What will the world of the future look like? Will we all have our own personal robots to help with everyday tasks? Could the Internet help generate more money for good causes?

These are some of the questions that BT set out to answer when it recently hosted a Superfast Futures Competition to ask P4 - P7 pupils from Sacred Heart Primary School in Dundrum Village how they envisage the Internet transforming their future lives. The competition, which gathered the views of 30 children, offered participants the chance to win a Superfast Goodie Bag, which included an iPod Shuffle and iTunes vouchers. The competition was won by three pupils, Joanna Boden, Amelia Savage and Giacomo Ballocchi. Their winning entries can be viewed online at www.nibroadband.com.

Frank McManus of BT said, “We are delighted with the enthusiasm, imagination and vision of the children of Sacred Heart Primary School. Our children go to school to learn the skills and knowledge they will need in the future and by engaging them in this competition, we have seen how creative they can be. For many of these children, a superfast broadband connection is part and parcel of their everyday lives and it will be amazing to see how they develop the technology in the future.”

The opinions gathered were far-ranging with some children seeing the positive effect that the Internet can have for those in need;

Joanna - “The computer can change the future by helping the elderly. Older people can have their own computer, so when they need something they can send an email to a worker and the worker can get what the person needs.

Aoife – “I think the Internet could change the world because it could change Africa. It could give them water, new homes, lots of food, toys, beds and games, and all you have to do is go to a website www.changethepain.co.uk. You just have to type in how much you would like to donate and I think it could really make a difference!”

Others saw the future closer to the images shown in science fiction films and television programmes;

Amelia - “I think the Superfast Future will have lots of our everyday things controlled by the Internet. Shed doors will be powered by the internet. Also you would see a laptop in every house. Cars will be powered by the internet also. The world might look the same, but lots of things will have changed!”

Giacomo – “One day you want to drive your car, but your tablet PC tells you that the fuel is low. With the tablet, you can buy the diesel/petrol online. Then you sit on your car but you have no steering wheel, because you can use the tablet PC instead to steer, accelerate and brake. Quite like your video game.”

Kate – “In the future I think you will be able to get food simply by pressing a button! Maybe you’re at a dinner and you hate the food. Simply duck into the bathroom and download the app on your phone. Click on the picture of a slice of pizza and choose your topping. A hologram of the food will appear. Pick it up and it will be real with all the taste and goodness of the real stuff. Eat up and leave your hiding place!”

Joshua - “I think the Superfast Future will have voice-activated, bubble hover craft cars which take you to wherever you ask!”

Ronan – “I think Miss could email our homework to us and we will do it and send it back!”

Whatever the future holds, the Internet is going to change life on Earth as we know it, and it already is! Who knows what the world will look like in 50 years’ time;

Mya – “If lots of people use computers then the world will turn square!”

To find out how superfast fibre broadband is already transforming businesses, homes and communities in Northern Ireland, visit www.nibroadband.com.

About BT

BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications services and solutions, serving customers in more than 170 countries.  Its principal activities include the provision of networked IT services globally; local, national and international telecommunications services to its customers for use at home, at work and on the move; broadband and internet products and services and converged fixed/mobile products and services.  BT consists principally of four lines of business: BT Global Services, BT Retail, BT Wholesale and Openreach.In the year ended 31 March 2012, BT Group’s revenue was £18,897m with profit before taxation of £2,445m.British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group plc and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group.  BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. For more information, visit www.btplc.com