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Techno Future Now!

It is now time to pursue a low-carbon digital network techno-future.

Urry described this more preferable scenario as "still full of risks and dangers".  This is where a crisis in capitalism precipitates new investment in a low-carbon world; a low-carbon 'economy-and-society' paradigm.  This would involve networks of self-reliant communes shifting to local and smaller social practices.  Towns would have special features to attract residents, while software would work out 'intelligently' the best means of doing tasks.  Travel would involve smart vehicles integrated with public transport, but long-distance travel would be frowned upon.  Quotas or some form of rationing would be used to ensure services were not 'overused' and would be complemented by virtual travel and video-conferencing.

Although Urry believed this last scenario was a distinct popssibility (and one which we should now strive for), he identified major complexities:  first, new infrastructure would be costly to implement with global development unlikely; high amounts of 'aid' from the rich North to the poor South would be necessary; and rationing would be required - especially in transport.  From this, tracking and tracing would develop with an 'Orwellian-ization' of self and society.

Nevertheless, Urry advanced this scenario as the best available and listed some predictions so that it might prosper and relegate existing high-carbon systems to history.

It is time to pursue this kind of future for the UK and beyond and embed such a technology strategy into industrial strategies going forward.


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