Do you consider Atlanta a hi-tech city? (Washington, Jackson: I.T. jobs, university)

[SEAandATL]

Despite what many outsider's image of Atlanta might me, I think that Atlanta is very hi-tech and futuristic, a few years ahead of many other places. I noticed that technology advanced rapidly since the '96 Olympics. Especially with the infrastructure like the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, MARTA, and the freeway system (I think it's one of the first cities to get those digital message signs that tell you how many minutes it will take to drive "X" number of miles). I remember Atlanta had them installed in '96, while L.A. and San Diego just got them within the last few years. Also, walking through the CNN Center feels like a scene from a futuristic sci-fi movie.

[gt6974a]

I do, CNN Money, has Atlanta as number 8 in the country for Tech jobs.

GT is responsible for several of the research/patents/inventions in the Tech industry. Students, Professor, Researchers come from all over the world, country to work and study at GT.

The biggest problem with the Tech industry is most people shy away from this field and therefore aren't really exposed to all the Technology that is actually in and around Atlanta.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by SEAandATL

Despite what many outsider's image of Atlanta might me, I think that Atlanta is very hi-tech and futuristic, a few years ahead of many other places.

That may be true, but it's also behind others.

I moved here from the Minneapolis/St. Paul metro, and I really do love it here in Atlanta, but IMO the Atlanta metro area could really use a few more intelligent stoplights (both in terms of light coordination and in terms of coordination with approaching emergency vehicles), and the bike trail system here does not seem to be very well-developed (perhaps intentionally?).

[nrgpill]

When you say "hi-tech" I think of modern Asian cities like Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Singapore. All these cities feature public transportation infrastructure far more efficient than what we have here and 3G connectivity is pretty much everywhere.

Originally Posted by SEAandATL

Despite what many outsider's image of Atlanta might me, I think that Atlanta is very hi-tech and futuristic, a few years ahead of many other places. I noticed that technology advanced rapidly since the '96 Olympics. Especially with the infrastructure like the Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, MARTA, and the freeway system (I think it's one of the first cities to get those digital message signs that tell you how many minutes it will take to drive "X" number of miles). I remember Atlanta had them installed in '96, while L.A. and San Diego just got them within the last few years. Also, walking through the CNN Center feels like a scene from a futuristic sci-fi movie.

[gt6974a]

Originally Posted by nrgpill

When you say "hi-tech" I think of modern Asian cities like Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Singapore. All these cities feature public transportation infrastructure far more efficient than what we have here and 3G connectivity is pretty much everywhere.

Are you kidding me, they filmed RoboCop here. LOL, but as far as visual I'd say no, but GT just added that extremely large bridge over the connector on 5th street, for green space only.

But the cities mentioned are 'high density' not 'high tech'. Atlanta will lag behind others b/c of tax payer located outside of Atlanta and not much density inside Atlanta.

[darkone]

Well, I think in this discussion a distinction needs to be made between high-tech infrastructure versus high tech companies, research centers, industry etc. These are two different things - Boston for example is not as high tech in terms of its much older infrastructure as far as transportation and buildings are concerned, but it is well know that Boston is one of the top high-tech, biotech and now nanotech research centers in the world. Atlanta is nowhere close to this yet. It is nowhere close to the Bay Area, Washington DC area, RTP, Bavaria, Seoul etc. etc. in terms of being one of the global high tech hot spots. One day it will hopefully, but not right now. GT will have to be a key catalyst in this effort and is very much so right now, but nothing is ever an overnight success story. Atlanta is more like Frankfurt (without the history and charm of course), if anyone knows what I mean - Finance Center, a lot of I.T. jobs, very large airport (and transit hub) at this point in time.

[south-to-west]

Atlanta is very high tech. The metro area has the most fiber-optic cable in the US, as it was laid extensively in preparation for the Olympics. Also, you have a world class techinical university located here (Georgia Tech). The city has also been listed as one of the more wi-fi friendly cities in the country.

[nrgpill]

World-class high tech does require density and infrastructure to move people and information. I see Atlanta as a regional high tech player but that isn't to say that Atlanta will not become a world class high tech city one day.

Originally Posted by gt6974a

Are you kidding me, they filmed RoboCop here. LOL, but as far as visual I'd say no, but GT just added that extremely large bridge over the connector on 5th street, for green space only.

But the cities mentioned are 'high density' not 'high tech'. Atlanta will lag behind others b/c of tax payer located outside of Atlanta and not much density inside Atlanta.

[Yeorwned]

Originally Posted by nrgpill

When you say "hi-tech" I think of modern Asian cities like Tokyo, Seoul, Hong Kong, and Singapore. All these cities feature public transportation infrastructure far more efficient than what we have here and 3G connectivity is pretty much everywhere.

My thoughts exactly. I would never even come close to considering Atlanta high tech until the political corruption is exhausted so that an EFFICIENT massive public transportation system will be born. We have the land area and money to put one in but it will never make it past the politics...

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Yeorwned

My thoughts exactly. I would never even come close to considering Atlanta high tech until the political corruption is exhausted so that an EFFICIENT massive public transportation system will be born. We have the land area and money to put one in but it will never make it past the politics...

You find world-class NIMBY types everywhere (and regardless of "tech" level).