Stepping Ahead of the Playing Field
Curaçao as a Smart Nation
Smart technologies …smart cities … smart nations …these seem to be the top buzz words on everyone’s mind. And indeed, they promise to be part of the next global trend. But what exactly do these terms mean? To be frank, a common definition has yet to emerge, and that’s probably fueling its momentum even further. Creative entrepreneurs are seizing the opportunity to mold the definition of smart technology to suit their own pioneering spirit. And that’s precisely what makes it so exciting - there are no limits to what you can do with smart technology. There are no rules and guidelines as to what is required. As a budding entrepreneur, the sky is your limit! TEXT BY HELEN GRIFFITH
But to sum it up as best one can, smart technologies are the utilization of Information and Communication Technology, (ICT), and ‘The Internet of Things’, (IoT), in order to integrate them into ‘smart’ applications that can serve to facilitate any number of problems, tasks or business opportunities. By extension, these smart technologies can be
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CURAÇAO BUSINESS
used in the management of a city’s infrastructure and services thereby increasing efficiency and productivity, and in many cases, minimizing its carbon footprint. As one’s imagination continues to grow, we can even explore the concept of an entire smart nation, wherein not only are the infrastructure, facilities and services driven by smart
| NUMBER 4 | 2017
technology, but also the nation’s economy is partially driven by the business opportunities created through the use of smart technology. Picture a smart application installed in your refrigerator. With the aid of wireless sensors, connected to your smartphone via the internet, your refrigerator can tell you when you
