New Technologies

Virtual and augmented reality in education: huge benefits, but also ethical concerns
Over the last decade, people have been suggesting that digital immersive technologies (DITs) such as virtual reality and augmented reality could supplement - or even replace - a variety of education activities of schools and universities. These technologies can create lifelike virtual environments for the students. What are the opportunities, but also: what are the ...

Are children skilled enough for the digital world?
Digital technologies are part of modern, daily life. Not just for adults but also for children. Do they have the necessary skills to master them, though?

Technological vulnerabilities that threaten the European Union’s ‘Open Strategic Autonomy’ and the EU’s response
According to expert Dr Alice Pannier, 'Strategic Autonomy' is also referred to as 'sovereignty', but it's 'open' in order to not undermine the openness of the EU economy: "If the EU has technological sovereignty, it will be able to act autonomously on the international stage rather than have to rely on foreign suppliers and potentially ...

Drones to the rescue: how autonomous flying vehicles can save lives
Drones are already being used to save lives in medical and other emergencies. Now the aim is to make them more autonomous and efficient, helping them make the difference with less control from people.

Quantum technology, chips and Europe’s digital sovereignty
We are now on the brink of a second quantum revolution: beyond simply understanding the quantum world, we are able to manipulate it. The potential future applications of this quantum technology are staggering: from ultra-fast computers to tamper-proof communications, from novel simulations of drug molecules to new industrial processes that vastly cut down on CO2 ...

Professor Tommaso Calarco: ‘Quantum technologies 2.0 can bring huge benefits for society’
This week, quantum technology is one of the news headlines. The Nobel Prize in Physics has been awarded to Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser and Anton Zeilinger for work "that has laid the foundation for a new era of quantum technology". But what is this new era about? We asked Prof. Tommaso Calarco, Director of the ...

The global challenges of 6G – Interview with Prof Vincent Poor, key speaker of the STOA annual lecture 2021
Artificial intelligence, augmented reality, blockchain, the internet of things, robotics, virtual reality, 5G/6G - over the past decade, we have seen rapid developments in digital technology. More disruptive technological developments are coming and 6G systems are considered to be the basis for these future digital services. What can we expect from this technology? Which are ...

Cyber attacks are far from science fiction
On Tuesday, 26 April 2022 the European Parliament's Panel for the Future of Science and Technology (STOA) organises a high-level roundtable on cybersecurity. The European Science Media Hub (ESMH) spoke with one of the speakers Juhan Lepassaar, executive Director of the European Union Agency for Cybersecurity (ENISA), on what cyber attacks entail and what ENISA ...