Industry reaction to new EU deal for the UK
After David Cameron secured a new deal for the UK in the EU last week, questions have been raised over the future and what it will hold for businesses.
Reforms included a wide range of subjects, including migration, protections for the City of London and exemption from the UK being involved in talks of an “ever closer union”. CBI Director-General, Carolyn Fairbairn, said: “UK businesses want to see changes to the EU that will put Europe on the path to a more competitive and prosperous future – the Prime Minister’s reform package looks to be a major step forward on that journey.”
What do you think on the latest reforms? To read more on industry opinions, head here.. http://ow.ly/YBz3v
Put your hands together: the office chair that parks itself
In recognition of workers who just can’t bring themselves to push their chairs back under their desks, Nissan has introduced a self-parking office chair that will tidy itself on command.
The video promoting the technology shows how the office chair responds to hand claps, using four cameras placed in the corners of a room’s ceiling to locate its current position and calculate the route it needs to take. The concept aims to increase knowledge around the latest technology adopted by Nissan vehicles and puts in practice their corporate vision of “enriching people’s lives through technology”.
To watch the video yourself, head here.. http://ow.ly/YBysT
Robot fears exacerbating UK productivity crisis
According to robotics manufacturer ABB, the UK needs to overcome its fear of robots if it wants to address the productivity crisis in the sector.
The Swiss-based rim believes that automation presents opportunities for the UK that are yet to be explored. Industry sales manager, Mike Wilson, explained: “We face the challenge in the UK that we have lower productivity than most of our major competitors and unless we address that, then ultimately our manufacturing industry will decline.”
Out of 87,000 British SMEs, only 5,000 currently employ robots, but what do you think? Will robots become a popular addition to the UK’s factories? To find out more, head here.. http://ow.ly/YBznV