Roving ambassador for the IIA's Digital Bridge Taskforce, George Bray, and his eight-year old son, will set off on a 25,000 kilometre -tech trek" around Australia on August 1st. The mission's aim is to find out exactly what technological issues are affecting regional and rural parts of Australia, so the IIA can lobby for necessary improvements to the government.
The wireless bus is equipped with 17 solar panels and advanced satellite connection enabling Bray to hook up to the Internet at speeds of up to 400 kilobits per second.
-We'll be able to download videos and music at super speed. It won't be as fast as cable, but then we'd need an awful lot of cable for that," Bray said.
The Satellite connection will enable Bray's eight-year old son to stay in touch with his education by surfing the Internet and receiving crystal clear digital reception of five free to air networks and hundreds of satellite TV channels.
All the major technology will run on Cisco's wireless Ethernet network worth AU$40,000. Magellan's Global Positioning System (GPS) will be used to pinpoint the bus' location.
Access One is the primary Internet Service Provider for the incoming Internet service via Optus' satellite. To complete the Internet connection back to the service Optus has provided its GPRS mobile phone service.
A Web site www.techtrek.tv will track the trip from beginning to end, showing Brays reporting of various issues, stories and interviews along the way.
Bray says the main reason for the Web site is to solicit innovative uses of technology, particular wireless, from individuals in remote areas.
-We're inviting people to talk to us through the Web site so we can visit them while on the road and do a story about it," Bray said.
In addition to reporting on the uses of wireless technology in remote areas, Bray aims to survey individuals on telecommunications access issues, as well as their technology skills and requirements.
The results collected from the -teck trek" survey will be used by the National Office for the Information Economy (NOIE) and the IIA for future policy making addressing the nationwide problem of the digital divide.
