To be “smart” today. “Smartness” and “smart city” through a sociological reflection

In recent times there has been an increase in the use of the term “smart” in every field of knowledge and, in particular, in the human and social sciences. Each person, each object and each structure are currently required to present themselves as “smart”. But what does being “smart” mean? What are the characteristics of “smartness” and what are the dynamics connected to this dimension? Is it possible to use the conceptual category of “smartness” indiscriminately in every sector when each discipline tends to attribute a different meaning to this element? A first observation will make us see how each sector tends to emphasize a specific quality of “smartness” and how, often, there is a lack of an overview of what “smartness” actually is. Therefore, these are the questions that preside over the critical reflection that will be carried out in this work.