“Smart city” and “smart urban spaces”: critical aspects

The information technology revolution and the associated emergence of social networks have caused the phenomenon of fusion of the virtual and real worlds, and, accordingly, a radical change in the human environment. The modern city is turning into a hybrid space in which physical (tectonic) and intangible (virtual, digital) spaces are intertwined and crossed. The aim of the study was to identify the problems of implementing the “smart city” concept and the prospects for the development of “smart urban spaces” created and functioning based on information technology. The author expresses a critical view on the total implementation of the smart city concept and identifies obstacles to the “smart transformation” of cities: the high cost of digitalization of cities, the unpreparedness of the historically established urban structure and development, the unwillingness of part of society to use constantly updated technologies, and numerous applications are becoming serious.