Stories in development - virtual worlds, consumer social networks, Aussie tech hardware and genuine IT innovation

I've been engaged to write a series of articles around the topic of innovation in Australian information technology. The brief is broad, but I've been breaking it down into various subcategories that should make their way into print over the coming months.

Right now however I'm seeking examples genuine Australian-born innovation in the use of both virtual world technology and consumer social networks. I'm leaving the definition pretty open here, but if you know of anyone that has done anything particularly innovative in either realm (either in developing new technology, or using what is there) please drop me an email, ASAP ...

I'm also looking for good examples of Aussie tech innovators working in IT hardware. It's something that we were once told by our political masters that we would be no good at and should stay away from, but that's not stopped Torian and others. Am now looking for more examples to dispel the myth.

Additionally, I'm on the hunt for one great case study of an Australian company that has used technology in a genuinely innovative manner that can also demonstrate how that innovation is going to improve their bottom line. It doesn't sound like a big ask, but ...