Smart infrastructure

Smart infrastructure encompasses networked infrastructure that uses sensors and communications technologies to better utilise or sustain resources. Examples of smart infrastructure include electricity grids which improve grid reliability and better utilise energy; transport systems which optimise traffic flows; and water networks which improve water productivity in agriculture. Emerging uses of smart infrastructure have the potential to reduce costs, enhance safety and reduce our environmental footprint.

Listen to: Session 1 | Session 2 | Session 3

Digital education includes technologies which will enable schools, vocational education and training institutions and universities to publish material online, students and teachers to collaborate online, students to participate in remote learning and researchers to access vast quantities of information in an instant. These technologies are playing an increasing role in the learning environment. The Australian Government's Digital Education Revolution, combined with the National Broadband Network, can make Australia a global leader in research and learning.

Listen to: Session 1 | Session 2 | Session 3

e-Communities are groups of people with common interests that use the online environment to interact and deliver services. These virtual communities may use social networking websites or add comments to a blog, message board or wiki. Participation in e-Communities assists digital literacy skills, promotes social inclusion through online engagement and improves digital confidence. In the future e-Community has the potential to enhance knowledge and understanding and enable community organisations to deliver services at significantly reduced costs resulting in a better informed and more collaborative society.

Listen to: Session 1 | Session 2 | Session 3

e-Health is a means of delivering health information and services in a secure electronic form for the purpose of optimising the quality and efficiency of health care. Services such as electronic clinical messaging (discharge, referrals, pathology, and prescriptions) and remote diagnosis and monitoring can revolutionise the way we access health care. This will be essential as our population ages to reduce the costs of health care, improve quality of life and sustain regional communities.

Listen to: Session 1 | Session 2 | Session 3

e-Business is the automation of business processes over digital or online networks. These can streamline internal business processes, processes between companies, or processes between businesses and customers. e-Business opportunities are enhanced by the ability of business to use the latest collaborative online technology to engage with consumers in Australia and globally. The National Broadband Network presents Australian businesses with a once in a lifetime opportunity to grasp a long-term advantage over their global competition.

Listen to: Session 1 | Session 2 | Session 3

Stream Session 1 What are the possibilities
What are the new applications, services and business models that will be made possible by high speed broadband? Why are these important to Australia's productivity and social well-being? How will they change people's lives?

Stream Session 2 Reality Check
What are the current examples of broadband enabled service delivery? Apart from availability of faster broadband, is anything holding back the further development of these?

Stream Session 3 Next Steps
What needs to be done to ensure we take full advantage of the opportunities of high speed broadband? How will we know if we are on track?

The forum discussion will establish a road-map for government, business and communities to realise the benefits of high speed broadband and the digital economy.