In Sunday's segment on Sky News Australia (Weekend Edition with Tim Gilbert) we discussed why Australia doesn’t have federal elections online. We’ve had some online voting in Australia but nothing on the scale of a full federal election. Voting via the Internet is available in several counties around the world, like Brazil and Estonia, but here in Australia it’s still paper and pencil.

Why? We do the census online and our banking online so why not elections?  It turns out the answer is more than the technical challenge because other countries have proved that it can be done. It comes down to trust, transparency and tradition. The AEC conducts federal elections in accordance with the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918. The introduction of Electronic voting would require legislative change, which is a matter for Parliament.

If you want more historic detail on why we don’t vote via the Internet, check out these resources.

In Sunday's segment on Sky News Australia (Weekend Edition with Tim Gilbert) we looked at the camera technology that enabled Tom Cruise to produce the long awaited sequel to Top Gun, Top Gun Maverick. Almost three years after it was supposed to make its premiere, Top Gun Maverick will finally hit cinema screens later this month - May 26. Actors will be seen in real jets during action scenes. A US Navy pilot is flying the FA/18 Super Hornet but by cutting between the tandem-seater and single seater in the editing room - it looks like Tom Cruise and the others are actually flying. It’s been made possible because of this special Sony camera rig. These cameras are 6K and modular so all of the reactions are real in the cockpit.

Australia’s Forcite Helmets has just released the MK1S. A smart helmet inspired by a bike accident the CEO was injured in. It’s taken two years of development and $10.1M of R&D investment. The helmet includes smart navigation technology, alerting riders of upcoming dangers. The LED display is designed to be non-distracting - no need to look down or at a head-up display.

There’s no bulky clip-on camera or headsets. An embedded camera records continuously - in HD. Following an accident, or even a dropped helmet, Forcite owners can send their helmet to have the shell replaced and the tech components salvaged.

Another great Australian tech success story.

In our recent segment on Sky News Australia (Weekend Edition with Gabriella Power) we looked Google’s annual health event “The Check up” and the company’s emphasis on body sensors. Currently patients recovering from knee surgery attend a gait lab for 3D motion capture. But Google is hoping to get similar results by using existing USB-dongle-sized sensors. These sensors would track relevant metrics, like knee angular velocity. This data, collected 24/7, would then be used to improve the recovery process. As the owner of bad knees - this is great news.

In Sunday's segment on Sky News Australia (Weekend Edition with Jaynie Seal) we looked at Elon Musk’s offer to help restore internet services to tsunami ravaged Tonga.

Musk said on Twitter: “This is a hard thing for us to do right now, as we don’t have enough satellites with laser links and there are already geo sats that serve the Tonga region. That is why I’m asking for clear confirmation.” 

Digicel workers have got some connectively going, handed out free sims and Telstra made calls free to Tonga. But Musk is right about the difficulties in getting Starlink to provide internet coverage over Tonga at this point. We discuss the reasons.