Though it isn’t widely known, Australia has the potential to become a technological giant. In the past, the country has made many technological advances, which are likely to continue.
Let’s take a look at some of Australia’s most innovative technological achievements:
Table of Contents
1. Wi-Fi
The first thing people ask when they walk into a new place is, “What is the Wi-Fi password?”. Little do they know that Australia has a hand in developing this important 21st-century technology.
Wi-Fi was discovered by a team led by an Australian named John O’Sullivan and the CSIRO in 1992. They studied the tiniest black hole echoes and then figured out how to send signals directly to a specific location. This marked the beginning of Wi-Fi, as it is commonly used today.
When cables connected everything else, John and his group laid the foundation for wireless connectivity. Today, more than 5 billion devices are already connected to Wi-Fi networks worldwide. Wi-Fi can be accessed in various settings, from homes to public spaces like the best online casinos in Australia.
2. Google Maps
The Google Maps app is essential for getting around without a doubt. But did you know that Australians made the app?
A company called “Where 2 Technologies,” founded by Sydney brothers Jens and Lars Rasmussen and Australians Stephen Ma and Neil Gordon, has put paper maps out of business.
Google acquired the company in 2005, and its technology is now integrated into Google Maps. Despite this, the program’s developers won an award for their innovation and significant impact on the field. Superb lads!
3. Hearing Aids
Hearing aids, or cochlear implants, employ electrodes to stimulate nerves in the ear and restore auditory function. Millions of deaf people and their families have benefited since its inception in the 1970s in Australia.
For nearly 11 years, Australian Professor Graeme Clark experimented with various prototypes of the cochlear implant. In 1978, he finally succeeded.
Astonishingly, he implanted the device into Rod Saunders’ ear, the device’s first recipient. The results blew everyone’s minds. The bionic ear created by Professor Graeme Clark was a huge success.
Thanks to Graeme Clark, inventing the hearing aid changed the world for the better. Hearing aids have greatly improved the lives of many people who use them.
4. Ultrasound Scanner
An ultrasound scanner is something every expecting mother is quite familiar with. The device allows future parents to view their unborn children on a screen. On top of that, it can help doctors identify and treat issues with the body’s soft tissues.
Let’s take a stroll down memory lane and see what led to the development of the ultrasonic scanner. During the 1950s, doctors became concerned that X-rays would cause congenital disabilities in pregnant women.
As echoes of ultrasonic waves were converted into television images by reflecting off the body’s soft tissues, they discovered subtle variations in the echoes. This effect led to the invention of the ultrasound scanner.
Members of the Ultrasonic Research Group of Commonwealth Acoustic Laboratories, David Robinson and George Kossof, collaborated on many projects. But in 1961, the duo developed the CAL echoscope–the first-ever ultrasound scanner. A year later, Robinson and Kossoff captured the first ultrasound image ever taken.
Modern medicine and the medical industry rely heavily on ultrasound technologies. This solution has improved healthcare worldwide and the lives of many individuals around the world.
Conclusion
Technological innovations mark the country’s history, and this is likely to continue in the future. So, it’s no secret that Australia is home to some of the world’s most technological innovations.
