Senator Conroy opens Armidale Broadband Smart Home
Published: 16th October 2012
RDA Northern Inland (New South Wales) is pleased to announce a project to build a regional National Broadband Network (NBN) Experience Centre in Armidale has been realised following its launch by Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy recently.
After more than 12 months of behind-the-scenes work by the Australian Government, education and private industry partners, the home now offers an insight into the home of the future and how the NBN will change the way we live, work and play.
Led by RDA Northern Inland, the Broadband Smart Home is located in Queen Elizabeth Drive in Armidale. It demonstrates many of the real-world applications of the NBN, including home automation, remote health monitoring, video-conferencing, rehabilitation, education, remote business, sensor monitoring and environmental sustainability.
Senator Conroy, together with Federal member for New England Mr Tony Windsor MP, were treated to a number of live demonstrations, including the joint University of New England and Australian Centre for Broadband Innovation’s ‘Smarter, Safer Homes’ initiative which focuses on demonstrating the use of simply-installed, NBN-linked devices to help elderly people live safe, comfortable and independent lives.
The highlight of the day was a live video-conference to Daejon in South Korea where Minister Conroy and local students were able to chat with Korean students in real-time over 8000 kilometres away.
"It was great to take part in the launch of the Armidale Broadband Smart Home, which clearly demonstrates the many ways that regional areas will benefit from high-speed broadband," Senator Conroy said.
“People living in Armidale are among the first in the nation to have access to the faster, improved broadband that the NBN offers, with all the advantages of being first, particularly for small businesses, education and health sectors,” Senator Conroy said.
“High-definition video-conferencing means children are able to take classes their local school doesn’t offer and people will be able to consult with a specialist doctor from anywhere in Armidale, or around the country, without travelling long distances.
“The Broadband Smart Home has the potential to be a real asset to Armidale and the wider region. I’d like to congratulate the project partners for pursuing this important initiative. It’s great to see local people taking advantage of the opportunities that the NBN can offer,” Senator Conroy said.
As well as being open to the public, the home is also being used by local TAFE and University students to trial and demonstrate cutting-edge projects across a range of areas. The home is already being used by NBN Co and retail service providers to trial and deploy NBN-related equipment and services.
Project partners include RDA Northern Inland, NSW Trade and Investment, ISU Solutions, CSIRO, The Australian Centre for Broadband Innovation, TAFE New England Institute and The University of New England, Armidale.
Anyone interested in a tour of the Armidale Broadband Smart Home can contact RDA Northern Inland on 02 67712790, or visit the RDA Northern Inland website.
(Pictured above) RDA Northern Inland Executive Officer, Nathan Axelsson; Senior Research Officer with Neuroscience Australia, Stuart Smith; Autumn Lodge Village resident, Lorrain O'Keefe and Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, Senator Stephen Conroy at the launch of the Smart House