The Audiobook’s Evolution from the Analog Era to AI

Greetings from "The Audiobook’s Evolution from the Analog Era to AI" by Matthew Rubery, from Queen Mary University of London. We are at the the National Library of Australia in Canberra, sponsored by the Australian National University. He started with the origins of recorded audio, pointing out the first recording was a nursery rhyme: Mary had a little lamb. He then moved onto how audiobooks were first for the blind, then a general readership. He ended with an AI version of Melania Trump reading her autobiography.

Digital Inclusion at the National Library in Canberra This Friday

Helen Milner OBE, CEO of the Tinder Foundation will be speaking at the Canberra Digital Inclusion Manifesto Workshop, 10:30am, 30 October 2015 at the National Library of Australia. This will be followed by a public lecture by Helen on "Leaving no one behind: Can Australia be truly a digital nation? Stories from the UK", at 1pm.

"In Australia, there are 3.7 million people who have never used the internet. On top of this, many Australians who do have internet access, are not confident enough to do the basics. To become a truly leading, inclusive and global digital nation we need everyone to become confident internet users by 2020."

I suggest an aspect of digital literacy which needs to be addressed in Australia is the data use of on-line applications. This particularly impacts remote users of the NBN Interim Satellite Service, with the so called "Data Drought". Users find their small data allocation is soon used up on day to activities, so that their children then can't access on-line education. This will remain a problem even with the new

ps: The Tinder Foundation is a UK not-for-profit organization helping with digital literacy and access for the community. Not to be confused with Tinder the dating App. ;-)

a not-for-profit social enterprise that makes good things happen with digital technology. Established in December 2011 as a staff-owned mutual, our 40-strong team supports a network of 5,000 local community partners and works with hundreds of national organisations. - See more at: http://www.tinderfoundation.org/about#sthash.6yNlAjnp.dpuf

a not-for-profit social enterprise that makes good things happen with digital technology. Established in December 2011 as a staff-owned mutual, our 40-strong team supports a network of 5,000 local community partners and works with hundreds of national organisations. - See more at: http://www.tinderfoundation.org/about#sthash.6yNlAjnp.dpuf

a not-for-profit social enterprise that makes good things happen with digital technology. Established in December 2011 as a staff-owned mutual, our 40-strong team supports a network of 5,000 local community partners and works with hundreds of national organisations. - See more at: http://www.tinderfoundation.org/about#sthash.6yNlAjnp.dpuf

National Library of Australia Cafés Reopen

Greetings from the National Library of Australia in Canberra, where I am delighted to report the NLA Bookplate and Paperplate Cafes have reopened. They closed in mid November, due to the commercial provider ceasing trade. The Wombok salad is back on (and better than ever) at the Paperplate Café, the less formal of the two, downstairs opposite the map room.

I have only had a coffee so far at the more formal Bookplate Café upstairs next to the NLA foyer (and with stained glass windows). The new management appear to have avoided the mistake of messing with the menu, but have done some redecorating. There are two large sets of dark wood bookcases, one full of antiques, such as typewriters, an old voltmeter and a plug-board from an analogue computer. If visiting Canberra, this is a good spot to stop, rest and eat. One catch is that the Federal government is now charging for parking in the parliamentary triangle area, so visitors also have to pay for parking when visiting the university (I avoided this by catching the Number 3 bus).

Canberra Free Centenary Loop Bus

Route 100 - Centenary Loop is a free bus around Canberra's major cultural institutions. It leaves from platform 10 in the city at the Sydney Building every 30 minutes and goes to the Australian War Memorial, National Gallery of Australia, National Portrait Gallery, Questacon, National Library of Australia, Museum of Australian Democracy, National Archives of Australia, Parliament House, National Museum of Australia, and the National Film and Sound Archive. This is a pleasant trip around the lake. The service is provided for all of 2013 for the Canberra Centenary.