Wayside

What would it mean to live in a smart city?

In 2017, Google subsidiary Sidewalk Labs set out to rebuild Toronto’s Quayside neighborhood “from the Internet up.” They planned to create the most advanced and efficient living environment possible by digitally tracking air quality, foot traffic, garbage disposal, resident biometrics, and more. The city was marketed as being environmentally friendly, affordable, and community-centered, but residents of Quayside were suspicious of the level of surveillance that a smart city would necessitate. The Quayside project came to an early end in 2020, but as tech companies continue to gain influence, it raises the question: How much are we willing to let these companies access our lives?

In this work of speculative fiction, we imagine what would happen if this vision of the smart city became a reality, with all of its exciting, innovative, invasive features.