Mainstream Australians defend NBN rollout plans
Bloggers are now debating the National Broadband Network (NBN) rollout. It’s about time we swung NBN debate around to the needs of decent, mainstream Australians, according to debaters on Crikey’s website.
A recent newsletter carried a report describing Marion Lancaster, a resident of Bribie Island Retirement Village, in North Queensland.
“She’s one of many retirees there who aren’t as mobile as they used to be, but still need some physical and social activity. Each week, they play Wii bowling. They’ve found it to be a fantastic social event, and as their physiotherapist Vera Fullerton notes, it improves their fine motor skills.
“What could an NBN – with high speed Internet to metro, rural and regional Australia do for them?
“It could mean elderly residents in Bribie Island playing games against new friends, in Perth or Launceston. They could start and end each game with full-screen videochat, so we have both physical and social stimulation for our growing ageing population, overcoming their inability to do stronger physical activities – and the tyranny of distance.
“Of course, it’s not just retirees who comprise Australia’s decent mainstream gamers. With 88% of Australian homes having one or more gaming devices, it’s your next-door neighbour, the bank manager and the woman who drives the 514 bus each morning.”
