Everyone in the UK could see their lives changed by new Digital Hubs

To ensure that the whole UK is included in the digital future three new research hubs have been unveiled by the Research Councils UK that will be based in Aberdeen, Nottingham and Newcastle that will develop technologies of the future.

New technologies of the future that will change the lives of people in rural communities, the elderly and the disable will be developed in the new centres based in Newcastle, Nottingham and Aberdeen universities.

Creating an all-inclusive “Digital Britain” and connection everyone with technology is the aim of this new multi-million pound initiative. The development of a digital economy and the provision of universal connectivity to broadband is the part of the wider plan by the Research Council.

To stimulate economic growth and help businesses new methods of utilising technologies will be developed by these centres.

Specific digital issues will be focused on by these centres. Helping sufferers of dementia to live independently with “ambient kitchen” equipped with sensors and to revolutionise the emergency response systems for the NHS, a small wireless body monitoring kit will be a few of the things that will be researched.

Early warning flood systems for rural businesses, integrated transport information to support better planned travel, social networking systems and “walking sat-nav” devices that will help old pedestrians navigate more easily have also been included.

Lord Drayson, the Science and Innovation Minister said “The hubs will develop new technologies utilising wireless networks and GPS, which will deliver hi-tech digital solutions across many sectors. They will create jobs, improve public services such as health and transport, reduce waste and bring digital revolution into people’s lives for the first time.”

To help transform rural areas the Aberdeen hub will concentrate on rural issues like health, natural resources, public transport and access to broadband. These solutions will be rolled out to rural areas all over the UK even though the scientists will be working in remote parts of the UK. It has been estimated that over £350 billion could be released into the UK economy with the inclusion of rural areas in our digital future.