The Politics of Technology " The Internet of Things" and Shadow Government

Great Britain and the rest of Europe are embracing digital technology in a big way. Prime Minister David Cameron says that it is his intention to make Great Britain the most digital nation in the G8. He is doing this by promoting the internet of things.  The internet of things is the term used for the connection of common devices, such as refrigerators and air conditioners, to the internet for the purpose of communication.

He and the Prime Minister of Germany were recently at the CeBIT conference Where Mr. Cameron spoke. He believes that the internet of things is transformative technology. It is transformative in the amount of surveillance and control that it will give the government and quasi-governmental agencies over the lives of individuals. One of the major goals is to be able to control air conditioning and heating thermostats. This is promoted as an energy savings. Actually, it is merely a method for the utility to control their peak usage and thereby reduce their infrastructure costs and increase profits.

World on the brink of 'new industrial revolution' says David Cameron

'Internet of things' will allow everyday objects like fridges to talk to each other and will transform the world, the Prime Minister tells a trade fair

For example, central heating could be programmed to access GPS in a mobile phone, so it switches on when the phone is a certain distance away. This would allow the house to be warm when the owner reaches it, but minimise energy use.

British PM announces extra funding fortech companies at CeBIT

“It is our ambition to make the UK the most digital nation in the G8 and it’s my mission to show the world that we are getting there, said Cameron

Devices which communicate via the web are known as the “internet of things.” In the future it could see homes fitted with appliances which talk to each other.

Elsewhere at CeBIT, a pole-dancing robot was grabbing attention. Angela Merkel and David Cameron sat next to one another and politely applauded while the robot was grinding on the pole

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