The Baltic city of Tallinn hardly looks modern with its blend of medieval towers and Soviet-era architecture. Smoke-spewing buses and noisy streetcars look as if they have been plucked from the past.
Even so, the Estonian capital is one of the world's most technologically advanced cities. The birthplace of Skype has repeatedly been cited for its digital accomplishments. Last week, Tallinn once again made the short list of the world's most intelligent cities as selected by the Intelligent Community Forum.
Talinn residents depend on the Internet for just about everything, and automation is the rule. Riding the bus is free, but requires a "smart card" that you wave over an onboard sensor pad that allows central transit authorities to track your movements.
Mailing a package requires senders to use their cell phone to request a code from the electronic post office downtown. The code opens a locker to start the package on its journey.
City parking is another digital adventure. Journalist Gustaf Antell says it starts with a text message to an electronic parking authority.
"I think everybody in the city knows the number to the parking service – One nine zero two," he explains. "Then I put my car's number, and then I also write the code" for the parking lot.
The fee appears on his monthly cell phone bill, which he pays electronically.
Estonians are also required to carry chip-embedded identification cards. Without the card, residents don't officially exist in Estonia. The cards are used for voting, prescriptions and most other transactions, all done online.
Working Toward Better Government
Many Estonians appear to embrace their digital dependence. It's a trend that began after Estonia broke away from the Soviet Union two decades ago.
Officials say they had to create an "e-government."
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