ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explains about the smart everything paradigm, intelligent cities and smart ecosystems, and how they can contribute to solving challenges of growth, sustainability and safety and security, which are major challenges for the 21st century. It explores paths of discovery and problem-solving based on digital platforms, cyber-physical spaces and smart ecosystems, which are becoming indispensable components of all contemporary cities and regions. The book discusses cyber-physical environments that enable people, organisations and machines to connect, work together and resolve complex problems. It argues that connected intelligence is released via the processes of association, externality, engagement and awareness. The book also discusses how intelligent/smart cities work as environments of innovation over cyber-physical spaces, producing innovation and problem-solving capabilities through digital collaboration and connected intelligence.
