Showing papers in "Telecommunications Journal of Australia in 2012"

Inclusion during school absence: Using ambient technology to create a classroom presence for hospitalised children

Abstract: In this paper, we investigate the use of ambient technology to create a classroom presence for hospitalised children. We present results from four case studies, each of which included data from hospitalised children, their parents, classmates and teachers (at both school and hospital). Primary school-aged children from both metropolitan and rural areas were included. Data collected at both the hospital and the classroom were analysed to investigate children's experience of the ambient technology and their desire to be aware of the presence of their peers, from both ends of the hospital-school setting. The results indicate that ambient technology is positive at fostering a mutual sense of presence, from the perspective of the hospitalised children, their family, teachers and classmates.

Affordable broadband for all Australians

Abstract: This paper focuses on the issue of broadband affordability for residential consumers in Australia, specifically those 20% of households with very low income. Using new survey data with analyses of market prices, customer segments and the relative prices and capabilities of fixed and wireless broadband, the paper argues that affordability is still a significant issue that needs to be discussed more openly in the public policy domain. Specifically, policies and programs that enable people on a low income to experience high capacity broadband services for themselves at home would help secure the considerable investment in the National Broadband Network and ensure that the benefits of the growing digital economy are equitably distributed to all Australians.

Serving the public interest in regulating media convergence

Abstract: Convergence Convergence reviews or how monopolists extend their analogue empires Christopher Marsden Future tense: Australia’s contested rule-making for media diversity Tim Dwyer Convergence and media ownership – The merits of repealing the '2 out of 3 rule' and adopting a national public interest test Niloufer Selvadurai 'Politics not policies' re-visited Trevor Barr Principles of accuracy, fairness and privacy under a new code Mark Briedis, William Renton Broadcast regulation in the broadband era: licensing and content regulation David Lindsay The Convergence Review and the future of Australian content regulation Ben Goldsmith, Julian Thomas Is access to content really the new bottleneck: or should we be content about content? Paul Paterson Finding someone to trust: Why do reviews of Australian media regulations propose new independent authorities? Michael Gordon-Smith The Convergence Review and media policy The missed opportunities Iarla Flynn

Learning fast: broadband and the future of education

Abstract: Educational institutions have always had a central place in the online age. Before the advent of high-speed broadband, other communications technologies and services also played a big role in education. University researchers were among the first Australian users of what became known as the Internet. When the domain name system was deployed in the mid-1980s, the .au domain was delegated to Robert Elz at the University of Melbourne. When the Australian Vice-Chancellor’s Committee decided to set up a national communications network to support research, Geoff Huston transferred to its payroll from ANU to work as technical manager for AARNet, whose current chief executive, Chris Hancock, is interviewed by Liz Fell in this issue. When a 56 kbps ARPANET link with Australia was made by NASA and the University of Hawaii via Intelsat in June 1989, the connection was established in Elz’s University of Melbourne laboratory. (Clarke 2004: 31) In earlier times, the postal service made learning-at-a-distance possible by ‘correspondence’, particularly in remote areas of Australia. Advances in radio communications made it easier and the interactivity more immediate. Television sets and later video cassette and DVD players and recorders made it more visual. The telephone provided a tool of communication for teachers and learners; the best of them understood that most people were both at different times. Then simple low bandwidth tools like email and web browsing provided new ways for students, teachers and their institutions to communicate and distribute and share information. Learning management systems like Blackboard have been widely deployed through the education sector. Information that was once housed in libraries is now available online and social media platforms are providing new ways for students to collaborate. Ubiquitous, faster broadband and mobile access via smartphones and tablets promise further transformations.

The convergence review and the future of Australian content regulation

Abstract: This article examines the place of Australian and local content regulation in the new media policy framework proposed by the Convergence Review. It outlines the history of Australian content regulation and the existing policy framework, before going on to detail some of the debates around Australian content during the Review. The final section analyses the relevant recommendations in the Convergence Review Final Report, and highlights some issues and problems that may arise in the new framework.

The Australian Government Internet Filter: Its Scope, and Its Potential Civil Liberties Implications

Abstract: In this article, we examine the structural elements of the Australian Government's filter policy as it has evolved over time, paying particular attention to the scope of the proposal, and the possible civil liberties implications of the proposal as it is presently formulated. More precisely, we argue that, by anchoring the proposal in the RC classification scheme, the filter will block far more than illegal material and, as a consequence, there is cause to be worried that a censorship regime is being created, as opposed to a system to protect children. We also explore the significance of civil liberties in the context of a liberal democracy and demonstrate the value they bring to Australia and show how freedom of speech, expression and information are not properly protected under Australia's Constitutional Framework creating consequences for established democratic freedoms in Australian society if the present ISP policy is to be implemented.

It means inclusion: A creative approach to disability and telecommunications policy in Australia

Abstract: Christopher Newell was both optimistic and sceptical regarding the potential of digital technologies and advanced telecommunications to assist individuals with disability (Newell 1998, Goggin & Newell 2000, Goggin & Newell 2003). With Newell’s body of work in mind, this paper considers current policy issues which intersect disability, telecommunications and participation that have garnered government and public attention in Australia in recent years. Three important case studies are offered – the national broadband network, digital television and mobile telephones. I demonstrate the tangible benefits innovative use of these telecommunications technologies can deliver, in assisting individuals with disabilities, while cautioning their potentially disabling elements. Using an ethos of 'accessibility 2.0' (Ellis & Kent 2011), the paper takes the policy discussion beyond the provision of infrastructure to consider issues of accessibility and usability, relevant to disabled users and, by extension, us all (Goggin 2008b). This paper recommends a reformulation of telecommunications policy to recognise different accessibility requirements are needed for different impairments and that these may benefit the mainstream community which is interested in customising its digital technologies (Jaeger 2006). An extraordinary value lies in using telecommunications – such as the NBN, digital television and mobile telephones – to connect people with disability who are physically and socially marginalised

A key performance indicator for journalists: the value of systems thinking for the field

Abstract: Legacy approaches to journalism education, formulated before computing and the Internet, focus on the democratising service outputs of the profession in promoting discussion, public scrutiny, commerce and entertainment. This focus has been at the cost of a reduced emphasis on the process of producing and distributing journalism, the expertise for which has largely been relinquished to engineers. This has made journalists vulnerable to economic variables and reduced their capacity to create and capture value in their markets in an agile manner. However, since the early 2000s, broadband has allowed and then required journalists and journalism educators to regain production and distribution expertise and to include systems thinking in curriculum areas. This article discusses the economic implications of this and the expected impacts on journalism practice and commercial funding. The article concludes that a ‘key performance indicator’ for journalists is now the ability to optimise where and how a digital file of text, audio, video or other computer code is placed on any relevant computer network.

Towards an energy rating system for telecommunications

Abstract: The Internet can provide many opportunities to improve the sustainability of society. However, it also has potentially adverse environmental impacts in terms of energy consumption. To address these negative impacts a new energy rating system for the telecommunications sector is being developed. The new rating system will serve as a systematic framework for assessing, reporting and benchmarking the sustainability of telecom products and services. In this paper, we discuss the ecosystem of the new rating system and methodologies for computing a telecom service's green index rating. Further, we use real network measurements obtained from a research and education network to demonstrate how the green service index rating of a telecom service can be calculated. © 2012 Swinburne University of Technology.

The role of IPTV in education

Abstract: Internet Protocol TV (IPTV) is best known as a platform for the provision of entertainment services, such as movies-on-demand, and which provides sizeable revenue streams for telecommunications and Internet service providers in various markets across the globe. Less appreciated are the intriguing possibilities IPTV offers in the education domain where operators are also in competition. They, too, are constantly seeking innovative services and delivery mechanisms for their ?customers?, who increasingly demand their education via non-traditional modes of delivery to fit in with changing lifestyles and expectations. This article will outline the basics of IPTV technology and provide examples of its being used in a variety of situations across the educational spectrum, including tertiary education, continuing professional development (CPD), and personally tailored education services in the home for the wider community.

ISP liability for end-user copyright infringements: the High Court decision in Roadshow Films v iiNet

Abstract: In Roadshow Films v iiNet, the High Court unanimously held that iiNet was not liable for copyright infringements committed by its subscribers by means of the BitTorrent peer-to-peer file-sharing system. While the two judgments delivered by the High Court have clarified the extent to which ISPs may be liable for end-user infringements, they have created considerable legal uncertainty about authorisation liability, which is the main Australian doctrine under which a person may be found liable for the infringing conduct of another person. This article explains and analyses the two judgments delivered by the High Court in iiNet, focussing on the implications of the decision for ISPs, and for authorisation liability more generally.

Driving Australia’s digital future? Online engagement and the National Digital Economy Strategy

Abstract: Infrastructure developments under the National Broadband Network and the prominence of Web 2.0 technologies and other broadband-enabled applications and services have prompted the Australian Federal Government to address Internet use for two-way communication with citizens. Online civic engagement is encouraged and endorsed through recent policies; however, there is a significant gap in transforming visions of engagement into forms of action. Federal initiatives emphasise the role of customers over citizens and implicitly equate improved service delivery with increased online engagement.This article explores the e-government goal of the National Digital Economy Strategy, which aims to have four out of five Australians engaging with governments online by 2020 and identifies that local and state governments will drive greater digital engagement. Improved infrastructure will not routinely transfer into increased online engagement, and local governments in particular will require additional guidance and support when advancing e-government practices. This article suggests that a cohesive e-government policy approach that coordinates knowledge and action through the various tiers of Australian government would facilitate the development of citizen-centric opportunities for e-government engagement.

Consuming Apps: The Australian Woman's Slow Appetite for Apps

Abstract: This article explores the domestication of mobile technologies by women and how their traditionally slow adoption of new technologies is being mirrored through their adoption of smart-phone applications. Building on existing gender and mobile communications literature, this paper provides a needed overview of how women are strategically deploying the use of 'apps' on their smart phones in both 'fun' and 'useful' ways.

Quelling P2P infringement: private American harbours or public French graduations?

Abstract: Two basic legal models have evolved to tackle the problem of unlawful P2P distribution: safe harbour and graduated response. This article will discuss the two models, with a focus on the American safe harbour regime and the French graduated response regime. Also considered is the open question of what will occur in Australia in the aftermath of the High Court?s denial of ISP liability in Roadshow Films v iiNet.

On the (new) New Zealand graduated response law (and why it's unlikely to achieve its aims)

Abstract: In 2011 New Zealand controversially introduced a 'three strikes' graduated response law. Under this law, the holders of Internet service accounts which are detected as having infringed copyright via P2P file sharing technologies three times within a specified time period can be ordered by the Copyright Tribunal to pay content owners up to NZ$15,000. The law also provides for Internet access to be suspended, though these provisions are currently inactive pending determination of the efficacy of the financial penalty regime. This paper explores the contours of the NZ graduated response regime – and then outlines a number of technical and practical reasons why it's unlikely to achieve its aims.