National ICT Australia (NICTA), the apex ICT research body of Australia has launched a “Digital Productivity Showcase” facility that displays new applications for digital communications, paving way for a low-risk environment to create and test new technologies. The initiative being Australia’s first Living Lab, provides a platform for industry and research to work together, investigate real-world problems and demonstrate innovative technology that will provide logistics solutions for the future. The lab is driven by a group of logistics companies, research organisations, universities, and IT providers. They work together to exchange experience, discuss trends, innovate and research to jointly shape the future of logistics. A special facility zone has been set up at NICTA’s Sydney head office in order to demonstrate how digital tools can be used to improve productivity, access information and streamline digital services. This “futuristic space “will serve as a “living laboratory” to help build digital applications and tools for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy. For instance, one of the displays demonstrates how a non-English speaking patient in a remote area can file a Medicare claim form using the National Broadband Network (NBN) and video interpreting services. Other displays show how end-users can understand and get value from massive data stores, back-up and recovery systems using a public cloud, as well as social TV apps, and mobile communications. For information: http://www.futurelogisticslivinglab.com.au/