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Australian Computer Society

Five Minute Tour of Australia

for Interact 97

by Tom Worthington, President of the Australian Computer Society

at the opening on 16 July 1997 (as at 16 July 1997)
Welcome to INTERACT97 at Darling Harbour Convention Centre, Sydney, Australia, on behalf of the of the Australian Computer Society. This is the first time INTERACT has being staged in Australia, we have many overseas deligates, so I want to give you a five minute tour of the country, via the web.

There is a serious purpose in this: INTERACT aims to bring together those interested in the interactions between people and computers. My field of work is in the large scale interactions of people using computers. In the next few days I ask you to consider the implications of the interfacing of whole organisations, nations and cultures via computer mediated communications. In short: what will the Web do to the World?

It was reported this morning [1] that the Prime Minister of Australia, Mr John Howard, will deliver an agenda-setting policy statement next month that concentrates on the ability of the Internet to boost jobs growth.

The PM's reportedly recent conversion to hi-tech [2], after his visit to the USA is welcome but worrying. We are embarking on a national and global experiment in human - computer interaction on a grand scale. I ask you to apply your expertise to this issue. Join the ACS in the public discussion and help us inform our political leaders of the issues in placing commerce and culture on-line.

The Tour


Notes

See also