David Cameron evangelises over new internet-led 'industrial revolution'
Prime Minister David Cameron has found £45m down the back of the country’s sofa to fund a new national digital technology push designed to harness the internet to improve existing devices.
The PM announced the funding for the so called ‘internet of things’ on arrival at the CeBIT 2014 trade fair in Hannover, Germany, ahead of talks with Angela Merkel.
Cameron believes that the UK’s creative strengths paired with Germany’s industrial prowess could prove a winning combination – to the extent that it could usher in a new ‘industrial revolution’.
Commenting on the move Cameron said: "I see the internet of things as a huge transformative development – a way of boosting productivity, of keeping us healthier, making transport more efficient, reducing energy needs, tackling climate change.
"These are developments that could allow literally billions of everyday objects to talk to each other over the internet using low-cost, low-power chips.
"Electricity meters that talk to the grid to get you the best deals. Health monitors that keep an eye on your heart rate. Water pipes that warn of a fall in pressure.
"We are on the brink of a new industrial revolution and I want us – the UK and Germany – to lead it."