STACK #253 November 2025

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Today’s tech that the movies predicted first

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

In 2001: A Space Odyssey , director Stanley Kubrick and science fiction writer Arthur C. Clarke envisioned technology far beyond their era. The film’s tablet-like devices - slim,

NOVEMBER

handheld screens for reading and communication - predicted modern tablets many decades before the arrival of the ubiquitous computing device. Their vision of personal, portable computing wasn’t just science fiction; it became everyday reality, proving imagination can shape innovation.

DYK?

Technology has become an integral part of Australian lifestyles and continues to advance in leaps and bounds. From smartphones to smart homes, STACK keeps you up to date on the latest consumer tech in user friendly terms, along with key points to consider before you buy. If you love tech, you’re in the right place.

In 1982, some Carnegie Mellon University students, tired of walking to a Coca-Cola vending machine only to find it empty, wired it to the university’s computer network to report in real-time whether the drinks were cold and in stock. A portent to the Internet of Things...

What tech has been floating the boat of the writers at STACK recently? You can find it right here every month.

EDITOR’S CHOICE

1966

What was the hottest tech in…

In 1966, long before Alexa ever told anyone a fart joke, engineer Jim Sutherland was tinkering away in his Pittsburgh basement, conceiving the future. The result? A hulking, cabinet-sized contraption called the ECHO IV - the world’s first smart home computer. It wasn’t sleek or sexy, but it was a pioneering idea. The ECHO IV could calculate grocery lists, set reminders, manage home temperatures, and even control appliances – all powered by punch cards and switches the size of Chiko Rolls. While most people were busy

Dyson Airwrap Co-anda 2x Multi-styler and Dryer The Dyson Airwrap Co-anda 2x Multi-styler and Dryer is the ultimate all-in-one hair tool, capable of drying, straightening, curling, smoothing, and volumising with ease. This latest version refines everything fans loved about the original Airwrap, while introducing the new Hyperdymium 2 motor, which doubles air pressure for faster styling and drying. Despite its power, it’s lighter and perfectly balanced, making long sessions comfortable. Attachments snap on effortlessly and can be swapped mid-style - just be mindful of heat. The set includes six smart attachments, each fitted with RFID chips to automatically adjust temperature and airflow, protecting hair from heat damage. The MyDyson app

marvelling at colour television, Sutherland’s house was quietly living in the 21st century.

On The Radar

His kids could check the weather forecast on a screen, and his wife could program the oven from across the room – the machine was learning to make home life a little easier. However, Sutherland’s futuristic machine would never see the inside of a retail store. It was too big, too expensive, and way too early. But ECHO IV lit a fuse. Decades later, its digital descendants – Alexa, Siri, and friends - picked up the torch. So, next time you tell your smart speaker to turn on the lights, raise a toast to Jim Sutherland – the man who built a smart home decades before it became a commercial reality.

With December comes the heat, thongs, mosquitoes, and the man in a red suit bearing gifts. For longtime readers, it also means a gift guide in STACK , compiled to ensure you’re nailing the Christmas wish list this year. We’ll have something for everyone to suit every budget, so you can wrap up Christmas with ease.

personalises your styling routine by generating a curl sequence based on your hair type, turning the Airwrap into your own digital stylist. Finished with a sleek storage case that doubles as a stand, the Dyson Airwrap Co-anda 2x is beauty tech at its smartest.

NOVEMBER 2025

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