Have we reached the point of ‘peak connectivity’? We’re just getting started

As cloud gaming grows in popularity, again demand is pushing household expectations further, requiring between 14 and 24 times more data than standard streaming, and appetite for this world is sure to grow with some of the developments already glimpsed on the horizon. “I think it’s going to be AI-generated — AI that can generate quests dynamically and entire worlds tailored to your actions,” says Hunter.

Brain-controlled gaming could remove the need for handheld controllers entirely, and both virtual and augmented reality are nowhere near their full capacity yet. “We’re just getting started,” he adds.

TV and home transformed

Jia paints an all-too-familiar picture of the cosy get-togethers of yesteryear. “I remember in the 1980s when some families had their first colour TV, their family members and even neighbours would gather to view programs.”

One little development that followed had us all very excited also. “When the remote control arrived, we thought, ‘This is it, this is peak’,” adds Hunter.

Smart TVs would have something to say about that, and those along with other devices for the home, has meant connectivity has almost snuck up on us. “It’s already in everybody’s life, [things like] smart home devices like Google Nest, smarter lights that you can control from your mobile phone, home security with cameras,” Jia explains.

The research again predicts a rise in the adoption of these and other data-hungry tech, revealing that almost 80 per cent of Australians are keen to add more next-generation tech to their world, whether it’s immersive streaming or using high-definition connected cameras.

What office?

Flashback just a decade ago and for a huge proportion of working Australians the idea of conducting their role entirely from home would have been dismissed as a pipe dream. Yet living in lockdown had many of us doing precisely that, borne by necessity.

We evolved our work environment, finding innovative ways to pivot, and showing that what was thought impossible was, by and large, surprisingly adaptable. “We are all game players and we are all potentially game changers; every one, every industry,” states Jia.

The creation of smart cities will be what takes us to the next level, and connectivity will drive that — to the point where its presence is a given. “[The future will be] more about smarter and invisible connections, so devices that anticipate our needs, communicate seamlessly and basically connectivity itself becomes ubiquitous and we’ll stop noticing it,” says Hunter.

An ever-evolving connected world will require us to filter the information that’s best for us to digest, and know how to keep it under control, but that’s all part of moving forward.

“This is a very dynamic era and everything is changing,” says Jia. “We need to continue to stay open, embrace all the potential, be adaptable and remain curious.”

Whatever tomorrow brings in innovation, one thing is for certain: Australia’s broadband network — nbn — is ready to connect you to the future. Do great things on Australia’s network. Learn more here.