The experience of being connected

Abstract

The rapid spread of broadband always-on Internet is expected to change the way people will communicate and share content and experiences in the near future. This broadband connection can enhance the communication among family members and friends. It can also make it easy to share content and activities such as watching a movie together or listening to the same music while having a videophone chat. While using all these functions people want to be able to move freely through their home. The advance of portable devices fulfils this need for mobility. These portable devices can be used either in isolation or in co-operation with the stationary devices in the house. This paper describes the development and evaluation of two novel interaction concepts that support sociability and mobility for people inhabiting the connected home.

The national broadband network and the challenges of creating connectivity in education: The case of Tasmania

“…Among the technological affordances are improved management of supporting infrastructure and networks (e.g., cloud computing, virtualisation, security), the use of collaborative technologies for problem-solving, and the opportunity for development of new products and services leading to economic growth (Boulos et al, 2011;Brabham, 2008;International Telecommunication Union, 2012). High bandwidth technologies have enabled enhanced individual experiences through greater access to information (including authoritative databases), products, services (including educational courseware); enhanced online relationships (allowing telepresence and sharing); connection to online communities; breakdown of the isolation of distance; and greater flexibility in the way people study and work (Missingham, 2009;Van de Sluis & Diederiks, 2004). Some research suggests that broadband acts to encourage greater civic participation, can strengthen local communities and help to mitigate social disadvantage (Office of Communications, 2009;Stern, Adams, & Boase, 2011;Wellman et al, 2003).…”