0:00:02 > 0:00:10Now on BBC News, Click.
0:00:10 > 0:00:13This week: Is this the smartest building in Italy?
0:00:13 > 0:00:15The latest worker drones.
0:00:15 > 0:00:20And, beat this, a hearty handful.
0:00:43 > 0:00:49On July 12th, the internet as we know it will change.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Go to Amazon, Twitter, Reddit or many other sites
0:00:52 > 0:00:55and you could be asked to wait on a slower connection,
0:00:55 > 0:00:59or pay extra, or you may be blocked altogether.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02Thankfully, these warnings aren't real.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05They're part of an internet-wide protest, with the aim
0:01:05 > 0:01:08of protecting net neutrality.
0:01:08 > 0:01:11Net neutrality is the basic principle that protects our freedom
0:01:11 > 0:01:14of speech on the internet.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17It's the guiding rules that have made the internet
0:01:17 > 0:01:20into what it is today, and it prevents our internet
0:01:20 > 0:01:26service providers - so the cable companies like Comcast,
0:01:26 > 0:01:29Verizon and AT - from controlling what we can see
0:01:29 > 0:01:31and do when we go online.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33Under the net neutrality principle, all data should be
0:01:33 > 0:01:35treated equally by ISPs.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38That means they can't slow down companies who refuse to pay
0:01:38 > 0:01:42to have their data prioritised, and they can't charge customers
0:01:42 > 0:01:48for fast access to certain data.
0:01:56 > 0:02:01But the US Federal Communications Commission, the FCC,
0:02:01 > 0:02:05voted recently to overturn rules from 2015 which enshrined these
0:02:05 > 0:02:08neutrality principles, and which meant telecoms firms
0:02:08 > 0:02:11could be fined for noncompliance.
0:02:11 > 0:02:13And that, says the organiser of the July 12th protest,
0:02:14 > 0:02:18will play right into the big cable companies' hands.
0:02:18 > 0:02:20If we lose net neutrality, you're going to start to see
0:02:21 > 0:02:23the internet look more like cable TV.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27You can imagine trying to go to a social media site and getting
0:02:27 > 0:02:30a notification from your internet service provider saying -
0:02:30 > 0:02:33oh, sorry, if you want to access this site, you need to upgrade
0:02:33 > 0:02:35to our social media package.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38You need to upgrade to our streaming video package.
0:02:38 > 0:02:42You need to pay us more, in order to access the same sites
0:02:42 > 0:02:44that you've been using day after day for years.
0:02:44 > 0:02:48They can also go to those sites and charge them extra fees in order
0:02:49 > 0:02:51to deliver their content to users.
0:02:51 > 0:02:55And, of course, those fees get passed on to all of us.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57So it's really an issue that affects every single person
0:02:57 > 0:03:00that uses the internet, regardless of your political views.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02It's gonna hit us in the pocketbook.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05And this won't just affect US internet users.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08If you use an American web service - which, let's face it,
0:03:08 > 0:03:13is most of us - it may affect the service that they provide to us.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17The FCC says that the 2015 rules are unnecessary and may
0:03:17 > 0:03:21have stifled investment in next-generation networks.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24And free-market think tanks agree.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Well, this fight could have been resolved ten years ago
0:03:26 > 0:03:30if it were really just about net neutrality.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32This has really primarily been
0:03:32 > 0:03:34a fight about the FCC's power
0:03:34 > 0:03:37to regulate the internet.
0:03:37 > 0:03:41We had our first major update to our communications law 20 years ago,
0:03:41 > 0:03:48and that law made it unclear exactly how the FCC was going to regulate
0:03:48 > 0:03:55the internet, and that ambiguity has left the agency to wrestle with this
0:03:55 > 0:03:59issue for a decade.
0:03:59 > 0:04:01And in a nutshell, there were simpler, better ways
0:04:01 > 0:04:03of dealing with this issue.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06There were other agencies that could have addressed net neutrality
0:04:06 > 0:04:09concerns when they arose, starting back in 2008.
0:04:09 > 0:04:13And, er, Congress has three times tried to legislate,
0:04:13 > 0:04:16and both Republicans and Democrats, I think, share the blame for missing
0:04:16 > 0:04:19the opportunity to craft a solution that would resolve this issue.
0:04:20 > 0:04:22And that, unfortunately, has led us to where we are today,
0:04:23 > 0:04:26which is a thorough rule-making at the FCC to deal with this
0:04:26 > 0:04:31issue of legal authority, when the rules themselves -
0:04:31 > 0:04:37the core of net neutrality - have really never been controversial.
0:04:37 > 0:04:41Well, I wonder what the original inventor of the concept of net
0:04:41 > 0:04:44neutrality would make of these changes.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47You know, it's...very disappointing, let's put it that way.
0:04:47 > 0:04:51So, you know, the Obama administration had finally put net
0:04:51 > 0:04:54neutrality into law, done a good job with it, everyone
0:04:54 > 0:04:56was happy, but out of nowhere, the Trump Administration...
0:04:56 > 0:04:59And it's not been any public movement against net neutrality,
0:04:59 > 0:05:02it's really the cable and phone companies wanna make more money,
0:05:02 > 0:05:04let's put it that way.
0:05:04 > 0:05:08And they have somehow kind of, under the cover of Trump's madness,
0:05:08 > 0:05:14managed to start the process on net neutrality.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17The thing is making the government realise that there are severe
0:05:17 > 0:05:19electoral consequences for messing with net neutrality.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23It has to be understood as the third rail, that you mess with this
0:05:23 > 0:05:26and you're going to get people very angry and descending
0:05:26 > 0:05:27on constituents.
0:05:27 > 0:05:30But not everyone agrees that next week's protest will make
0:05:30 > 0:05:31much of a difference.
0:05:31 > 0:05:36The current FCC leadership has been very clear about their views
0:05:36 > 0:05:40of the FCC's legal authority and their minds are not going to be
0:05:40 > 0:05:45changed by an angry mob or what amounts to policy arguments.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49Well, whatever happens next week, I have a feeling it won't be
0:05:49 > 0:05:54the last word we hear on net neutrality.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57Just a hunch!
0:06:01 > 0:06:05Welcome to the Royal Society of Arts, in London, which this week
0:06:05 > 0:06:09was hosting its annual Summer Science Exhibition.
0:06:10 > 0:06:13For one week only, universities from around the country gather
0:06:13 > 0:06:16here to bring their cutting-edge science experiment out of the lab
0:06:16 > 0:06:21and into the public's imagination.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23Oh, you see, it's great being a kid!
0:06:23 > 0:06:26In another room, I got to feel the difference
0:06:26 > 0:06:30between a healthy heart and one suffering from cardiomyopathy.
0:06:30 > 0:06:35The robotic heart's beating in sync with my own heartbeat,
0:06:36 > 0:06:39which is being detected by the monitors on my wrists.
0:06:39 > 0:06:40You feel this one's beating quite regularly.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43This one is...
0:06:43 > 0:06:47It's beating faster and it's beating weaker.
0:06:47 > 0:06:52So if my heart was diseased, it would feel more like this one.
0:06:52 > 0:06:57Which is a good incentive not to get one of these!
0:06:57 > 0:07:01Oh, and by the way, if you were wondering who the next
0:07:01 > 0:07:02Doctor Who is going to be...
0:07:02 > 0:07:04Two hearts.
0:07:04 > 0:07:09Right, time to get them beating a bit faster.
0:07:23 > 0:07:27Whether you love or loathe a trip to the shops, retail is changing,
0:07:27 > 0:07:33but there's more to it than people just shopping online instead.
0:07:34 > 0:07:40Can I just see what colours there are downloaded?
0:07:40 > 0:07:43Can I just see what colours there are down lower?
0:07:43 > 0:07:46Here's an idea that takes shopping online a step further.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49One company's software allows you to go a shop's website and,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52from there, you can connect to a shop assistant in store, who'll
0:07:52 > 0:07:54be wearing a pair of smart glasses.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56Yeah, what do we have there on the right?
0:07:56 > 0:07:57There are some bags.
0:07:57 > 0:08:01Can you please take the cream bag off the shelf, and can you open it
0:08:01 > 0:08:03and show me the compartments?
0:08:03 > 0:08:06The shop has actually found that the same experience
0:08:06 > 0:08:08being streamed to a mobile has actually proved more popular
0:08:08 > 0:08:10than the smart glasses.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14And although I found the experience pretty good, it does of course
0:08:14 > 0:08:17have some limitations.
0:08:17 > 0:08:19Oh, I see, I wasn't expecting that.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21I thought it was going round your waist.
0:08:21 > 0:08:22I'm glad I asked you.
0:08:22 > 0:08:24If, when shopping online, you're worried about
0:08:24 > 0:08:26getting your size right, then these smart
0:08:26 > 0:08:28leggings could help.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32They aim to be able to measure you and tell you the exact
0:08:32 > 0:08:35right size of jeans that you should be buying.
0:08:35 > 0:08:37Hmm!
0:08:37 > 0:08:41LikeAGlove hopes to measure women for the right size and style
0:08:41 > 0:08:44of jeans for their body shape.
0:08:44 > 0:08:46The stretchy measuring leggings connect via Bluetooth
0:08:46 > 0:08:48to a smartphone app, where your stats will be stored,
0:08:48 > 0:08:52so you can keep track of your body shape.
0:08:52 > 0:08:59Oh, my waist measurement here seems to be about five inches larger
0:08:59 > 0:09:02than I thought it was, and a fair bit bigger than the jean
0:09:02 > 0:09:03size I normally wear.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05When I clicked through to the suggestions,
0:09:05 > 0:09:07my size was as expected.
0:09:07 > 0:09:10The company say these measurements represent where the jeans would sit,
0:09:10 > 0:09:12rather than actual measurements you would expect.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14Might upset a few people along the way, though!
0:09:14 > 0:09:17But another trend emerging is that we head back
0:09:17 > 0:09:24to the High Street, but shop assistants as we know them don't.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27These online stores are open 24 hours a day, with only a series
0:09:27 > 0:09:31of cameras and microphones keeping an eye on you.
0:09:31 > 0:09:34You gain access to your smartphone, use it to scan your purchases
0:09:34 > 0:09:37and pay, then head off.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40Their first branch opened in Sweden last year, followed by another
0:09:40 > 0:09:44in Shanghai recently.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47The launch of Amazon Go's first store in Seattle appears
0:09:47 > 0:09:50to have been delayed, but aims to replace queues
0:09:50 > 0:09:53and checkouts by using computer vision, deep learning
0:09:53 > 0:09:56and data from sensors.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59It will see what you've picked up in store and, in turn,
0:09:59 > 0:10:02charge your Amazon account.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08But one US company has another idea about self-service.
0:10:08 > 0:10:11Well, on first view, this does just look like an ordinary
0:10:11 > 0:10:13vending machine that happens to have a TV screen on it,
0:10:14 > 0:10:16but a machine like this could soon be selling alcohol,
0:10:16 > 0:10:20cannabis and even guns.
0:10:20 > 0:10:24Let me explain more.
0:10:24 > 0:10:27The device uses biometric sensors to identify users
0:10:27 > 0:10:30by the veins in their fingers, meaning you can turn a standard
0:10:30 > 0:10:35machine into an apparently secure one, only dispensing goods
0:10:35 > 0:10:38to the person with the right to collect them.
0:10:38 > 0:10:46And, yes, in the US, that item could be a gun.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50The company claims the machinery uses the same level of security
0:10:50 > 0:10:52employed by US military and large corporations to access
0:10:52 > 0:10:55facilities, but they do add...
0:10:55 > 0:10:57Everything is malleable.
0:10:57 > 0:10:59If it's connected to the internet, they say 'Where there's
0:11:00 > 0:11:00water, there's sharks'.
0:11:00 > 0:11:02Where there's internet connectivity, somebody can
0:11:02 > 0:11:04make their way in there, perhaps.
0:11:04 > 0:11:08We've jumped through every possible hoop we can do to make sure that
0:11:08 > 0:11:11only the person standing in front of it is able to get
0:11:11 > 0:11:12the product that they want.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14It's that sort of regulated product.
0:11:14 > 0:11:18Right, and there are guns and alcohol available too?
0:11:18 > 0:11:22So some fellas are going out hunting and they leave late from work,
0:11:22 > 0:11:25and they rush out of the kitchen to catch up with their friends.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29Usually, you're far outside the city limits, you've made a whole plan,
0:11:29 > 0:11:31you've made your trip, you get out and you say,
0:11:31 > 0:11:33"Oh, I forget my ammo".
0:11:33 > 0:11:36In this situation, a secure machine would allow you to pick up some
0:11:36 > 0:11:39ammo, or even a replacement gun, if you're in the system.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43Maybe get their whiskey off the one side, get their ammo off the other,
0:11:43 > 0:11:47and head on into the camp and have a fine week of hunting.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50OK, maybe this isn't solving a problem that many people have.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52And suddenly, the idea of shops without assistants
0:11:52 > 0:11:57doesn't seem so surprising.
0:11:59 > 0:12:02Welcome to this week's Tech News.
0:12:02 > 0:12:07Volvo announced they'll only make electric and hybrid cars from 2019.
0:12:07 > 0:12:11Formula One racing team Williams unveiled a carbon-fibre baby carrier
0:12:11 > 0:12:13that can transport critically ill newborn infants by
0:12:13 > 0:12:16ambulance or helicopter.
0:12:16 > 0:12:18The Babypod protects against vibrations and can be kept
0:12:18 > 0:12:21at a constant temperature.
0:12:21 > 0:12:25And sex robots designed to look like children should be banned.
0:12:25 > 0:12:27A report looking into the future of people's sexual relationships
0:12:27 > 0:12:30with robots said policymakers need to look at the issue
0:12:30 > 0:12:42and decide what is acceptable.
0:12:43 > 0:12:46Dubai police are to introduce a robot cop and autonomous patrol
0:12:46 > 0:12:46cars.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48The vehicles will use 360-degree surveillance technology
0:12:48 > 0:12:50to identify suspicious objects, launch a mini drone,
0:12:50 > 0:12:52and even give chase to suspects.
0:12:52 > 0:12:55Google's in the doghouse again - this time, for a deal with a UK
0:12:55 > 0:12:58hospital that didn't respect the privacy of patients.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01The UK's Information Commissioner ruled that 1.6 million patients'
0:13:01 > 0:13:04details were provided to Google's DeepMind illegally,
0:13:04 > 0:13:08to help develop an app to diagnose kidney failure.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12And could tickets be replaced by inaudible sounds?
0:13:12 > 0:13:14Well, it seems maybe.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16TicketMaster has teamed up with Listener, a company that uses
0:13:16 > 0:13:19ultrasonic sound technology to transmit information
0:13:19 > 0:13:21between devices.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25Checking into a venue with an app would give off the sound,
0:13:25 > 0:13:29and organisers could lock who was in and where they are -
0:13:29 > 0:13:38unless your phone dies, of course.
0:13:46 > 0:13:50Back at the Royal Society of Arts, I finally got my robotic heart
0:13:50 > 0:13:51to beat a bit faster.
0:13:51 > 0:13:53Our individual lifestyles may affect our health personally,
0:13:53 > 0:13:56but our collective lifestyles have been affecting the world
0:13:56 > 0:13:57that we live in.
0:13:57 > 0:13:59It's one thing to talk about climate change
0:13:59 > 0:14:02and its effects on the environment, but it's another thing
0:14:02 > 0:14:03to actually see it in action.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07This is a simulation of the CO2 that was in the atmosphere in 2006.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09The redder bits are the most CO2 heavy.
0:14:09 > 0:14:13What's really interesting is, have a look at the difference
0:14:13 > 0:14:14between the north and the south.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18Just look how much CO2 is covering China and the United States.
0:14:18 > 0:14:20If, indeed, that's what I'm looking at, because you really
0:14:20 > 0:14:24can't see all the CO2.
0:14:24 > 0:14:27This work was created by the UK's Met Office
0:14:27 > 0:14:30and the Natural Environment Research Council.
0:14:30 > 0:14:32The scientists mashed up historical weather data with information coming
0:14:32 > 0:14:35from all sorts of modern sensors, including things like air-traffic
0:14:35 > 0:14:50data, to try and predict the world's climate in the future.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53They're wanting to see how all different components that
0:14:53 > 0:14:56affect the climate zone - the oceans, the atmosphere,
0:14:56 > 0:14:58the land and ice - how that all interacts.
0:14:58 > 0:15:01And really, the Met Office and also the Natural Environment Research
0:15:01 > 0:15:04Council and their research centres can kind off give messages
0:15:04 > 0:15:07about what's likely to happen and, therefore, what likely changes we're
0:15:07 > 0:15:10going to need to keep to a safe level of global
0:15:10 > 0:15:11warming above two degrees.
0:15:11 > 0:15:12But pollution comes in many forms.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15If you live in a big city, for example, I'm sure
0:15:15 > 0:15:18you would count the noise and congestion as just
0:15:18 > 0:15:21as harmful to your health as the air that we breathe.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23Now, currently, half of the world's population
0:15:23 > 0:15:25lives in cities and, in the next decade, that's expected
0:15:25 > 0:15:28to rise to five billion.
0:15:28 > 0:15:31And technology will be part of the solution.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34Senseable City Lab, from MIT, has brought together a team
0:15:34 > 0:15:40of scientists and designers to truly understand our urban needs and how
0:15:40 > 0:15:46we can improve the designs of our cities in the future.
0:15:46 > 0:15:50The Agnelli Foundation was set up by the family behind Fiat cars,
0:15:50 > 0:15:53and its new shared office space has become a living research
0:15:53 > 0:15:57lab for the university.
0:15:57 > 0:16:05Cat travelled to Turin, in Italy, to meet its designers.
0:16:05 > 0:16:09Like many things Italian, everything here is very stylish.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13This '60s building and the old Italian villa next door,
0:16:13 > 0:16:16which was once home to Mr Fiat himself, were recently redeveloped
0:16:16 > 0:16:22and brought bang up-to-date.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24Well, even the cafeteria's suitably smart.
0:16:24 > 0:16:28As trendy as this place may be, its design is far from over.
0:16:28 > 0:16:32Going forward, the chief architects of this space
0:16:32 > 0:16:37will not be its creators, but its inhabitants.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40The idea behind this whole place is the same behind
0:16:40 > 0:16:42any big data project - collect as much information
0:16:42 > 0:16:46as possible and make the whole thing more efficient.
0:16:46 > 0:16:48One theory on trial here is personalised heating.
0:16:48 > 0:16:50Instead of setting the heating for the whole building,
0:16:50 > 0:16:52workers here are able to set their own
0:16:52 > 0:16:58desired temperatures.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00So this system is actually quite clever.
0:17:00 > 0:17:03When there's a few of us there in the same space,
0:17:03 > 0:17:05the system above us will take everyone's preferences
0:17:05 > 0:17:07and just average it out.
0:17:07 > 0:17:08And despite different personal heating settings,
0:17:08 > 0:17:15this setup is proving to be more efficient.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18The very good thing is that by understanding your position,
0:17:18 > 0:17:20the system will shut down if you're not there.
0:17:20 > 0:17:22We're still, let's say, simulating numbers, but we're almost
0:17:22 > 0:17:25sure that the improvement, the ecological and aesthetic
0:17:25 > 0:17:27improvement of the building, could be up to 25%,
0:17:27 > 0:17:34in terms of consumption.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37Beyond the personalised heating, the doors unlock and lights
0:17:37 > 0:17:39come on as you approach, and you can find your
0:17:39 > 0:17:40colleagues on a map.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43Researchers hope these features will entice more users to download
0:17:43 > 0:17:46the app and share their location data, so they can really get
0:17:46 > 0:17:49an accurate picture of how the building is being used,
0:17:49 > 0:17:52identify dead corners and spaces and improve the overall
0:17:52 > 0:17:59design in the future.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02Very often, we speak about architecture as the first one
0:18:02 > 0:18:03in our biological skin.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06The second one, our clothes, and the third one is actually
0:18:06 > 0:18:08the physical space we inhabit.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10So far, this third skin has been very rigid,
0:18:10 > 0:18:12really like a corset.
0:18:12 > 0:18:14With this building, we're making an attempt,
0:18:14 > 0:18:17we make a step forward and we want to try to understand
0:18:17 > 0:18:20if this third skin could be something more flexible,
0:18:20 > 0:18:22more tailored to our needs and to the needs
0:18:22 > 0:18:31of the occupants of the space.
0:18:31 > 0:18:34This experiment is just the very beginning and it's hard to think how
0:18:34 > 0:18:37rigid structures such as buildings could one day become more
0:18:37 > 0:18:40personalised and flexible, but I'm excited to think that we can
0:18:40 > 0:18:47all have a small say in what works.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53That was Cat in Italy.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56Now, Smart cities when just consist of smart buildings
0:18:56 > 0:19:00and self driving cars, above our heads autonomous drones
0:19:00 > 0:19:03will be busily buzzing about, too.
0:19:03 > 0:19:07Drones already today are an integral part of the city.
0:19:08 > 0:19:10In future they will be even more dominant.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13They will be doing deliveries, they will be doing traffic control,
0:19:13 > 0:19:16monitoring, for example, they will be doing aerial
0:19:16 > 0:19:18and water sampling.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22Pollution monitoring.
0:19:22 > 0:19:25But also infrastructure, maintenance, servicing, and repair.
0:19:25 > 0:19:29The drone I'm controlling is one of those prepared drones,
0:19:29 > 0:19:32or at least a very early prototype.
0:19:32 > 0:19:38So, down, up, left, right, forward, back.
0:19:38 > 0:19:43He is flying the thing, I'm in charge of the robot arm
0:19:43 > 0:19:45underneath, which may one day be able to build, manipulate,
0:19:45 > 0:19:51and fix things on-the-fly in hard to reach places.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54And the idea is there would be some kind of robot gripper,
0:19:54 > 0:19:57or manipulator on the end of this?
0:19:57 > 0:20:01Generally this can be a multipurpose gripper.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03So, if you just know it over the body now
0:20:03 > 0:20:05I will begin the surgery.
0:20:05 > 0:20:06CHUCKLES.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09Going to suture the wound.
0:20:09 > 0:20:14Fixing bridges and maintaining buildings could, in theory,
0:20:14 > 0:20:16be done while hovering over the structure.
0:20:16 > 0:20:19But this isn't very stable and it's certainly going to be
0:20:19 > 0:20:20limited by battery life.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24A more sensible way is to have the drone land first.
0:20:24 > 0:20:26The problem here, though, is the top of that skyscraper,
0:20:26 > 0:20:33or the side of that bridge might not allow for gentle flat landings.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37The methodology that we use builds a lot on looking at nature and how
0:20:37 > 0:20:40nature solves the same challenges that it has.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43Now, if you look at birds, how they do that, they do
0:20:43 > 0:20:45this with very complex, morphing wings, and visual
0:20:45 > 0:20:47navigation to land very precisely.
0:20:47 > 0:20:49However, insects use something very different,
0:20:49 > 0:20:53they just use morphology to attach to structures.
0:20:53 > 0:20:56They fly and crash into the surface and stay attached like that.
0:20:56 > 0:20:57So a very different approach.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00One example of how we use these insect inspired
0:21:00 > 0:21:02approaches to perching, is by looking at the
0:21:02 > 0:21:05ballooning spiders.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09And by looking at the way how they use their strings to untangle
0:21:09 > 0:21:12themselves on structures, and remain aloft, we have built
0:21:12 > 0:21:15a vehicle that can do the same principles with a string
0:21:15 > 0:21:22which is deposited from an aerial vehicle.
0:21:22 > 0:21:25By doing that, the string itself acts as an intelligence structure
0:21:25 > 0:21:27that entangles itself to any geometry it attaches itself to.
0:21:27 > 0:21:31So it doesn't need to since the geometry of its anchor point,
0:21:31 > 0:21:34the string itself, as simple as it is, takes away the need
0:21:34 > 0:21:37for the controlling sensing of this part and allows it to attach
0:21:37 > 0:21:43itself very successfully.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46The sun rises.
0:21:46 > 0:21:48The radio plays the news.
0:21:48 > 0:21:50The team won.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53Today is the last day of the term.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56The traffic light turns green.
0:21:56 > 0:22:02And the piano is silent.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05If you're in Manchester this month you might see these poems
0:22:05 > 0:22:08dotted about the city.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12It's an art installation called Everything Every Time.
0:22:12 > 0:22:19And the poetry is being created live using data from the city.
0:22:19 > 0:22:25Everything Every Time is a poem.
0:22:25 > 0:22:28So it's four screens that I have deployed on four different
0:22:28 > 0:22:29sports in Manchester City.
0:22:29 > 0:22:30It also runs on a website.
0:22:30 > 0:22:33And basically it's a project about data and about
0:22:33 > 0:22:38the functionality of data.
0:22:38 > 0:22:43The book is returned and someone is waiting.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46All this data from weather to football scores to phases of
0:22:46 > 0:22:50the Moon is fed into the algorithm which creates the poems.
0:22:50 > 0:22:53Each verse is a sequence of template lines which are triggered
0:22:53 > 0:22:58and shaped depending on what is happening right now.
0:22:58 > 0:23:01Whether it's how late a bus is or if a performance
0:23:01 > 0:23:03is scheduled at the theatre.
0:23:03 > 0:23:06Throughout the city the team wanted to display live poems
0:23:06 > 0:23:09which are constantly changing.
0:23:09 > 0:23:13Our four boards can make a request to the API in the cloud.
0:23:13 > 0:23:16The API in turn makes a request to one of about 130
0:23:16 > 0:23:19different data points.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21The API makes an assessment on what the data means.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24In terms of understanding whether or not something is busy,
0:23:24 > 0:23:27something is turned on, streetlights on and off, that kind
0:23:27 > 0:23:30of thing, compiles the poem, makes sure it is formatted correctly
0:23:30 > 0:23:33so it is a readable powerbomb, and passes it back to the sign.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35The three of these go together.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38Each of these dots you can see here is very, very
0:23:38 > 0:23:48delicate and turns over.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52What happens is then the text is rendered as a dot display.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55They also make the best noise ever, so you get this fantastic
0:23:55 > 0:23:56clackety clicking noise.
0:23:56 > 0:23:57Which is quite nice.
0:23:57 > 0:24:00So we really have breathed new life into this creaking old tech,
0:24:00 > 0:24:01which is really cool.
0:24:01 > 0:24:04And you can catch Everything Every Time around Manchester
0:24:04 > 0:24:05until the 9th of August.
0:24:05 > 0:24:07I hope you like what you saw.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09Check us out on twitter for more.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12I think I'll leave it to the data to do the poetry.
0:24:12 > 0:24:25Thanks for watching and we will see you soon.