Latest News
12th January 2010
Southampton Set to be Digital City by 2015
SOUTHAMPTON is set to lead a WWW. revolution by becoming a digital city.
World renowned experts Professor Dame Wendy Hall and Professor Nigel Shadbolt from University of Southampton are already advising the government on the way forward for linked data – and they believe Southampton could take a leading role in developing the technology.
At a breakfast seminar organised by Business Southampton, business leaders were told how linked data will change how we use the web.
Instead of going to several sites to access information, it will all be available at the press of a button.
Information will be more accessible and in the field of medical research, for example, it will mean experts around the world can all be linked in as they work towards the latest breakthroughs.
Professor Shadbolt, who has recently been given a special role by the Prime Minister to help transform public access to Government information, explained: “ At the moment information tends to be living in isolated pockets but if you can link it together it makes it more transparent and offers us a more powerful way of making choices,” he said.
Dame Wendy Hall said she was delighted by the response to their seminar and the groundswell of support from the city.
She explained, the transformation to a web of linked data will bring more opportunities in its wake and take us to the next level of understanding.
“The feedback has been great. It's very hard to present this information in a way that's not too technical.
“We do have a Unique Selling Point in Southampton in that we have the expertise in this particular field in the city,” she said.
Tim Berners-Lee, the inventor of the world wide web, still lectures at Southampton University and the city has built a world class reputation for teaching computer sciences at University of Southampton.
It was time for all the interested parties in the city to get together and see how Southampton could make a name for itself on the global map by pioneering linked technology.
“We can be leaders in the world and it is time for us to create a roadmap by bringing together the public and private sectors.
“In five years Southampton will be a digital city,” she said.
Business Southampton CEO Sally Lynskey said the expertise of Professor Dame Wendy Hall and Professor Shadbolt's team presented Southampton with a unique opportunity.
“It's not over-stating it to say this will be revolutionary. There is a great opportunity for the public and private sectors to work together on this.
“This will really put us on the global map and will undoubtedly attract new businesses and employment opportunities as well as inward investment for the city.”
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DOWNLOAD THE PRESENTATION SLIDES FROM THE SEMINAR PLEASE CLICK HERE.
< back