Future Here Now: What happens when you can see everything?

We often think of unintended consequences as a bad thing, but when it comes to the impacts of technology on our communities, it’s often less about that than it is about creating a more complex thing. Let me show you what I mean.

Last month, my colleagues at the Orlando Economic Partnership unveiled their region’s“digital twin” — an 800-square mile model of the metro area, of which 40 miles are rendered in what they term “high fidelity.” It’s currently shown online in a generally 2-D rendering (probably the fault of our screens more than the tech) but the organizers are preparing to use VR headsets to allow people to explore this landscape.

This is a fascinating choice for an economic development agency — and one that to me gets at the crux of the tension between traditional, Industrial-era economic development and what the Fusion Era looks like it will require of them.

In news coverage to date, the OEP focuses on the marketing benefits of the tool - both in terms of showing sites a…