a grant of DKK 500 million per year intended to incorporate smart solutions into everyday city life, and several large Danish cities have since followed suit.

A megatrend to be used, but not seen.

A ‘smart city’ is one in which the technology blends into the urban environment, and is used to solve practical problems such as waste disposal and parking. The goal is more convenient cities, where access to information and activities is made easier for both residents and visitors.

However, the idea is that all this technology should simply work in the background, and not distract our attention. This from Ib Mogensen, who is CEO of out-sider, which develops state-of-the-art outdoor furniture:

“The technology is an important element of our society, and we are now seeing it grow into a megatrend extending into many sectors. It’s not just mobile phones; it affects clothing and cars too. It’s gradually moving into everything we surround ourselves with, so it would be strange if it wasn’t also part of the urban environment. But the technology has to work behind the scenes, and assist us like a sort of invisible hand. It can help us find a free parking space, avoid traffic jams or suggest more things to do in the city. In fact, the technology should hardly impinge upon our consciousness at all. It should not be there for its own sake but for ours,” he says.

Power from above

As we bring more and more technology into our cities, it is not just a matter of convenience for ourselves. Our climate and environment are also among the crucial challenges where intelligent technological solutions come through. This includes better use of climate-friendly energy sources such as solar and wind power, which are both sustainable and also enable more measures that do not depend on pipes and cables that have to be buried in the ground - and represent an ongoing expense to the municipality.

Where out-sider is concerned, environmental considerations need to be combined with innovation, aesthetics and user-driven technology. Solutions in the spirit of our time, of the kind that are making the city better adapted to individual desires for leisure, relaxation and social contact:

“We want to help to improve the conditions in which people spend their time outdoors in our cities. Our outdoor furniture is designed to be used all year round - but also to give people an experience, to be able play their music on the furniture when they are sitting outside with friends, for example. You can also put the lights on in the evening, which provides added security and also lengthens the time you can sit outside. Needless to say, all of it is climate-friendly and powered by solar cells, so it’s God himself who provides and pay for the electricity,” he smiles.

There for our citizens

According to Ib Mogensen, Denmark is one of the countries that are well ahead in this area - and within a few years we will be able to set our individual stamp on our urban spaces to a much greater extent than we can today. This is important, because it is not just about collecting data on our behaviour patterns but about using technology, data and digitisation to create solutions that make the urban environment more inviting for residents, he says:

“We are at an early stage, and right now it will perhaps appeal most to young people who have been immersed in technology all their lives. But things are progressing fast, and within five to ten years these solutions will be intuitive and user-friendly, with the technology embedded out of sight, so the aesthetic side is also in place. At out-sider we are very aware that the urban technology of the future is there for our citizens, and one example of that is the ability to control the lights via an app.”

Facts

- 50% of Danish municipalities are working with ‘smart city’ technology

- 80% of them expect to do even more in the coming years

(Figures from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Topics

  • Industry, manufacturing

Categories

  • copenhagen
  • smart city
  • out-sider
  • intelligent technology
  • ib mogensen

The company 'out-sider' was established in 2007 as a challenge to the traditional urban furniture market in Scandinavia. out-sider is headed by Ib Mogensen, majority shareholder, managing director and the creative brain behind the company. 

The goal of out-sider was to invent new design icons for the outdoor space, and after only a few years of existence, we succeeded in delivering on promise with the LOOP family. 'Rethink Urban Space' is our mission statement, and we aim to excite and challenge with new and surprising urban equipment – we dare and we can.

Today out-sider has an international profile, based in Denmark with distributors worldwide.

We have courage and passion – sky is the limit.

Contacts

Alice Vinkel

Press contact Partner and Head of Marketing and Sales +45 2147 5684

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