The public watching futuristic movies gets a peek of what cities could be. The issue is attempting to change old infrastructure with new is very expensive. We see this play out, where it is more cost in-hibate to upgrade, as opposed to laying down new infrastructure with current technology.
Therefore, the plans to lay down updated technology on a clean piece of land makes sense. Providing a clean slate, while understanding where technology is advancing, one can apply an easier method to upgrade accordingly.
Enter Neom
Neom is minimum $500 billion dollar investment to bring the futuristic vision into reality.
Highlights or Expectations
- Saudi Arabia is building a futuristic mega-city called Neom deep in a desert bordering the Red Sea.
- The state has pledged at least $500 billion to make it happen, and is soliciting further investment.
- Blueprints obtained by the Wall Street Journal detail wild plans for artificial rain, a fake moon, robotic maids, and holographic teachers.
- Phase one is due for completion in 2020.
- Saudi Arabia says will be 33 times the size of New York City.
- Planned 16-borough city on the Red Sea coast in the northwestern Saudi province of Tabuk.
- Neom is a portmanteau of the Greek word neos, meaning “new,” and mustaqbal, the Arabic word for “future.”
- Neom is supposed to draw on “cloud seeding” technology to make artificial clouds which will produce more rainfall than naturally possible in the desert.
- The Red Sea coastline will be altered, according to the plans, with glow-in-the-dark sand added to its beaches.
Flying vehicles are finally coming to us. For those old enough, the Jestson’s cartoon glimpse and promised us flying cars. Neom will have those.
Due to being a central technology hub, Neom will make e-sports a central world hub, along with the most advanced medical technology.
Additional Expectations
- Dystopian surveillance: In the city of the future, cameras, drones, and facial recognition will be ubiquitous. The aim is only to keep citizens safe, of course!
- Genetic-engineering: Neom would host a genetic-modification project of some sorts. The WSJ quotes plans from Japanese tech giant Softbank to create “a new way of life from birth to death reaching genetic mutations to increase human strength and IQ.”
- Robots everywhere: Robot “maids” would do your chores for you; robot cage fights would be staged for your amusement; and an amusement park full of robot dinosaurs would make for a fun day out at the weekend.
Additionally
Neom is derived from two words.
Neo meaning New and m being the abbreviation Mostaqbal, ‘Future.’ In essence, Neom is built for the ‘New Future’ or New World.
The size is an estimated 10,232 mi2.
The current CEO of Neom is Klaus Kleinfeld. Ex-Chairman and Ex CEO of Arconic, president of the NEOM project in Saudi Arabia. Klaus-Christian Kleinfeld (born 6 November 1957) was chairman and chief executive officer (CEO) of Arconic.
It is expected this New Future will be the home and workplace for more than a million citizens from around the world. Thank of it as the new global citizens hub, where the most advanced technology, less-restriction, and freedom will dwell.
Sources:
You can read my Personal Thoughts and possibilities regarding Neom and New Babylon. The article title is Neom = New Babylon?
Matt Cole has high regard for knowledge share. He has a desire to share critical thinking and information. With a Masters in Information Technology and a wide array of certifications, while not working full-time, he wishes to knowledge share through providing insight, information organization, and critical thinking skills.
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