Well Connected
When the co-captain of the Australian Women’s Rugby Sevens team isn’t leading them to glory, you’ll find the mechanic tinkering under a car.
Rugby Sevens player Sharni Williams is wired
Tech head or Luddite?
“Being a mechanic, you’ve got to be a bit of a tech head. I’ve got all the gadgets.”
On the radar
Her team will compete in the Sydney Sevens leg of the world series, kicking off on February 3. What was your latest technology purchase? Beats by Dre headphones. I love them; the sound is amazing. Which social media platforms do you use? Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Boomerang and Snapchat. What do you like about Boomerang? It’s a video app. It takes a snap video of you moving, doing one action, and posts it. Has anyone followed you on social media who you were really excited about? A lot of Olympians have followed me since Rio last year [where the team won gold]. It’s exciting when they like my pictures. I’ve got cyclist Anna Meares – I really look up to her – and swimmer Leisel Jones following me. What apps do you use? For an athlete, the World Anti-Doping Agency app is useful because it lists all the prohibited substances. The Medicare app is also important for a sportsperson. I’ve got a game called 1010!, too. The entire team is hooked on it and we have a competition going with one another; one of the girls is on 600,000 points. I also use Spotify and Shazam for music and the MyCalmBeat meditation app that helps you count your breaths. Have you had any ideas for apps? I want to invent one for when you see something and you’re like, “What is that thing called?” You can take a photo of it and the app will tell you its name. What technology can’t you live without? Facebook – I can talk to my friends back home in Batlow [NSW]; it’s nice to be able to stay in touch. With the team, we travel the world and make friends through rugby and instead of emailing, we can talk to people on Facebook or Skype. It helps us maintain friendships. What websites do you visit the most? I like to do a lot of online shopping. I go to The Iconic for clothing and Groupon is good for dinners and movies. Last year, I found a deal online and the Rugby Sevens girls had our Christmas party on Sydney Harbour. What technology do you wish had never been invented? Technology moves so quickly that old ways of doing things get left behind. Cars have evolved – they can look after themselves, drive themselves and everything’s pretty much electronic – so mechanics these days don’t have to do the hard yakka like they used to. It would be nice to see if some of the younger mechanics could do things the way the old ones did. Are there some tech features in newer cars that you love? The safety features are a big one, as well as electric power steering. It’s easier and it’s a lot safer on the roads. But the more technology you get in cars, the more you rely on people helping you fix them. Apple or Android? Apple. The only downside with the iPhone is the battery life. Is there a gadget you want but don’t have? A Lamborghini. That’d be a cool gadget! Real books or ebooks? I love a hard copy but if I can’t get it there and then, I’ll go for an ebook. I read the new Harry Potter on my phone. What tech do you take on the plane? Phone, laptop and earphones. And I’ve got an old Nintendo DS – I play Mario Kart on it when I’m bored. Do you ever Google yourself? Only to update my Wikipedia entry!