Launceston may be the home of entrepreneurial start-ups, innovation and the Internet of Things but there is still work to do to ensure all Tasmanians can benefit from the fast-paced digital economy.
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The fourth Australian Digital Inclusion Index, co-developed by the Centre for Social Impact at Swinburne University, was released on Tuesday and ranked the states for their digital inclusiveness.
The index measures Australians' online participation through three measures - access, affordability and digital ability. It looks at trends across demographics including age, geography, socioeconomics, people with a disability and Indigenous Australians.
Not surprisingly, Tasmania ranked last among its counterparts for digital inclusion, compounded by existing digital literacy issues among adults and those with higher needs. This news is particularly frustrating when you consider Tasmania is one of the states with a large proportion of businesses and residential homes connected to the National Broadband Network to the home, as opposed to the node module in other areas. Also, there has been a concerted push, particularly in Launceston, to transform the city into one that connects to new technology, such as the push towards becoming a "smart city" along with the adoption of the Internet of Things.
Launceston already punches above its weight when it comes to digital technology, with plans to also connect the state via the LoRaWAN Internet of Things radio network.
Advanced manufacturing business Definium Networks, based in Launceston, will connect most of the state via a series of LoRaWAN (long-range) gateways, making Tasmania the ideal setting to test new ideas and devices in a real-world setting.
Despite being willing and early adopters of this technology, and the nous of businesses wanting to push it out there, there is still a yawning chasm between access to it for Tasmanian residents.
How we bridge that gap is a discussion that needs to be had, because all the technology in the world is great, but it doesn't mean anything if we can't see a tangible benefit for Tasmania.