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Matthew Evans, exec director of SmarterUK, on the potential for tech in the UK.

From social services to planning applications and smart transport, every part of our lives either is or will be a touch point for tech. This provides an incredible opportunity for digital to increase efficiencies and improve services – leading to more productive, healthier lives. Yet, across all these areas there exists common issues and challenges:

• How do we collect and use data in a way that inspires confidence of the citizen?
• How do we raise awareness and understanding of the data available by enabling those that serve the public to use the tools at their disposal?
• How do we meet increased demand and the needs of the digital public, without excluding those who are not online?

There’s no doubt these are complex challenges. But doing nothing is no longer an option. The only way to improve healthcare delivery, meet the challenges in funding for local government and modernise our cities is by realising the transformational potential of technology.

All this week we will be exploring the opportunities and challenges and the technologies needed to make this a reality.

Join the conversation on #smarttech