#bbfuture or Realising Our Broadband Future

Hmmmm not so sure about the logo design above, but the wrap up is beginning on the two day Federal Government forum hosted by UNSW (and supported by numerous twitter and wiki inputs) to gather thoughts and strategies for (drum roll) 'Realising Our Broadband Future' (said with an eerie space is the final frontier type voice over...well at least in my head it was).

Again here is another example of what happens when even big brother is not sure of how to move forward digitally. But is anyone else seeing the pattern? All this online contribution to source a way forward is actually paving the path? Webcasts, twitter streams, wiki use...

Conroy: #bbfuture has more than 60,000 people on the wikis, generated over 3,300 Tweets & over 25,000 hits to the video live stream

Perhaps joram10 says it best...

@joram10 #bbfuture What a top experience - sitting in my office on the Sunshine Coast but participating as if I were there - sign of things to come.

See the Government site here where you can watch webcasts or listen on demand or perhaps browse the compiled wiki here or if you are on twitter search for #bbfuture

National Cultural Policy

Also up today, the Minister for the Arts (and crazy dancing in 1980's video clips) Mr Peter Garrett launched the national cultural policy. The words 'national cultural policy' make me shudder a bit...too much reading of dystopia (or was it anti-utopia?) at uni I suspect (I'm always waiting for big brother to step up and declare what 'culture' is and what is not and then hand me my matching outfit that we all wear...but I digress).

The Australian Government wants your feedback about the future of cultural policy in this nation. We haven't had a real policy since the Keating days...and I'm not sure anyone really gave us the chance to have a say about it before (does this mean they might actually listen?)...so what are you waiting for?

Is this the start of a utopia? Or another publicity stunt? Either way have your say, come on...I need some light entertainment to fill my days.

http://nationalculturalpolicy.com.au/

Government publications for a Monday...

Wow, what an exciting life I must lead when I stumble across an Australian Government website and squee with glee!

Don't mind me, I can just see a line of this report sitting somewhere in my upcoming paper about the role of new media (aka digital technologies) and exhibitions. Surely if the government is advocating it, I mean there is a whole economy to build, it must be important.

The Australian Government released the Australia's Digital Economy: Future Directions paper on 14 July 2009 which outlines:

• why the digital economy is important for Australia
• the current state of digital economy engagement in Australia and why current metrics point to a need for strategic action
• the elements of a successful digital economy
• the role for the Government in developing Australia's digital economy, and
• case studies of Australians who have successfully engaged with the digital economy from a diversity of industries including content, e-health, maps, banking, education, smart technology and citizen journalism.