AIMIA web site records evolution of the Australian Internet

Stuart Corner
Monday, 03 August 2009 13:35

Business IT - Technology

The Australian Interactive Media Industry Association (AIMIA) has unveiled its History of the Australian Web Project that aims to create a permanent and public record of the major trends of the Australian Internet since 2001.

The website presently gives access to a pdf file that lists the top 100 sites for each of the years 2001-2008 ranked by the size of average quarterly Australian audiences, but showing also the quarterly average page views for each site and the viewing time per person per month averaged over each quarter.

These parameters are also represented on an animated bubble diagram that shows graphically the changes over the years. However while this in interesting to watch, it is not possible to glean meaningful data from it. The data used has been provided by Nielsen Online and sourced from their Australian household and business panel data. The interactive visual display was developed by The Interaction Consortium using data supplied by Nielsen Online.

According to AIMIA CEO, John Butterworth, "This project has revealed some fascinating insights into Australian web usage and creates a much needed snapshot of the Australian Internet landscape and longer-term trends. Now, Australians have access to an engaging public record of the cultural, business and government impacts of our online economy."

Paul McCarthy, chair of AIMIA Awards Judging and "the creative force behind the Project," according to AIMIA, said that many of Australia's media industries including book, music and film publishing, had long maintained public records charting music sales, television ratings, bestseller lists and box office records that had become important and enduring chronicles of the evolution of these industries, and that a similar chronicle was needed for the Net.

"The goal of the History of the Australian Web Project is to provide a similar chronicle of Australia's Internet and for it to become a captivating resource for students, industry commentators and others locally and around the world."