From the 1950s till up to the 2000s, technology has advanced at an extremely rapid rate.

Technology branches over various different

topis, and these include housing, home appliances, entertainment, transport and communications. If not for these technological
advances Australia would not be what it is today.
In the beginning of the 1950s cars were just being developed and mass-produced. Now that cars were more easily accessible, it
became the preferred method of getting around. While this was occurring QANTAS introduced services that travelled all around the
world, introducing international travel. In the ten year span of 1950-60, immigrants advanced from travelling to Australia by boat to
travelling by plane. Diesel locomotive trains started to run in Australia and this was more efficient than the steam-powered ones. Due to
this rapid progress, communication within Australia improved greatly and the time it took to travel places decreased significantly for its
time.
Keeping consistent with the rapid advances of transport technology, a few years later 35% of Australians owned a car, leading to the
first freeway to be built in 1961 making road travel much easier. This allowed more and more Australians to travel to destinations
faster, and easier. The more cars that were registered in the country, the more people would follow this convenient trend. Also due to
developments in the area of aircraft led to increased overseas trips, which brought home foreign music, fashion and culture making
much impact on Australias own culture. Because more people were choosing to fly, rather than boat, the latter declined in popularity as
a major mode of transport.
Ten years later the number of cars registered doubled, which in turn increased chances of traffic jams and even death tolls. In term so
aircraft, a technology that was continuously evolving at the time, made a major development of large turbine-powered aircrafts. This
basically mean the planes flew faster, higher and further than before which in turn increased its popularity even more. Consequently
methods of travelling by boat, or even just foot, were rarely put into practice, or even completely abandoned. This lack of exercise
would soon join up with the TV to start the obesity epidemic.
Australians began to catch on, and by then 1980s, 7.2 million cars were registered nationally and were then, considered vital to normal
life. People started to be aware of pollution, and as a result worked on reducing exhaust fumes. A legislation was passed to make
seatbelts compulsory, in an attempt to lower death tolls on the road. Up in the air, flights increased by up to 75%, increasing the influx
of international culture that was returning back to Australia. This mixing of cultures, in addition to consistent numbers of immigrants
entering the country, would be the dawn of Australias harmonious, multicultural reputation. In terms of public transport, the Tangara
trains were introduced with double stories and eight carriages, a vast improvement. This allowed people to get to destinations even
faster than previous, and also being cheaper and less of a hassle.
As it drew closer to the millennium, cars became the first choice of transport, and almost every family owned one. There were 8 million
registered cars in Australia, and newer models also proved to be more energy efficient. Jumbo jets were invented which caused the
introduction of domestic flights overruling trains as a method of transport between capital cities. As flights became faster, cheaper and
a lot more convenient, communication around the world also decreased in difficulty.
Now every family has at least one car and this enormous number of vehicles leads to extreme traffic congestions. Because cars are
now the number one choice of transport, the quality of public transport has decreased rapidly and is ignored.
Entertainment in the early 1950s was rather primitive, and the development in this decade only included the radio, which began with
just music, then expanded to include news, fashion etc. When the TV arrived in the later part of this decade, they were expensive and
only a minimal part of the population purchased them.
However by 1965, 90% of Australians owned a TV allowing news to be not only conveyed in words, but in black and white images.
Also, due to the influx of international influence, the music industry started to boom, and take over the younger population.
In the 1970s colour TV is introduced, and it becomes the prime source of entertainment.
Ten years later, video is introduced leading to many families staying at home in the convenience of their own sofas. This caused some
cinemas to close down. Another common form of entertainment, much to do with the sudden boom in the music industry, was the
personal stereo which increased popularity in the cassette tape. Family time now did not consist of picnics in the park, but involved
lounging on the sofa, watching TV.
Nearing the millennium digital and pay TV was introduced, which meant most forms of entertainment were now accessible 24/7. The
cinema industry gained popularity and achieved huge profits. The development of computers and the Internet stated to dominate
households. This rapid improvement in technology, enhanced communication radically.
Now, in our modern age, we have Blu Ray and High Def TV. Movies now include high-end special effects, a field that is still increasing
in quality and inventiveness. There is the invention of iPods, blackberrys, new and improved laptops, storage devices such as cds,
dvds, usbs etc. The sudden influx of convenience devices become something the average Australia depends on.
Mail was the most convenient method of communication back in 1950, with a postmaster general in charge of mail, telegraph and
home phones. The introduction of Telex kicked off a small hint of the modern email. Transistor radios became popular, and phones
became the most popular mode of communication, after mail, in the later part of the 1950s.
A few years later, satellite technology was improved upon and it meant that communication could occur instantly a huge improvement
in the use of home phones. This correspondence was instant and international communication increased.
After this, FM radio was introduced and this expanded radios audience allowing messages to travel easier. Now three quarters of
Australian had home phones, and communication was consistently becoming easier.
In the 1980s the invention of answering machines managed to deem conversations in real time as unnecessary one could just leave
a message for the other to receive at leisure. Mobile phones also made an appearance but were large, impractical and expensive.
Ten years later, mobile phones would develop in practicality and price, causing more to be bought therefore the mobile phone
becoming a reliable and dependable mode of communication. There were big leaps in developments within the technology department.
Australians were now dependant on technology, one could not communicate easily or desirably without their computer, phone or
mobile.
The mobile phone is now a lot more aesthetically pleasing, there is a brief that the model should prioritise look over function. Video
conferencing, texting and email become much more popular, and international communication become easier and more frequent to
execute. The formality of a letter was abandoned and quick texts and/emails, usually typed with abbreviated language, caused a rapid
convey of ideas everything was faster and more efficient (even the English language).
Technological advancements in the area of housing increased too, though not as rapidly. In the 1950s fibro became a popular building
material, and the Australian tradition of owning a quarter acre block to himself was concocted.
The increase of car ownership meant that families could build there houses further away from train stations, their workplace etc etc.
which meant more land to build on, and utter freedom and in where they wanted to live.

Emphasis on the environment in the 1970s meant that people migrated to the bush area and experiments with natural energy were
tested out.
The 1980s brought the revitalisation of slums and areas around and in the city became more alluring due to the development of tourist
features, and attractions. Though this was probably a nicer area to be in, and also close to resources, it became extremely cramped.
1990s led to 65% of Australians living in capital cities. Hints of urban sprawl begin to take place, and larger house are built to
accommodate for the increasing population. This decreases the cramped feel the previous decade brought.
By now, this modern age, as been rid of the traditional quarter acre block dream and increased number of flats and apartments are built
to inhabit the consistent rapid growth of the Australian population. Architectures start to design more modern and aesthetically pleasing
houses, and the people can live where they want without having the inconvenience of having to live near your work.
Furthermore home appliances advanced technologically in the past 50 years. In thirty years, beginning in the 1950s, home appliances
like electronic stoves, toasters, kettles, washing machines, vacuums etc. grew to be more aesthetically pleasing and more practical.
Mass production meant that these appliances became cheaper as well as increasing in quality. Many housewives relied entirely on
these devices.
In the 1980s the introduction of microwaves, food processors and blenders sped up the cooking process, and even, in some case, got
rid of it in general. The microwave meant dinner didnt need to be cooked, just thrown into the microwave and finished in two minutes.
Convenience was one of the main motives behind the developments of these appliances.
Twenty years later, till present, the invention of more fancier, expensive machines (coffee, ice-cream, bread etc. machines) appeared
on the market. Older appliances were improved on, made quieter while operating, and stronger in quality. Soon fusing and combining
different technologies, eg. internet and the fridge, became increasingly popular solely because it is more convenient.
In conclusion, the advances in technology in the last 50 years have been rapid, and giant leaps have been made. Increased
developments lead to communications overseas which would have brought back to Australia new ideas to improve our technology.
After World War II, Australia quickly became highly developed, yet is still rapidly developing as new discoveries, and breakthroughs are
made.