When Elisha Otis invented the safety elevator in 1852, he changed cities forever. By creating a cab which wouldn’t fall if the cable broke, elevators went from carrying freight to carrying people. The upper levels of buildings in the city changed from being the cheapest to the most expensive to rent, and the sky became the limit for urban architecture.

And mass-adoption of automobiles in the 19th and 20th century had a similarly revolutionary effect on the city. Freight no longer needed to be transported via canals, and wealthy urban-dwellers were able to ditch that horse and carriage. Whilst the elevator created a high-rise skyline, automobiles gave birth to the fast-paced nature now synonymous with the city.

In the years since, countless new technologies have been integrated into the urban environment, constantly refining our experience of the city. But have any had such a groundbreaking effect as the elevator and the automobile, and will any in the future?

The work being undertaken for our new project, City Rebooted, has revealed a wide range of exciting technological developments which we believe could shape the city of the future. What will happen to the built environment if electricity  becomes fully wireless? If society continues to embrace social media and location-based services, how will our interactions with city evolve? And if we tap into the wealth of data being generated by smartphone use, can we create a better architectural and urban environment?

These technologies could be integral in the continuing evolution of the city, but will they be transformative like the elevator and the automobile? Are there other technologies which you believe could have a greater effect than these? We want you to help shape ‘City Rebooted’. If you believe these technologies are going to transform our cities - or are already doing so - please leave us a comment. Or are there other, more transformative, technologies which we haven’t covered yet? Let us know!