Wednesday 14 March 2007

The City as Operating System



(image from MetroModeler)

An interesting post by Khoi Vinh at Subtraction talks at the usability of cities, and got me thinking of cities not as applications, as Vinh suggests, but as Operating Systems, each running a number of different applications (eg transport, telecommunications, policing, social customs etc) in different ways.

Guidebooks and travel guides function as the 'misssing manuals' of cities, explaining to beginning users, ie tourists and visitors, how to use the Operating System for a particular city.

What strikes me about this paradigm is that while uniformity and standardisation might be good for computer operating systems, it's not such as good thing for cities. We want our cities to be unique, to have their own identity, however confusing non-residents might find it. And yet architecturally cities are becoming more and more blandly similar, and increasingly the typologies suggested by urban masterplanning exercises are about overlaying the same identikit forms over the underlying terrain.

Given that Helsinki is the birthplace of Linus Torvalds, the creator of the Linux operating system (originally conceived as a portable OS), might we be able to apply a different approach to urban masterplanning to the operating system of Helsinki? The philosophic cornerstones of Linux: interoperability, portability and community might serve as a good set of guiding principles for any mid-21st century city.

I clicked with excitement to a news story that in Korea a city is about to be selected to become Linux City, but the mundane, prosaic reality is that rather than a city built upon the principles of Linux as an open-source operating system, it will merely be "required to install open-source software as a main operating system of their infrastructures, a job which the ministry will support with funds and technologies."

This is a missed opportunity. Imagine a truly open-source city, open to anyone to 'program' the design, development and infra-structure of the city? Christopher Alexander's Pattern Language and SimCity can be our new guidebooks to a user-generated urban morphology.
at

29 comments:

  1. lewism20 March 2007 at 10:45

    I think the open-source operating system metaphor is very powerful especially for Helsinki, I'm not sure what forms could accomodate user-generated morphology like you mention, but it's really got me thinking. I think this thinking though, could be applied quite well to the Urban vs nature. The relationship of each with the other, a kind of interoperability that I think is a liitle lacking in that the centre of Helsinki right now doesn't connect very well with either the sea or the end of central park. This could be one of the key things we can bring to the replanning especially in the centre of town.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous30 December 2009 at 12:30

    [url=http://rastimores.net/][img]http://rastimores.net/img-add/euro2.jpg[/img][/url]
    [b]how much software do you want to buy, [url=http://rastimores.net/]is discount software house[/url]
    [url=http://rastimores.net/][/url] where to buy adobe dreamweaver CS4 Extended Retail Price
    nero 9 serial number [url=http://akreoplastoes.net/]faculty software discounts[/url] sell softwares
    [url=http://rastimores.net/]adobe photoshop cs4 torrent[/url] windows vista download
    [url=http://akreoplastoes.net/]microsoft finance software[/url] office 2003 download
    sales quote software [url=http://rastimores.net/]list of microsoft software[/url][/b]

    ReplyDelete
  3. Anonymous11 January 2010 at 05:21

    [url=http://vioperdosas.net/][img]http://sapresodas.net/img-add/euro2.jpg[/img][/url]
    [b]buy hacking softwares, [url=http://sapresodas.net/]adobe software support[/url]
    [url=http://sapresodas.net/]cheap oem software scam[/url] buy softwares online microsoft software product
    microsoft office 2007 enterprise edition [url=http://sapresodas.net/]journey academic software[/url] filemaker pro web database development multi level
    [url=http://vioperdosas.net/]free acdsee viewer version 5[/url] nero dvd
    [url=http://vioperdosas.net/]acdsee pro 2 ebooks torrents[/url] education software purchase
    nero 9 free key codes [url=http://vioperdosas.net/]kaspersky online scanner[/url][/b]

    ReplyDelete
  4. Cincinnati Museum Center At Union Terminal23 March 2012 at 08:41

    Oh, so evocative! I like them a lot. Especially love that they each signed them. Thank you for this helpful stuff I got at your site. The stuff here is really good and keep up sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hank hendricks25 June 2012 at 05:09

    I like the info about operating system...Thanks for sharing.

    Church Software

    ReplyDelete
  6. Anonymous7 December 2012 at 15:34

    Greetings from Idaho! I'm bored at work so I decided to check out your site on my iphone during lunch break. I enjoy the info you present here and can't wait to take a look when I get home.

    I'm shocked at how fast your blog loaded on my mobile .. I'm not even using
    WIFI, just 3G .. Anyways, wonderful blog!
    Here is my web blog http://www.partygalleries.com/

    ReplyDelete
  7. Anonymous7 December 2012 at 15:45

    Excellent site you've got here.. It's hard to find quality writing like yours these days.
    I truly appreciate people like you! Take care!!
    Feel free to surf my weblog ... www.teenpornsexpussy.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Anonymous7 December 2012 at 15:48

    I have been exploring for a little bit for any high quality articles or weblog
    posts in this sort of area . Exploring in Yahoo I finally stumbled upon
    this web site. Reading this info So i am glad to convey that I've a very excellent uncanny feeling I came upon exactly what I needed. I most certainly will make sure to do not forget this web site and give it a look regularly.
    My homepage Videos

    ReplyDelete
  9. Anonymous7 December 2012 at 16:14

    Hello my friend! I want to say that this article is awesome, nice written and come with approximately all vital infos.
    I would like to look more posts like this .
    Have a look at my blog - Mika Tan Takes a Big Dick up her ass

    ReplyDelete
  10. Anonymous7 December 2012 at 17:29

    I'll right away grasp your rss as I can't find your email subscription link or newsletter service.
    Do you have any? Please let me understand in order that I may just subscribe.
    Thanks.
    Stop by my homepage free teen porn videos

    ReplyDelete
  11. Anonymous7 December 2012 at 22:53

    No matter if some one searches for his vital thing, so he/she desires to be
    available that in detail, so that thing is maintained over here.
    Here is my page ... Haruka Itoh Asian Babe Has Sex In Public

    ReplyDelete
  12. Anonymous8 December 2012 at 03:02

    First off I want to say excellent blog! I had a quick question which I'd like to ask if you don't mind.
    I was curious to know how you center yourself and clear your thoughts before writing.
    I have had a hard time clearing my thoughts in getting my ideas
    out. I do enjoy writing however it just seems like the first 10 to 15 minutes tend to be lost simply just trying to figure out how
    to begin. Any ideas or tips? Kudos!
    my webpage > www.bhgalleries.com

    ReplyDelete
  13. Anonymous8 December 2012 at 10:33

    I think this is among the most important info for me.
    And i am glad reading your article. But should remark on some general things, The web site style is ideal, the articles is really excellent :
    D. Good job, cheers
    Feel free to visit my blog post : Wild overnight rest

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous18 December 2012 at 02:26

    I seldom comment, however i did some searching and wound up here "The City as Operating System".
    And I do have a couple of questions for you if it's allright. Is it simply me or does it seem like some of these remarks appear like they are left by brain dead individuals? :-P And, if you are writing on other social sites, I would like to keep up with anything fresh you have to post. Would you list of all of all your communal pages like your linkedin profile, Facebook page or twitter feed?
    Review my web blog Deep Throat Beauty Swallows Jizz

    ReplyDelete
  15. Anonymous18 December 2012 at 17:09

    Thank you for the good writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it.
    Look advanced to far added agreeable from you! However, how
    can we communicate?
    Also visit my weblog ... porn

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous24 December 2012 at 06:18

    Hey there! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any trouble with hackers?
    My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I ended up losing a few months of hard work due to no data backup.
    Do you have any solutions to prevent hackers?
    Check out my webpage ... Marc Primo Pulisci

    ReplyDelete
  17. Anonymous6 January 2013 at 07:31

    Malaysia & Singapore & brunei greatest on the internet blogshop for wholesale &
    supply korean accessories, accessories, earstuds,
    locket, rings, bangle, bracelet & hair add-ons. Offer 35 % wholesale rebate. Ship Worldwide
    Review my web-site - jogos de inteligȇncia

    ReplyDelete
  18. Anonymous6 January 2013 at 07:31

    Malaysia & Singapore & brunei greatest internet blogshop for wholesale & supply korean accessories,
    earrings, earstuds, necklace, rings, bangle, bracelet
    & hair accessories. Promotion 35 % wholesale discount. Ship Worldwide
    Feel free to visit my blog brain fitness iPhone

    ReplyDelete
  19. Anonymous12 January 2013 at 03:30

    I am really loving the theme/design of your website.
    Do you ever run into any internet browser compatibility problems?
    A few of my blog readers have complained about my
    blog not operating correctly in Explorer but looks great in Chrome.

    Do you have any solutions to help fix this problem?
    Feel free to surf my web site : Perth

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous15 January 2013 at 22:20

    For the reason that the admin of this website is working, no question very rapidly it will be renowned,
    due to its feature contents.
    Review my web page : los angeles property management

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous17 January 2013 at 14:44

    Hi there Dear, are you in fact visiting this website regularly, if so after that you will without
    doubt take good experience.
    Also visit my web site : Luis Souto ecommerce projects handled boat brokerage

    ReplyDelete
  22. Anonymous20 January 2013 at 03:05

    Hey! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could
    get a captcha plugin for my comment form? I'm using the same blog platform as yours and I'm having
    trouble finding one? Thanks a lot!
    Feel free to visit my blog : click through the following web page

    ReplyDelete
  23. Anonymous25 January 2013 at 21:27

    It's enormous that you are getting thoughts from this post as well as from our discussion made here.
    Also visit my web page ... neucopia compensation plan

    ReplyDelete
  24. Anonymous26 January 2013 at 21:15

    It is perfect time to make a few plans for the long
    run and it is time to be happy. I have read this publish and if I could I want to counsel you few fascinating
    issues or suggestions. Maybe you could write next articles regarding this article.
    I want to learn more issues about it!
    my page :: Family vacation at Upper James Manor

    ReplyDelete
  25. Anonymous23 February 2013 at 23:01

    Nice post. I learn something totally new and
    challenging on blogs I stumbleupon every
    day. It's always helpful to read content from other authors and use a little something from other sites.

    Also visit my weblog; domain names for sale

    ReplyDelete
  26. Anonymous1 March 2013 at 20:10

    I have been browsing online more than 4 hours today, yet I never found any
    interesting article like yours. It is pretty worth enough for me.

    In my view, if all website owners and bloggers made good content as you did,
    the web will be a lot more useful than ever
    before.

    my web-site :: Baby Monitor
    My web page :: Baby Monitor

    ReplyDelete
  27. Anonymous13 March 2013 at 22:22

    Simply wish to say your article is as surprising.
    The clarity in your post is just excellent and i can assume you're an expert on this subject. Well with your permission allow me to grab your feed to keep updated with forthcoming post. Thanks a million and please continue the rewarding work.

    Check out my web blog - dnest CDL
    my webpage: d'nest

    ReplyDelete
  28. Anonymous31 March 2013 at 06:58

    I take pleasure in, result in I discovered exactly what I used to be taking a look
    for. You have ended my four day lengthy hunt! God Bless you man.
    Have a great day. Bye

    My blog ... clear

    ReplyDelete
  29. Anonymous31 May 2013 at 19:30

    You made some good points there. I looked on the web to learn more about the issue and found most individuals will go along
    with your views on this web site.

    my web page: wildpartygirls.org

    ReplyDelete