Evaluation of the Roles of Intelligent Technologies in Shared Activity Spaces of Neighborhood Communities

The use of shared spaces in urban neighborhoods can advance sustainability and residents’ sense of community. Intelligent technologies may take different roles in supporting activities in shared spaces. We conducted an evaluation study of technology roles for space sharing in the context of a new residential area in Tampere, Finland. This area, called Hiedanranta, is planned to accommodate shared spaces in novel ways. Four previously defined roles were addressed: community sheriff, matchmaker, facilitator, and tutor. Overall, the roles were considered positive; however, the participants experienced the sheriff as being inefficient and the matchmaker as being intrusive. The facilitator was considered a potential source for pragmatic support, and the tutor was thought of as an add-on to the other roles. In addition to pragmatic benefits, intelligent technologies with these roles have the potential to lower the social threshold of using activity spaces. However, the participants were concerned about their privacy and the intrusiveness of technology. The findings contribute to the research of sustainable technologies for supporting shared spaces and activities in urban residents’ local communities.