[clug] stupid Communications ministers

[Doug Palmer]

As regards broadband applications, CeNTIE
http://www.ict.csiro.au/page.php?cid=22 has been looking at what people
could do with more bandwidth than they can poke a stick at. (I'll also
just mention that they have "First Mile" and "Regional" forums looking
at how to share the wealth.) CeNTIE has been funded by the government
for several years. So I don't think that the government is as backward
looking as people would like to think.

However, a lot of the CeNTIE applications are business-related and
largely concerned with being able to supply skills and expertise to
where-ever people need them. Intensive people-oriented stuff often needs
high-bandwidth video and audio over IP so that people can capture
nuance. So I wouldn't expect to see them in most people's homes.

Connecting Critical Care is one of the things that could be improved
with way more bandwidth, since it's designed to operate over standard
broadband. ViCCU is good, but it's dependent on the availability of lots
of bandwidth.
http://www.smh.com.au/news/web/remote-diagnosis-healthy-plus/2006/10/09/1160246042291.html
http://www.ict.csiro.au/page.php?did=16

(Disclaimer, I'm somehow connected to CeNTIE.)

Doug