Digitalisation opens up new avenues for us in many areas and modern technologies make our lives easier and more enjoyable. The EU’s pursuit of progress is admirable but constantly setting new targets is not always the best way to promote innovation.
Smartphones are one of the most helpful tools used in everyday life, allowing us to make phone calls, manage appointments, surf the web, pay bills and perform countless other tasks.
While robots mow the law or vacuum the living room, we are free to use our time differently. A few years ago, restocking an empty fridge online or automatically seemed like something from science fiction, but today our smartphones can achieve that, as well as controlling the heating, lighting and blinds in our “smart homes”.
The future isn’t just confined to our homes though, it pervades our entire surroundings. A “smart city” is a difficult term to pin down. The basic concept of many of these aspects has the rapid exchange and analysis of user-related data as its basis.
Operations are automated, functionality is secured, new services are created and the digital economy is boosted as a result. Developing different options is not just about technological possibilities, it’s also about giving people alternatives and options.
For example, thanks to dynamic data and traffic information, the needs of people and road users can be better anticipated and met. We are talking about bus timetables, traffic lights and lane patterns, all adapting to changing demand.
Technical progress is also allowing energy consumption to be more accurately determined, analysed and optimised. This applies to the roofs over our head, electrical appliances and the wider economy, as well as the industrial sector.
Source: Euractive, January 26- How digital buildings can increase Europe’s energy efficiency