BT previews research projects at Adastral Park [part 2]

 

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By Alun Williams

Posted on 2 Jun 2004 at 13:35

But back to Britain, and the subject of copper. While showing us Internet-connected washing machines and wirelessly networked gaming systems, Foster emphasised the potential that copper-based networks still have to achieve. 'Sweating copper' - getting increased performance through our existing public telephone networks - could realise speeds of 10+Mb/sec within five years or so, he claimed. But even further in the future, say ten years, he envisaged 100Mbit connections, even if these might involve four pairs bundled up to start with.

For the record, BT's latest broadband stats are that ninety six per cent of customers are within range of broadband access, with 2,600 enabled exchanges representing 90 per cent of exchange conversion (99.6 per cent is the target for the summer of 2005). And with people adopting broadband at the rate of 45,000 a week, currently 2.5mn households are broadband enabled.

On this note, with an Aibo robot dog kneeling at our feet and Internet radio being streamed in the background, the Broadband Home concluded our tour of the Martlesham campus.

The human touch

All in all, a fascinating look into the near future and how technology could influence our lives.

But despite all the clever software and hardware gadgetry on show, and the weight of research behind them, what was most clear was the importance of the human element. Not just the enthusiasm of the individual researchers, trying to push the bounds of what could be possible, but the extent to which the successful adoption of any new technology will be determined by social attitudes.