The regional NBN Experience Centre in Armidale has been officially launched following a visit to the city on Monday by Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

After more than 12 months of behind-the-scenes work by government, education and industry partners, including Neuroscience Research Australia, the Broadband Smart Home in Armidale offers an insight into the home of the future and how the NBN will change the way we live, work and play.

The Broadband Smart Home demonstrates many of the real-world applications of the NBN, including home automation, remote health monitoring, video-conferencing, rehabilitation, education, remote business, sensor monitoring and environmental sustainability.

Senator Conroy, together with Federal Member for New England Tony Windsor, were treated to a live demonstration by NeuRA’s Dr Stuart Smith of his project that delivers exercise-based video games as fall prevention training into the homes of older adults.

“It was great to take part in the launch of the Armidale Broadband Smart Home, which clearly demonstrates the many ways that regional areas will benefit from high-speed broadband,” Senator Conroy said.

“People living in Armidale are among the first in the nation to have access to the faster, improved broadband that the NBN offers, with all the advantages of being first, particularly for small businesses, education and health sectors.”

“The Broadband Smart Home has the potential to be a real asset to Armidale and the wider region. I’d like to congratulate the project partners for pursuing this important initiative. It’s great to see local people taking advantage of the opportunities that the NBN can offer,” Senator Conroy concluded.