Software versus hardware

Business Secretary Lord Peter Mandelson visited the Advanced Manufacturing Research Center (AMRC) to talk about nuclear energy and the opportunity for Sheffield to become the UK's civil nuclear hub. He talked about the AMRC's 3D reality suite, where people can interact virtually with large mechanical structures, such as aircraft engines and, one presumes, nuclear power station designs. The 3D reality suite allows real things to be designed and made better, in the sense that they can be proven to be assembled and maintained easily, but machines on the shopfloor actually cut the metal bits that are to be assembled and maintained. The Business Secretary's intention is to revive Britain's flagging manufacturers and, with direct government help, lay the foundations for a hi-tech rebirth of industry.