Digitalization and smart cities

Important global trends like globalization and the internet have been present over the last 20 years. The term digitalization covers a wide range of digitally enabled innovations, from physical products such as robots and connected cars to fully digitized products such as mobile applications and online software. This paper provides a theoretical analysis of digitalization. Moreover, it evaluates the differences and similarities between technological and sociological oriented digitilization. Some digital technologies are focused on people and communication, some on science and efficiency. Smart cities are taken as a practical application of digitalization to highlight the differences between these theoretical approaches. This thesis also provides the understanding of digital platforms and e-development, technological convergence, digital ecosystem and digital innovations, which play a crucial role in awareness of the meaning of digitalization. The research qualitatively examines the digital economy and the impact of digitalization on business. The study is put into context by drawing on practical examples, which can fully present the main topic and sustain the different approaches of digitalization.Author: Olga LevchenkoUniversität Linz, Masterarbeit, 2019(VLID)355950