Comments on: Techiest cities in the world? http://matadornetwork.com/trips/techiest-cities-in-the-world/ travel culture worldwide Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:45:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Peter http://matadornetwork.com/trips/techiest-cities-in-the-world/#comment-2922 Peter Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:17:56 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=2408#comment-2922 Hello fellow Canuck! I agree with you to a certain extent on the idea that Canada is quite techy and early adapters on many tech fronts. I lived in a few cities and our companies are quite tech progressive. Having traveled outside of Canada and lived in Asia for a couple of years, I feel that Canada is lagging. In the context of tech and travel, its seems more expensive to maintain the freelance writing (mobile phone, wifi, computer equipment) but that could be do to the size of Canada (smaller market). Tech doesn't mean cheap but I just thought I would throw that observation out there. Hello fellow Canuck! I agree with you to a certain extent on the idea that Canada is quite techy and early adapters on many tech fronts. I lived in a few cities and our companies are quite tech progressive.

Having traveled outside of Canada and lived in Asia for a couple of years, I feel that Canada is lagging.

In the context of tech and travel, its seems more expensive to maintain the freelance writing (mobile phone, wifi, computer equipment) but that could be do to the size of Canada (smaller market).

Tech doesn’t mean cheap but I just thought I would throw that observation out there.

]]> By: Peter http://matadornetwork.com/trips/techiest-cities-in-the-world/#comment-2915 Peter Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:11:36 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=2408#comment-2915 Friend of mine was able to go to Santiago, Chile with UNESCO to work on "Culture of Peace" internet projects with kids groups back in the late 90's. Friend of mine was able to go to Santiago, Chile with UNESCO to work on “Culture of Peace” internet projects with kids groups back in the late 90′s.

]]> By: Peter http://matadornetwork.com/trips/techiest-cities-in-the-world/#comment-2938 Peter Fri, 07 Aug 2009 11:08:44 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=2408#comment-2938 I think many westerners need to move beyond Hong Kong in their thinking about China and technology. I only mention this because of the aformentioned list at the top of the article. I would definitely have to include both Shanghai and Beijing in terms of a "broader" concept of technology. Wifi, electronics markets, online social networks (English and Chinese) and access to mobile tech (basic phone services and advance services) I think many Chinese cities are either unknown to us or emerging such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chengdu. Peter I think many westerners need to move beyond Hong Kong in their thinking about China and technology. I only mention this because of the aformentioned list at the top of the article.

I would definitely have to include both Shanghai and Beijing in terms of a “broader” concept of technology. Wifi, electronics markets, online social networks (English and Chinese) and access to mobile tech (basic phone services and advance services)

I think many Chinese cities are either unknown to us or emerging such as Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chengdu.

Peter

]]> By: Eva http://matadornetwork.com/trips/techiest-cities-in-the-world/#comment-2928 Eva Thu, 06 Aug 2009 15:53:59 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=2408#comment-2928 Why? Surely free wi-fi means a more "wired" population overall? Greater access for more people? I'd love to hear a rationale beyond just "this is bullshit." Why? Surely free wi-fi means a more “wired” population overall? Greater access for more people? I’d love to hear a rationale beyond just “this is bullshit.”

]]> By: Neh http://matadornetwork.com/trips/techiest-cities-in-the-world/#comment-2927 Neh Thu, 06 Aug 2009 07:24:20 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=2408#comment-2927 This list is bullcrap. First of all, hows about Stockholm? Some of the world leading R&D is going on there. In addition putting *FREE* Wifi on the list of criteria of techiest cities is just plain bullshit. This list is bullcrap. First of all, hows about Stockholm? Some of the world leading R&D is going on there.

In addition putting *FREE* Wifi on the list of criteria of techiest cities is just plain bullshit.

]]> By: Hal Amen http://matadornetwork.com/trips/techiest-cities-in-the-world/#comment-2925 Hal Amen Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:46:11 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=2408#comment-2925 Gotta love the finger scanner. That's awesome! Gotta love the finger scanner. That’s awesome!

]]> By: eileen http://matadornetwork.com/trips/techiest-cities-in-the-world/#comment-2924 eileen Wed, 05 Aug 2009 23:25:16 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=2408#comment-2924 And to add to what Julie said, in addition to the spectacular Wifi coverage (near major cities and towns), people are always very surprised when I tell them that in Santiago, Chile we use our right index finger on a reader to confirm our identity to buy "bonos" which are like copay vouchers at the doctor's office. No whipping out your proof of insurance and getting a photocopy made of it. I also remit invoices online (through our version of the IRS), and pay my Chilean taxes online as well. As well as pay for health insurance, phone bills, etc (through my bank account). The bus and metro both have those snazzy fast passes that you just wave in front of a reader and you get free transfers using the same card. So yeah, I guess I'd put Santiago on that list. And to add to what Julie said, in addition to the spectacular Wifi coverage (near major cities and towns), people are always very surprised when I tell them that in Santiago, Chile we use our right index finger on a reader to confirm our identity to buy “bonos” which are like copay vouchers at the doctor’s office. No whipping out your proof of insurance and getting a photocopy made of it. I also remit invoices online (through our version of the IRS), and pay my Chilean taxes online as well. As well as pay for health insurance, phone bills, etc (through my bank account). The bus and metro both have those snazzy fast passes that you just wave in front of a reader and you get free transfers using the same card.

So yeah, I guess I’d put Santiago on that list.

]]> By: Hal Amen http://matadornetwork.com/trips/techiest-cities-in-the-world/#comment-2912 Hal Amen Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:40:46 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=2408#comment-2912 Phew! Phew!

]]> By: Eva http://matadornetwork.com/trips/techiest-cities-in-the-world/#comment-2921 Eva Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:39:53 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=2408#comment-2921 I seem to recall that Latvia was shooting to become the first country to have a complete wi-fi blanket... I guess that might make Riga a candidate? I've also heard that Canadians tend to be early adopters and extremely wired (as individuals, not so much the government structures I don't think - schools, public wifi etc) - we were some of the first to fully embrace Interac direct payments, had early and high numbers of high-speed internet in homes, etc. Plus a huge number of personal gadgets. I wonder if they're looking more at structural stuff or individual habits? I seem to recall that Latvia was shooting to become the first country to have a complete wi-fi blanket… I guess that might make Riga a candidate?

I’ve also heard that Canadians tend to be early adopters and extremely wired (as individuals, not so much the government structures I don’t think – schools, public wifi etc) – we were some of the first to fully embrace Interac direct payments, had early and high numbers of high-speed internet in homes, etc. Plus a huge number of personal gadgets. I wonder if they’re looking more at structural stuff or individual habits?

]]> By: Eva http://matadornetwork.com/trips/techiest-cities-in-the-world/#comment-2911 Eva Wed, 05 Aug 2009 21:36:43 +0000 http://matadortrips.com/?p=2408#comment-2911 Not at all, Hal! Just enjoying the understatedness of the line. :) Not at all, Hal! Just enjoying the understatedness of the line. :)

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