Of the 8.2 million homes and businesses active on Australia’s National Broadband Network (NBN) in July 2021, 77% are now reported to be on a broadband plan that delivers speeds of at least 50 megabits per second (Mbps). This is plenty to accommodate a typical household’s needs for video streaming (Netflix high-definition resolution, for instance,… Read more »
Caught out by its strategy to bet on COVID-19 vaccines that could be made in Australia, the federal government is now scrambling to manufacture mRNA vaccines locally. Its “approach to market” strategy has effectively asked companies how much government money they need to do so. But even with subsidies, this plan will take years. So… Read more »
In partnership with eyewear brand Ray-Ban, Facebook has released its first pair of smart glasses, offering wearers the ability to capture photos and videos without even needing to pull out their phone. The glasses, called Ray-Ban Stories, are now available for A$449 and are functionally similar to devices already on the market, such as SnapChat… Read more »
As evacuees and refugees from Afghanistan start their new lives in Australia, their ability to navigate the digital world will be crucial. Our research, published this week, reveals how newly arrived refugees use digital technologies as they begin this new chapter. Importantly, new arrivals will need some level of digital know-how to participate in QR… Read more »
South Australia has begun a trial of a new COVID app to monitor arrivals into the state. SA Premier Steven Marshall claimed “every South Australian should feel pretty proud that we are the national pilot for the home-based quarantine app”. He then doubled down with the boast that he was “pretty sure the technology that… Read more »
A new law gives Australian police unprecedented powers for online surveillance, data interception and altering data. These powers, outlined in the Surveillance Legislation Amendment (Identify and Disrupt) Bill, raise concerns over potential misuse, privacy and security. The bill updates the Surveillance Devices Act 2004 and Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979. In essence, it allows… Read more »
Over the past 25 years, the name “Google” has become synonymous with the idea of searching for anything online. In much the same way “to Hoover” means to use a vacuum cleaner, dictionaries have recognised “to Google” as meaning to undertake an online search using any available service. Former competitors such as AltaVista and AskJeeves… Read more »
Twitter has come under increasing public scrutiny for facilitating hostile communication online. While the micro-blogging site promotes itself as providing a “free” and “safe” space to talk, critics have highlighted the company’s inept response to repeated instances of trolling, harassment and abuse. Our research into how people present themselves and manage their interactions with other… Read more »
As lockdowns continue across Australia, many households are doing something they may not have considered just 18 months ago: ordering groceries online. Australia’s supermarket duopoly, Coles and Woolworths, have raced to implement new technology and transform labour arrangements to keep up with the e-grocery boom. Both are investing in “smart” warehousing and distribution systems with… Read more »
There’s a revolution under way in commerce. Within five years, the consumer data right will have transformed competition and simplified the way we live. Yet most of us know little about it, or think it is restricted to banking. It’s the brainchild of former Productivity Commission chief Peter Harris and Scott Morrison when he was… Read more »
On August 28, a SpaceX rocket will blast off from Cape Canaveral in Florida, carrying supplies bound for the International Space Station. But also on board will be a small satellite that represents a giant leap into space for our research program here in Western Australia. Our satellite, called Binar-1 after the Noongar word for… Read more »
Compulsory COVID vaccination is in the news again now Qantas has just announced its employees will need a shot. #Breaking: @Qantas has become the second major Australian company to mandate vaccines for its workers. Under the commitment, all frontline staff must be fully vaccinated by November 15, and the rest of its workforce by March… Read more »
Over the past year, we’ve seen how dramatically misinformation can impact the lives of people, communities and entire countries. In a bid to better understand how misinformation spreads online, Twitter has started an experimental trial in Australia, the United States and South Korea, allowing users to flag content they deem misleading. Users in these countries… Read more »
With the simple touch of a smartphone, online food delivery services conveniently offer takeaway food straight to your door. Contact-free delivery has surged in popularity as lockdowns have limited physical access to restaurants and food outlets. Industry reports suggest Australians are spending three times more on online food delivery than before the COVID-19 pandemic. Globally,… Read more »
Vaccine and drug development, artificial intelligence, transport and logistics, climate science — these are all areas that stand to be transformed by the development of a full-scale quantum computer. And there has been explosive growth in quantum computing investment over the past decade. Yet current quantum processors are relatively small in scale, with fewer than… Read more »
Atlassian cofounder Scott Farquhar steps down as co-CEO 
Outdoor adtech startup Doohly banks $500,000 pre-Seed to speed up digital ad execution 
The lessons from Uber, Ola and rideshare’s disruption is that in the end, the consumer still pays 
Alice Anderson fund backs AI-based legaltech startup in $1 million pre-Seed round 
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