The Tech Comfort Zone: UK Public Open to Robot Assistants, but Driverless Cars Currently a No-Go

This positivity is driven from the opportunities associated with technology. Almost 6-in-10 (57 percent) of the public say technology enables access to new ways of learning, with skills – and technology’s ability to allow for the development of new skills (52 percent) – following closely behind. A reflection perhaps of the fact that only a third (34 percent) say the UK is prepared for a digital future and 37 percent believe they have the skills to take advantage of the opportunities ahead.

While the outlook is vastly positive, there is a note of caution for technology providers, with the findings highlighting a gap in the UK comfort levels with new innovation. While more than half (54 percent) are comfortable with the use of smart technology in their homes, a similar number (49 percent) say they are uncomfortable being diagnosed by an ‘AI doctor’ and less than 2-in-10 would be comfortable putting their children in a driverless car alone.

“Technology is completely transforming Britain. For that to remain positive, technology companies must take responsibility and ensure innovation helps all people from all corners of the UK. From helping reskill those displaced by technology - something 60 percent believe tech companies are responsible for - through to bolstering our cyber security, it is vital that technology lives up to its promise to positively impact the entire country”, said Rupal Karia, Head of Commercial Sector, UK & Ireland, Fujitsu. “To ensure the UK remains at the heart of digital transformation, companies need to take responsibility for educating people. It’s not enough to simply innovate and send a product out, businesses need to take responsibility for the impact it has and work harder to educate the nation on the benefits these changes can bring in the long run.”

The UK public’s positive attitude towards technology does not extend to other external factors impacting their lives today. Around half (51 percent) say they are worried about the future, with the current political turbulence (59 percent) and global economic uncertainty (51 percent) the leading issues the UK fears will negatively impact the country’s outlook.

“From our morning alarm, to buying train tickets and paying for our morning coffee with contactless cards, almost everything we do today incorporates an element of technology that has made life more convenient,” said Karia. “Arguably, these changes have permeated our lives slowly. Yet, with the pace of change increasing rapidly, there is an expectation that the public will continue to embrace new technologies at the same rate. And while the UK is undoubtedly excited about the digital journey we’re on, there is a need for further education and a focus on consumer comfort levels. We cannot encourage a UK where only the digital-savvy can thrive. We need technology to be an encompassing, supportive and uniting force of innovation and positivity. A failure to do means a failure in mass adoption and ultimately, a stifled future for the UK.”

Notes to editors

Fujitsu’s “Tech in a Transforming Britain’ report is available for download here: http://uk.fujitsu.com/transforming-britain

Methodology
This quantitative research was carried out in August 2017 by independent research company Censuswide. 2,000 UK consumers and 635 IT decision makers in the retail, utilities, financial services, central government and transport sectors were surveyed.