Six exciting advancements coming to a smart home near you

From keeping your family entertained to ensuring everyone is safe and sound, a new wave of technology is set to make Australian homes smarter than ever.
Not so long ago, the ability to dim your lounge-room lights without getting off the couch was considered the height of smart-home technology. These days, smart technology is extending to every corner of our homes, working together to create a truly smart home rather than just a collection of smart devices.
Keep in mind, many of these new devices and applications tend to be hungry for bandwidth. The average Australian household already downloads seven and a half times more data than it did a decade ago, and this is expected to double again within the next seven years. Uploads are also increasing, predicted to double in the next four years.
The desire for speed makes fast and reliable broadband the cornerstone of any Australian smart home.
The good news is that nbn is continuing to remove ageing copper wire from its Australia-wide network, offering millions of homes and businesses the opportunity to upgrade to full fibre to their premises.
From September, nbn is also accelerating the speeds on its top three residential wholesale speed tiers for homes and businesses with Fibre to the Premises (FTTP) and Hybrid Fibre Coaxial (HFC) connections, without changing the wholesale prices. This means, for example, an nbn 100 plan (Home Fast) will offer five times faster download speeds (500 Mbps) and double the upload speeds (50 Mbps).
Fast, efficient broadband means the network can handle not only the 25 connected devices an average broadband home has today, but also the 44 we're expected to have by the end of the decade. Here are six smart home advancements heading your way.
1. Virtual and augmented reality
Smart TVs and even smart mirrors are bringing 4K Ultra HD streaming video to every room, but home entertainment is set to become even more immersive thanks to the rise of virtual and augmented reality. A virtual reality headset completely blocks your view of the real world to transport you to another realm, while augmented reality superimposes information over your view of the real world around you — a bit like a fighter pilot's heads-up display.

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SBS Australia

8 hours ago

• SBS Australia

Australia's social media ban is approaching, but questions remain over whether it will work

April Willis says young people need a seat at the table for figuring out how to implement the teen social media ban. Source: SBS News / Ash Minchin Like many, April Willis has been using social media since her early teens. As she grew up on the platforms, she says she didn't immediately understand the impact it was having on her. She says that in hindsight, though, she can see that a lot of her "behaviours" and "the content and interactions" she had on social media platforms were "definitely not great" for her mental health. But the now 22-year-old ReachOut youth advocate says she doesn't think a ban would have stopped her. "I think the hard truth is that a lot of us are thinking, 'I would've found a way around it', as I'm sure many young people will." Whether she actually would have is one of the many questions experts are wondering six months out from the implementation of Australia's social media ban for those under the age of 16. And as of 11 December this year, social media companies will be required to take "reasonable steps" to prevent Australian children and teenagers under 16 from using their platforms. A government-commissioned trial into the potential technologies used to assess the ages of users presented their preliminary findings on Friday. Their key finding was that "age assurance can be done in Australia and can be private, robust and effective". "The preliminary findings indicate that there are no significant technological barriers preventing the deployment of effective age assurance systems in Australia," project director Tony Allen said in a statement. "These solutions are technically feasible, can be integrated flexibly into existing services, and can support the safety and rights of children online." With details about the accuracy of the technologies tested left for later release, experts are wary of the trial's initial claim. Daniel Angus is a professor of digital communication at the Queensland University of Technology and the director of its Digital Media Research Centre. "One of the key concerns that we have is how the industry often will inflate their accuracy and the utility of these approaches when we know that there are still significant issues when it comes to both gender and also racial biases, but also the general lack of efficacy of these approaches," he said. According to the Department of Communications, a government-commissioned report from the Social Research Centre found nearly nine in 10 adults were supportive of age assurance measures. Only two of those 10 had heard of at least one potential method to check a person's age online. 'This research shows Australians widely support our world-leading age restrictions on social media for under 16s and have strong expectations of platforms when it comes to data protection and security," Communications Minister Anika Wells said in a statement. Angus says the general public has not been adequately informed about the likely impacts of these technologies. "I think Australians are in for a very rude shock when this actually perhaps, gets implemented, and they all of a sudden are being forced to hand over [their] data to access services that they've freely been able to access up to this point," he said. "It's absolutely everything you would expect to find in the midst of a moral panic where people have been sucked along with this idea that, 'Yeah, this thing is really, really bad and we need to prevent it,' but have not stopped to think critically about this, and then not been properly informed about the fullness of that risk." John Pane, chair of digital rights organisation Electronic Frontiers Australia (EFA), is a member of the stakeholder advisory board for the trial. He says the EFA has "concerns about the rollout of this technology because it's not simply about restricting access to social media platforms for children 15 and under". "It requires all adults who participate in the online environment, who wish to access social media platforms to either have their age authenticated or establish their identity as a means of, or part of that age authentication. "So from our perspective, it's the Trojan horse for getting people to get used to providing more and more credentials online." Amid these concerns, some remain supportive of the ban, including Kirra Pendergast, another member of the stakeholder advisory board. "Initially, I was only against the ban purely because of the technical workarounds that are possible for some kids who are more technical than others," she said. "But after having lots of conversations with parents in particular, it became abundantly clear that the ban was making parents have a conversation that we've needed to have for a very, very long time." Pendergast is the founder of Safe on Social, an online safety advisory group for schools and businesses, and chief digital safety strategist at the global Ctrl+Shft Coalition. "I get contacted almost every single day by parents that are struggling with this," the cybersecurity expert said. "They don't know how to say no." Pendergast said parents and educators would have "a lot more time to get it right". "It's like all aspects of technical security, cybersecurity, and cyber safety. It's never ever going to be 100 per cent. This is never going to be the silver bullet. "It's a really, really good start because, again, it sparked all of the conversations that we needed to have at every level of society." Professor Tama Leaver, an internet studies academic at Curtin University and the chief investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child, says the ban responds to a "very real fear that parents have that social media is an unknown space". "If this is world-leading, we need to be quite clear on what the legislation is actually doing." He warned that the implementation of the policy may not address all the issues that have been discussed. "Some harms, for example, such as cyberbullying, were very much touted as one of the big problems to be solved," he said. "There is nothing in this legislation that addresses cyberbullying meaningfully at all. "This at best addresses algorithmic amplification … of young people's experiences of social media, but … we expect from what's been said already that most messaging apps are exempt from this legislation. "So, the spaces where we imagine cyberbullying is most likely to happen are not being touched by this legislation at all." Leaver was a signatory on an open letter from more than 140 academics and civil society organisations against the ban. "If the rest of the world is watching Australia and hoping that this might be a blueprint, we're going to have an awful lot of work to do in the next few months to actually have a blueprint to practically do this rather than simply aspire to giving parents some reassurance," he said.

The Advertiser

9 hours ago

• The Advertiser

Why Ford thinks its Ranger PHEV doesn't need a bigger battery than Shark 6, Cannon Alpha

Ford says its new Ranger PHEV ute is the 'best tool for the job', despite it failing to match key rivals on battery capacity, power, and electric driving range. Launched in the Australian market last month ahead of imminent customer deliveries, plug-in hybrid versions of the Ranger are propelled by the combination of a 2.3-litre turbo-petrol four cylinder engine and a rear-mounted electric motor, producing a combined 207kW of power and 697Nm of torque. The electric motor sources power from an 11.8kWh lithium-ion battery, which caps the ute's electric driving range at a claimed 49km on the NEDC cycle. The Ranger PHEV is one of three plug-in hybrid utes now available Down Under, alongside the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV. Both Chinese rivals outgun the Ranger on power, EV range and fuel-efficiency, calling into question the competitiveness of Ford's newest model. However, Ford is hanging its hat on the Ranger PHEV's superior payload and towing capacity. All variants can tow up to 3500kg, and payloads range between 808-973kg. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Cannon Alpha equals Ford's Ranger in the towing stakes, but neither the GWM (790kg) nor the BYD (685kg) promise an equivalent payload. It's those attributes that local ute buyers value most, according to senior Ford product executive, Jim Baumbick. "We've always tried to develop the best tool for the job," Mr Baumbick told Australian media at the international launch of the Ranger PHEV. "When you talk to truck customers they want payload and towing. EV range matters, but in context when you're adding more battery you're working counter to the payload and towing. "You can increase the battery size, but then you have to increase the size of other parts to carry that weight. It's about system optimisation. We think it's the right balance for a first application." Ford is also spruiking the vehicle-to-load charging capabilities (V2L) of the Ranger PHEV. It features a pair of 15A power outlets, which allow owners to plug electrical applicances into the vehicle to use it as a generator. Ford dubs this 'Pro Power Onboard' and it offers a total capacity of 6900W, which exceeds the capacity of both the Shark 6 and Cannon Alpha PHEV. Ultimately, Ford has attempted to create an electrified version of Australia's best-selling vehicle that outperforms its diesel stablemates while staying true to the roots of the Ranger brand. "The PHEV isn't just an alternative, it can do everything the diesel can do and then some. The truck is more capable because it's a hybrid. It still does truck things but there's a new thing it can do with exportable power," said Mr Baumbick. "For us, it was about optimising the system for performance, towing and capability. Our target was diesel [performance] or better. "It offers hybrid propulsion, [better] fuel economy, and the superpower of Pro Power Onboard. "It's the right time for a PHEV, and unlocking this new superpower for Ranger. This is going to show our customers the benefits of electrification without any tradeoff to what the truck is capable of." Of the three PHEV utes now available in Australia, the Ranger is the most expensive – the base XLT is priced from $71,990 before on-road costs, more than the most expensive Cannon Alpha PHEV and Shark 6. BYD has already reacted to the arrival of the Ranger PHEV, stating it's not worried about the new electrified ute. "I wouldn't say that we're worried," BYD Australia senior product planning manager, Sajid Hasan told CarExpert. "We respect them, direct competitors, but we're more focused on ourselves and working to expand the Shark 6 lineup and see where that takes us." MORE: Explore the Ford Ranger showroom Content originally sourced from: Ford says its new Ranger PHEV ute is the 'best tool for the job', despite it failing to match key rivals on battery capacity, power, and electric driving range. Launched in the Australian market last month ahead of imminent customer deliveries, plug-in hybrid versions of the Ranger are propelled by the combination of a 2.3-litre turbo-petrol four cylinder engine and a rear-mounted electric motor, producing a combined 207kW of power and 697Nm of torque. The electric motor sources power from an 11.8kWh lithium-ion battery, which caps the ute's electric driving range at a claimed 49km on the NEDC cycle. The Ranger PHEV is one of three plug-in hybrid utes now available Down Under, alongside the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV. Both Chinese rivals outgun the Ranger on power, EV range and fuel-efficiency, calling into question the competitiveness of Ford's newest model. However, Ford is hanging its hat on the Ranger PHEV's superior payload and towing capacity. All variants can tow up to 3500kg, and payloads range between 808-973kg. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Cannon Alpha equals Ford's Ranger in the towing stakes, but neither the GWM (790kg) nor the BYD (685kg) promise an equivalent payload. It's those attributes that local ute buyers value most, according to senior Ford product executive, Jim Baumbick. "We've always tried to develop the best tool for the job," Mr Baumbick told Australian media at the international launch of the Ranger PHEV. "When you talk to truck customers they want payload and towing. EV range matters, but in context when you're adding more battery you're working counter to the payload and towing. "You can increase the battery size, but then you have to increase the size of other parts to carry that weight. It's about system optimisation. We think it's the right balance for a first application." Ford is also spruiking the vehicle-to-load charging capabilities (V2L) of the Ranger PHEV. It features a pair of 15A power outlets, which allow owners to plug electrical applicances into the vehicle to use it as a generator. Ford dubs this 'Pro Power Onboard' and it offers a total capacity of 6900W, which exceeds the capacity of both the Shark 6 and Cannon Alpha PHEV. Ultimately, Ford has attempted to create an electrified version of Australia's best-selling vehicle that outperforms its diesel stablemates while staying true to the roots of the Ranger brand. "The PHEV isn't just an alternative, it can do everything the diesel can do and then some. The truck is more capable because it's a hybrid. It still does truck things but there's a new thing it can do with exportable power," said Mr Baumbick. "For us, it was about optimising the system for performance, towing and capability. Our target was diesel [performance] or better. "It offers hybrid propulsion, [better] fuel economy, and the superpower of Pro Power Onboard. "It's the right time for a PHEV, and unlocking this new superpower for Ranger. This is going to show our customers the benefits of electrification without any tradeoff to what the truck is capable of." Of the three PHEV utes now available in Australia, the Ranger is the most expensive – the base XLT is priced from $71,990 before on-road costs, more than the most expensive Cannon Alpha PHEV and Shark 6. BYD has already reacted to the arrival of the Ranger PHEV, stating it's not worried about the new electrified ute. "I wouldn't say that we're worried," BYD Australia senior product planning manager, Sajid Hasan told CarExpert. "We respect them, direct competitors, but we're more focused on ourselves and working to expand the Shark 6 lineup and see where that takes us." MORE: Explore the Ford Ranger showroom Content originally sourced from: Ford says its new Ranger PHEV ute is the 'best tool for the job', despite it failing to match key rivals on battery capacity, power, and electric driving range. Launched in the Australian market last month ahead of imminent customer deliveries, plug-in hybrid versions of the Ranger are propelled by the combination of a 2.3-litre turbo-petrol four cylinder engine and a rear-mounted electric motor, producing a combined 207kW of power and 697Nm of torque. The electric motor sources power from an 11.8kWh lithium-ion battery, which caps the ute's electric driving range at a claimed 49km on the NEDC cycle. The Ranger PHEV is one of three plug-in hybrid utes now available Down Under, alongside the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV. Both Chinese rivals outgun the Ranger on power, EV range and fuel-efficiency, calling into question the competitiveness of Ford's newest model. However, Ford is hanging its hat on the Ranger PHEV's superior payload and towing capacity. All variants can tow up to 3500kg, and payloads range between 808-973kg. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Cannon Alpha equals Ford's Ranger in the towing stakes, but neither the GWM (790kg) nor the BYD (685kg) promise an equivalent payload. It's those attributes that local ute buyers value most, according to senior Ford product executive, Jim Baumbick. "We've always tried to develop the best tool for the job," Mr Baumbick told Australian media at the international launch of the Ranger PHEV. "When you talk to truck customers they want payload and towing. EV range matters, but in context when you're adding more battery you're working counter to the payload and towing. "You can increase the battery size, but then you have to increase the size of other parts to carry that weight. It's about system optimisation. We think it's the right balance for a first application." Ford is also spruiking the vehicle-to-load charging capabilities (V2L) of the Ranger PHEV. It features a pair of 15A power outlets, which allow owners to plug electrical applicances into the vehicle to use it as a generator. Ford dubs this 'Pro Power Onboard' and it offers a total capacity of 6900W, which exceeds the capacity of both the Shark 6 and Cannon Alpha PHEV. Ultimately, Ford has attempted to create an electrified version of Australia's best-selling vehicle that outperforms its diesel stablemates while staying true to the roots of the Ranger brand. "The PHEV isn't just an alternative, it can do everything the diesel can do and then some. The truck is more capable because it's a hybrid. It still does truck things but there's a new thing it can do with exportable power," said Mr Baumbick. "For us, it was about optimising the system for performance, towing and capability. Our target was diesel [performance] or better. "It offers hybrid propulsion, [better] fuel economy, and the superpower of Pro Power Onboard. "It's the right time for a PHEV, and unlocking this new superpower for Ranger. This is going to show our customers the benefits of electrification without any tradeoff to what the truck is capable of." Of the three PHEV utes now available in Australia, the Ranger is the most expensive – the base XLT is priced from $71,990 before on-road costs, more than the most expensive Cannon Alpha PHEV and Shark 6. BYD has already reacted to the arrival of the Ranger PHEV, stating it's not worried about the new electrified ute. "I wouldn't say that we're worried," BYD Australia senior product planning manager, Sajid Hasan told CarExpert. "We respect them, direct competitors, but we're more focused on ourselves and working to expand the Shark 6 lineup and see where that takes us." MORE: Explore the Ford Ranger showroom Content originally sourced from: Ford says its new Ranger PHEV ute is the 'best tool for the job', despite it failing to match key rivals on battery capacity, power, and electric driving range. Launched in the Australian market last month ahead of imminent customer deliveries, plug-in hybrid versions of the Ranger are propelled by the combination of a 2.3-litre turbo-petrol four cylinder engine and a rear-mounted electric motor, producing a combined 207kW of power and 697Nm of torque. The electric motor sources power from an 11.8kWh lithium-ion battery, which caps the ute's electric driving range at a claimed 49km on the NEDC cycle. The Ranger PHEV is one of three plug-in hybrid utes now available Down Under, alongside the BYD Shark 6 and GWM Cannon Alpha PHEV. Both Chinese rivals outgun the Ranger on power, EV range and fuel-efficiency, calling into question the competitiveness of Ford's newest model. However, Ford is hanging its hat on the Ranger PHEV's superior payload and towing capacity. All variants can tow up to 3500kg, and payloads range between 808-973kg. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. The Cannon Alpha equals Ford's Ranger in the towing stakes, but neither the GWM (790kg) nor the BYD (685kg) promise an equivalent payload. It's those attributes that local ute buyers value most, according to senior Ford product executive, Jim Baumbick. "We've always tried to develop the best tool for the job," Mr Baumbick told Australian media at the international launch of the Ranger PHEV. "When you talk to truck customers they want payload and towing. EV range matters, but in context when you're adding more battery you're working counter to the payload and towing. "You can increase the battery size, but then you have to increase the size of other parts to carry that weight. It's about system optimisation. We think it's the right balance for a first application." Ford is also spruiking the vehicle-to-load charging capabilities (V2L) of the Ranger PHEV. It features a pair of 15A power outlets, which allow owners to plug electrical applicances into the vehicle to use it as a generator. Ford dubs this 'Pro Power Onboard' and it offers a total capacity of 6900W, which exceeds the capacity of both the Shark 6 and Cannon Alpha PHEV. Ultimately, Ford has attempted to create an electrified version of Australia's best-selling vehicle that outperforms its diesel stablemates while staying true to the roots of the Ranger brand. "The PHEV isn't just an alternative, it can do everything the diesel can do and then some. The truck is more capable because it's a hybrid. It still does truck things but there's a new thing it can do with exportable power," said Mr Baumbick. "For us, it was about optimising the system for performance, towing and capability. Our target was diesel [performance] or better. "It offers hybrid propulsion, [better] fuel economy, and the superpower of Pro Power Onboard. "It's the right time for a PHEV, and unlocking this new superpower for Ranger. This is going to show our customers the benefits of electrification without any tradeoff to what the truck is capable of." Of the three PHEV utes now available in Australia, the Ranger is the most expensive – the base XLT is priced from $71,990 before on-road costs, more than the most expensive Cannon Alpha PHEV and Shark 6. BYD has already reacted to the arrival of the Ranger PHEV, stating it's not worried about the new electrified ute. "I wouldn't say that we're worried," BYD Australia senior product planning manager, Sajid Hasan told CarExpert. "We respect them, direct competitors, but we're more focused on ourselves and working to expand the Shark 6 lineup and see where that takes us." MORE: Explore the Ford Ranger showroom Content originally sourced from:

ABC News

13 hours ago

• ABC News

AI threatens entry-level jobs as university grads struggle to get hired

Australian workers are facing a major upheaval as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes a cheaper alternative to employing humans. While the full impact of AI is yet to be reflected in job ads or official employment statistics, both employers and employees warn the technology is already reshaping the nation's labour market. It took recent data science graduate Tien Hung Nguyen 30 applications and an internship to land his first full-time job. "I feel privileged to have secured this position. I'm going to give everything I've got," he says. Most of his friends are still looking for work — and he says artificial intelligence is a big reason why. "Since AI appeared, for example, a team might have needed three or four juniors and a senior. Now, it's one junior and AI," Mr Nguyen explains. In countries where AI is more advanced, such as the United States, lay-offs are speeding up. Amazon is the latest big employer to warn of looming job losses. There are also reports Microsoft is shaping up to clean out more staff whose tasks can be completed by AI. There are also worrying signs for young workers in the US, as the unemployment rate for recent college graduates nears 6 per cent. In Australia, the unemployment rate is holding steady at 4.1 per cent. However, the jobless rate for young people — which is typically higher than the overall rate — has risen slightly to 9.2 per cent. Economist Leonora Risse says youth unemployment is a key indicator. "Young people tend to be the group that experience the greatest volatility in the labour market," she warns. Mr Nguyen now works at an AI start-up, where much of the low-level admin work has already been handed over to machines. His employer, Julian Fayed, says the shift is accelerating. "Our technology is advancing, and our AI implementations are advancing at a rate that means that our headcount isn't really growing anymore," he says. "A lot of the lower-level tasks our team didn't enjoy doing, AI can now do 24 hours a day, seven days a week. "No sick days. That's the slightly dark joke." Beyond small tech start-ups, some of the country's biggest employers are also preparing for a leaner future. Telstra CEO Vicky Brady has been up-front at several public events about how advances in AI will result in job cuts. "We know that work is going to look very different in 2030 — and so will we," Ms Brady told a recent investor briefing. CBA boss Matt Comyn made similar comments when he appeared at the Australian Financial Review's AI summit in Sydney this month. "It's hard to make predictions," Mr Comyn said. "But I think in some areas, it's reasonable to say the workforce will be smaller." Dario Amodei — CEO of US-based AI company Anthropic — has warned that up to 50 per cent of entry-level white-collar jobs could disappear within five years. Aaron Matrljan from recruitment agency Aura agrees junior positions will be among the first to go. "Things that we would get juniors to be trained on — that would usually be a learning exercise for them — can now be done so much more cheaply and effectively by AI in a matter of seconds," he explains. Mr Matrljan says his professional services clients are all talking about AI. Mr Matrljan expects to see job cuts because of AI becoming more common within the next two years, and believes slower economic conditions will only speed up the take-up of technology. "The next intake of graduates is going to be really interesting, and firms are going to have to work out where they're gaining those efficiencies, where they're gaining the cost savings, and how many grads do we need, how many trainees do we need to do the tasks that AI can do now so much quicker." Businesses that don't adopt AI risk being left behind, particularly as the technology promises major productivity gains. The optimistic view of AI is that the technology won't replace human workers but instead allow them to take on higher-level tasks. "Productivity is about shifting our time away from the lowest value activities and the lowest value tasks that can be done by automation or AI or computers, and reallocating our time towards the most valuable uses, the most purposeful and meaningful uses," Dr Risse argues. Dr Risse said AI can be of huge benefit to workers if the transition is managed equitably. "If you have higher labour productivity, you have a case for a higher wage," she explains. Some jobs will inevitably be replaced by AI, particularly routine roles that are easier to automate because they follow predictable, repetitive patterns. The reality is, as Dr Risse says, some workers will need to find new jobs in new industries. "The care and community sector is growing, particularly as a result of the aging nation. We need humans. We need people in those sectors," she argues. "But for some people in areas like banking or finance, that can feel like a big leap." As AI advances, the question is no longer if it will dramatically change the workforce, but how quickly, and whether Australia's job market can adapt in time. Mr Fayed believes there'll always be white-collar jobs for the right candidate. However, landing a position is likely to become more competitive. His advice to students is blunt. "For anyone thinking about what to study — you absolutely should be considering whether your future role is at risk from AI," Mr Fayed said. "I do think this is going to be very, very disruptive." There's also a risk for companies that cut too deep — they could lose the pipeline of workers who would eventually move into mid-level and senior roles. "Firms are going to have to … work out where they're gaining those efficiencies, where they're gaining the cost savings … how many grads do we need, how many trainees do we need to do the tasks that AI can do now so much quicker," Mr Matrljan says. "What that's going lead to is the next two to four years it's going be really interesting to see, because there's not as many juniors coming through the ranks … have we lost a lot of knowledge at that level?"