Orange invites the UK public to debate the future of connected Britain
Orange and London Transport Museum announced that they will host a live debate on the value of connectivity and its impact on Britain. Taking place on 3 February 2010, a panel of some of the UK’s leading commentators will debate how our lives – both at work and at play – will change, as technology continues to remove boundaries and gives us greater flexibility to live, work and travel the way we want to.
The debate will be chaired by BBC journalist, economist and presenter Evan Davis. He will be joined by writer and broadcaster Janet Street-Porter, futurologist James Bellini, Robert Ainger from Orange and The London Mayor’s Transport Advisor Kulveer Ranger, who will debate the changes that are happening now and give their insight into how connectivity is changing our future.
Following the debate, the audience will have the opportunity to join the debate and put questions directly to the panel. Orange and London Transport Museum are calling on members of the public to submit questions to the panellists on Orange’s Connected Britain website. Video interviews with the panellists, along with content that was discussed during the session, will also be posted onto the website.
The debate is part of both Orange’s continuing focus on Connected Britain and London Transport Museum’s current Suburbia exhibition programme - which celebrates our suburban lifestyle past, present and future, and the impact of transport on the development of the suburbs.
Previous research, carried out by Orange in 2009, found that the population map and working hotspots of Britain could radically change as universal access to reliable and fast internet becomes the norm. The South West of England could see a population increase of more than 150% by 2015 for example, and Scotland could see its population jump by more than 50% as workers head north - while London would retain its place as a top location with a 40% increase predicted. The Connected Britain report, which summarises the findings of a survey of 3,281 British office workers, also revealed that UK business could save up to £31.7 billion1 by giving employees the ability to work more flexibly.
The findings can be seen on the online Connected Britain interactive map, which shows the regions and cities that could see their populations explode - or shrink - in the future, as the government’s Digital Britain report becomes a reality and more people are able to choose where they live and work.
Packed with interesting facts about the UK’s major regions and cities, the map guides visitors through what makes each place tick, how advanced it currently is in offering flexible working options, and how it could change in the future.
Robert Ainger, Director of Corporate Marketing, Orange UK, said “The debate aims to discuss how Britain will change as new technologies shape the places we live and work, and how we get there. Our research found that a digitally connected workforce could change the face of Britain as we know it. Not only could the population itself shift, but the way we work could also fundamentally change. The interactive map was designed to help visitors to understand the findings in a fun and visual way, and we hope that bringing together these panellists will add further interest to the continuing debate.”
London Transport Museum director, Sam Mullins, said “This event is an important part of our Suburbia exhibition programme. It was transport that shaped the suburbs of the past, yet it will be connectivity that will transform the suburbs of the future. Connectivity is the new big enabler – enabling us to choose whether we travel, reducing congestion and improving our environment.”
The debate will be chaired by BBC journalist, economist and presenter Evan Davis. He will be joined by writer and broadcaster Janet Street-Porter, futurologist James Bellini, Robert Ainger from Orange and The London Mayor’s Transport Advisor Kulveer Ranger, who will debate the changes that are happening now and give their insight into how connectivity is changing our future.
Following the debate, the audience will have the opportunity to join the debate and put questions directly to the panel. Orange and London Transport Museum are calling on members of the public to submit questions to the panellists on Orange’s Connected Britain website. Video interviews with the panellists, along with content that was discussed during the session, will also be posted onto the website.
The debate is part of both Orange’s continuing focus on Connected Britain and London Transport Museum’s current Suburbia exhibition programme - which celebrates our suburban lifestyle past, present and future, and the impact of transport on the development of the suburbs.
Previous research, carried out by Orange in 2009, found that the population map and working hotspots of Britain could radically change as universal access to reliable and fast internet becomes the norm. The South West of England could see a population increase of more than 150% by 2015 for example, and Scotland could see its population jump by more than 50% as workers head north - while London would retain its place as a top location with a 40% increase predicted. The Connected Britain report, which summarises the findings of a survey of 3,281 British office workers, also revealed that UK business could save up to £31.7 billion1 by giving employees the ability to work more flexibly.
The findings can be seen on the online Connected Britain interactive map, which shows the regions and cities that could see their populations explode - or shrink - in the future, as the government’s Digital Britain report becomes a reality and more people are able to choose where they live and work.
Packed with interesting facts about the UK’s major regions and cities, the map guides visitors through what makes each place tick, how advanced it currently is in offering flexible working options, and how it could change in the future.
Robert Ainger, Director of Corporate Marketing, Orange UK, said “The debate aims to discuss how Britain will change as new technologies shape the places we live and work, and how we get there. Our research found that a digitally connected workforce could change the face of Britain as we know it. Not only could the population itself shift, but the way we work could also fundamentally change. The interactive map was designed to help visitors to understand the findings in a fun and visual way, and we hope that bringing together these panellists will add further interest to the continuing debate.”
London Transport Museum director, Sam Mullins, said “This event is an important part of our Suburbia exhibition programme. It was transport that shaped the suburbs of the past, yet it will be connectivity that will transform the suburbs of the future. Connectivity is the new big enabler – enabling us to choose whether we travel, reducing congestion and improving our environment.”
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