Future home of the United Nations?
Posted on 01/05/2013 7:53:42 PM PST by SeekAndFind
Despite the global economic slowdown, Asia's cities are continuing to widen the perceived technological gap between its American counterparts.
The juxtaposition is visible from the moment your feet leave the plane. Many of the airports in Asia's biggest cities are stunning, engineering marvels — and make those in the U.S. seem outdated.
Has America's early leadership in technology and engineering evaporated? Or is it hidden at first glance?
1) The Shanghai Magnetic Levitation (Maglev) floats on magnets and is the world's fastest commercially operated train, traveling at speeds up to 268 mph.
2) Seoul's local government has launched a $44 million plan to blanket the city with free Wi-fi.
3) Some Japanese street signs have heat maps to relay congestion information to drivers and directly influence traffic patterns
(Excerpt) Read more at businessinsider.com ...
Thanks for that those amazing anecdotes. I work in a tall tower office building in Newark and often have to work late (amazing how that translates into pay raises-but I digress). When I see the sun go down I feel like the scene in I Am Legend when he is giving the dog a bath. No one is on the streets at 7 in the morning but when that sun goes down, they come out and you better be sure to have a clear means of escape at red lights.
What? No scientific, technological or cultural scenes from Pyongyang? It’s been a long time, forty or more years, since I’ve been in an East Aian city. Manila was always my favorite. Stationed outside the Tokyo/Yokohama metroplex for three years and didn’t think much of the area. Spent a short time in Saigon, and I didn’t think much of it in 1967. Does Teheran count as an Asian city?
Some politicians here are talking about city-wide wi-fi. Maybe it will come. Not sure it will be a big deal. Urbanists will complain if you can get free Internet access without even bothering to go to a coffee-shop for minimal socialization with other hipsters.
That "heat map" looks hard to read. Maybe not the best technology. Hands-free toilets have also been around for a while in the US as well.
We'll see just how successful automated customs entry and "earthquake and tidal surge-proofed man made islands" in earthquake- and tsunami-prone areas will be. And we'll see how Seoul's river measures up to, say, San Antonio's once the brand-new sheen wears off.
'Green Kites' in Beijing are used to measure the wind, gauge distances, and test for pollution. 'Green Kites' in Beijing are used to measure the wind, gauge distances, and test for pollution.
PLEASE NOTE: These are not the 'Green Kites'
Uh, okay. I guess "Green Kites" are too important to show to foreigners.
Is THAT Pyongyang? I’m alll in favor of moving the UN out of the US.
bunch of bull of course
China has a maglev that is full of problems and so expensive that most folks don’t use it.
Korea might have WiFi, but maybe instead of doing that, they should pay the US back for the 50 thousand soldiers that died keeping them from being taken over by the commies.
Malaysia’s dream is run by the local (christian or buddhist) chinese colony...give them a few years and the Muslims will throw them out.
And all of these countries spend all their money on fancy cities to show off...go a few miles outside the showy areas, and you will find slums and rural poverty.
Cool pics but they don’t shw they SQUALOR of NY!!
They show the jewel of it, however, in Central Park. (You wanted trees.) I’ve lived in England and yes, Kensington is nice. Chicago never really spoke to me, though I know it has its merits. Living in Midtown Manhattan has never seemed to squalid to me, post-Rudy but I guess the world-class culture, business capital, and unmatched energy are more important to me than urban cleanliness to your standards.
Chacun a son gout!
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