Shiona McCallum tries on a piece of wearable tech at VivaTech in Paris, one of Europe’s biggest technology shows. The gadget is just one example of the latest kit that could soon appear in homes and workplaces, as the BBC’s technology reporter discovers during a tour of the exhibition floor.
But beyond the glittering prototypes and futuristic demos, a less visible force underpins the entire event: data centres. These vast facilities are central to modern online lives, yet not everyone is convinced they are a good thing. Speaking to the head of a major global data centre company, McCallum explores the challenges facing an industry that powers everything from streaming to smart devices.
“Shiona McCallum visits VivaTech in Paris, exploring new tech and data centre challenges.”
“Data centres are the backbone of the digital world, but they come with significant environmental and community concerns,” the executive said during the interview, though the specifics of those concerns were not detailed. The conversation hinted at tensions between the sector’s rapid growth and the push for sustainability.
The show itself, VivaTech, is a meeting point for innovators and investors, where the next wave of consumer technology is unveiled. McCallum’s encounter with wearable tech – a device strapped to her wrist – underscores how quickly such products move from prototype to mainstream. The BBC’s Tom Quinn produced the episode, which aired on 23 June 2026.
As the tech industry races ahead, the debate over data centres is likely to intensify. For now, VivaTech offers a glimpse of what is coming next – and a reminder that every connected device depends on a network of energy-hungry data centres that not everyone wants in their backyard.