A selection of notable quotes and comments we’ve come across this month
By Marc Ambasna-Jones 07 Aug 24 Reading time: 3 mins
“At this early stage for 6G, rather than obsessing over all the components, let’s focus seriously on what outcomes we want from it.”
Camille Mendler, chief analyst with consulting firm Omdia, talking about human-centric design for telecoms innovation. From our in-depth piece Human-centric design is shaping 6G thinking
“Moving away from fossil fuels is an essential part of any plan to transition to net zero. However, if we continue to rely on lithium-ion batteries as the only option for fuelling our future, we are swapping one unsustainable, environmentally damaging resource for another. We need to diversify our batteries, so we are not relying on one group of scarce elements for every energy storage task, and we need to think much more carefully about how we reuse our materials when their lifespan is up.”
“Technologies harnessing quantum properties will provide unparalleled power and capacity for analysis at a molecular level, with truly revolutionary possibilities across everything from healthcare to infrastructure and computing.”
Oxford University professor and executive chair of the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) Charlotte Deane, talking to the BBC about the government’s new quantum research hubs.
“We have a goal to reach a scale and performance of quantum computation by 2026. That is truly beyond what can be predicted with any classical resources. And our goal here is to get to 100 logical qubits by 2026.”
“One robot can only do part of one person’s job. A single task. But with enough general purpose androids you can cover a lot of the tasks in a manufacturing plant. Or on a building site. Or even in a care home.”
“There’s no doubt that this should be a boon for start-ups involved in energy generation and the supply chain. We’re hoping that GB Energy supports earlier stage generation tech that will be fundamental to Labour’s goals, like tidal.”
Charlie Mercer, deputy policy director at lobby group Startup Coalition, talking to Sifted about the government’s GB Energy plans.
“Robotics stands as the backbone of transformation across multiple industries. It enables autonomous vehicles to navigate complex industrial environments, assist in precision surgeries in healthcare, and optimise logistics in supply chain management. Robots not only improve processes but also set new standards for efficiency and accuracy, advancing industries into the era of intelligent automation and Industry 4.0.”
Working as a technology journalist and writer since 1989, Marc has written for a wide range of titles on technology, business, education, politics and sustainability, with work appearing in The Guardian, The Register, New Statesman, Computer Weekly and many more.
