Aussie-invented Wi-Fi to feature in "World in 100 Objects Exhibition"

The revolutionary Australian invention of Wi-Fi is set to occupy a guest spot at the Australian leg of the A History of the World in 100 Objects Exhibition, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) confirmed on Wednesday.

Wi-Fi, the CSIRO invention created in 1992 as a way to wirelessly transfer online data, was selected by the National Museum of Australia to feature in the exhibition, and the museum's senior curator Dr Michael Pickering said it was a fitting "101st object" for the exhibition as it forever changed the way in which people all over the world communicate.

"The CSIRO's practical solution for high speed data transmission was a commercial success and laid the foundation for Wi-Fi, which in turn led to today's laptop and liberated users from the desktop computer," Pickering said in a statement on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the CSIRO's Brendan Dalton said the invention and selection of Wi-Fi for the exhibition was a testament to Australian ingenuity, and described it as a "perfect" addition to the 100 objects.

"The scientific discovery of Wi-Fi is a perfect example of how research undertaken right here in Australia, by CSIRO, is having a significant positive impact across the globe," Dalton said.

"It is particularly fitting that Wi-Fi be selected for recognition in this exhibition, as this year marks 100 years since the first Australian national scientific body was formed, a precursor to CSIRO."

"It's an opportunity for Australia to celebrate a century of significant scientific breakthroughs, which of course includes Wi-Fi."

The A History of the World in 100 Objects exhibition opens in Canberra at the National Museum of Australia in September. Endit