Smart City for women’s safety: exploration of the problems and solutions through Co-Design

Abstract

Smart City technology is a rapidly developing field that aims to solve city-problems through technological modernization of the environment and society, including safety and security of citizens. The level of safety of the urban space influences inhabitants’ mobility levels, meaning that unsafe places restrict citizens from traveling there in general, by themselves, or at specific time of the day. These usually affect female citizens more, as they are likelier to be exposed to unsolicited dangerous attention –including sexual context–, while being less bodily able to protect themselves. This study investigates the requirements of women for future urban technological solutions through a Co-Design approach. Covering topics from the fears that women experience to the solution ideation, this work contributes to a better understanding of women's perspectives on the use of Smart City technology for safety and highlights the benefits of using Co-Design method in the research of topics alike.