Digital technologies research publications

POSTnote

Energy sector digitalisation

Thursday, 16 September, 2021

The incorporation of digital technologies in the energy sector can support progress towards key UK objectives such as achieving Net Zero emissions targets. It can also transform current methods of energy generation, transmission, regulation, and trading. This POSTnote presents an overview of key digital technologies and their main applications in the energy sector. It provides an overview of the potential benefits to using these technologies, and recent developments in this area. It describes the role of data in underpinning digital technologies in the sector, and some of the issues raised by its use. It also discusses broader challenges associated with energy sector digitalisation and measures that could help address them, including issues related to technology, regulation, and impact on consumers.
POSTnote

Defence of space-based assets

Wednesday, 15 September, 2021

Space-based assets (satellites and the terrestrial ground stations that communicate with them) provide critical support to military and civilian operations. They are vulnerable to unintentional damage and disruption, and to deliberate attack. This POSTnote outlines how the UK uses and accesses satellites, potential risks to satellites, and approaches to mitigation.
POSTnote

Low-carbon hydrogen supply

Thursday, 10 June, 2021

Hydrogen could play a significant role in tackling climate change. Using it does not produce carbon dioxide, so it could replace fossil fuels in a range of applications. It may also provide valuable energy storage. However, almost all hydrogen production currently results in greenhouse gas emissions. Methods of producing it that do not emit greenhouse gases would need to increase for it to contribute to climate change mitigation. Governments and industry in the UK and abroad are aiming to increase low-carbon hydrogen supply. The UK Government will publish a Hydrogen Strategy in 2021.
POSTnote

Developing essential digital skills

Friday, 07 May, 2021

Digital skills are increasingly important for day-to-day life, including for communication, accessing services and employment. However, around a fifth of the population do not have essential digital skills for life as defined by the UK Government. While research suggests the number of people with basic digital skills has increased in recent years, concerns remain about those who lack them. Experts have highlighted that digitally excluded people may experience various negative impacts, including poorer health outcomes and social isolation This POSTnote gives an overview of digital skills in the UK, the impact of a lack of digital skills on outcomes in areas such as employment and health, and initiatives in place to improve digital skills.
Horizon scanning

An introduction to Research for Parliament 2021

Thursday, 29 April, 2021

Experts have helped us find 30 areas of change to help the UK Parliament prepare for the future.
Horizon scanning

Business priorities post-COVID

Thursday, 29 April, 2021

COVID-19, Brexit and consumer behaviours are changing the way businesses operate. What could the impact be on manufacturing, retail and service provision?
Horizon scanning

Developments in the diagnosis of disease for medicine and public health

Thursday, 29 April, 2021

Advances in diagnostic tools could improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. But how can patient trust and equitable access be ensured?
Horizon scanning

How technology is accelerating changes in the way we work

Thursday, 29 April, 2021

Many organisations have turned to technology during the COVID-19 pandemic to aid social distancing. Could ongoing automation reinforce existing inequalities?
Horizon scanning

The impact of remote and flexible working arrangements

Thursday, 29 April, 2021

Flexible working could increase wellbeing and productivity, but benefits are not equally distributed throughout the population and could increase inequalities.
Horizon scanning

Regulation and state use of social media

Thursday, 29 April, 2021

The use of social media raises questions around security, state regulation, privacy, and online safety. How can states balance regulation and personal freedom?
Horizon scanning

AI in policing and security

Thursday, 29 April, 2021

Artificial intelligence could change policing. But the efficacy of such technologies is not well established. What are the governance and privacy concerns?
Horizon scanning

Use of digital technologies to tackle pandemics

Thursday, 29 April, 2021

Many innovations have improved the COVID-19 response and could be key for future-proofing against pandemics. What are the governance and privacy concerns?
Horizon scanning

Political polarisation and participation

Thursday, 29 April, 2021

Political polarisation could affect political participation. How do inequality and socioeconomic factors intersect with extremism?
Rapid response

COVID-19 vaccine misinformation

Monday, 26 April, 2021

There have been large volumes of inaccurate information about COVID-19 circulating since the beginning of the pandemic, including misinformation about vaccinations against the infection. This article looks at the types and sources of COVID-19 vaccine misinformation and its public health impact. It also looks at the different approaches being used to fight COVID-19 vaccine misinformation, such as social media content moderation and guidance for the public.
POSTnote

AI and healthcare

Monday, 18 January, 2021

There are various applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare, such as helping clinicians to make decisions, monitoring patient health, and automating routine administrative tasks. This POSTnote gives an overview of these uses, and their potential impacts on the cost and quality of healthcare, and on the workforce. It summarises the challenges to wider adoption of AI in healthcare, including those relating to safety, privacy, data-sharing, trust, accountability and health inequalities. It also outlines some of the regulations relevant to AI, and how these may change. As healthcare is a devolved issue, policies on healthcare AI differ across the UK. This POSTnote focusses on regulations and policies relevant to England.

Total results (page 6 of 13)