[MLB-WIRELESS] Wireless 'cloud' may offer silver lining Or is it just 'pie-in-the-sky' technology?

[Dave Fregon]

The potential of community groups utilizing wireless is large, mainly due 
to the fact that many have solid content, and look to share 
content/information amongst each other. The wireless system in essence is 
relatively easy/cheap to set up ( can see a single benefit possibly 
covering setting up a Node with hardware ..)

Looking at community oriented networks that exist already and what they are 
doing to disseminate their content and where, their target audience 
'congregate'. Need plays a large part in the uptake of this stuff,  things 
like activist calendars , events and updates/news, and cross-referencing 
others information (eg: say link say between a student union, and Friends 
of the Earth).

Outside of 'organised' community groups their are also very strong 
autonomous groups/collectives (I can name at least 10 in Melbourne), 
without the huge cash needed for internet related information exchange (and 
indeed most of their numbers may or may not have that paid-for access to 
really utilise the net) that have already created things like BBS and 
internet oriented material, where wireless would really help in organising 
between those collectives of people. (internet eg: indymedia.org) For 
instance, say an activist calendar/news node would be utilised in the city 
by _any_ union or protest group to give on the spot commentary, discussion 
and/or updates from those actually at the protest, and also give feedback 
_back_ to them. Cross platform community oriented support in this way could 
also be taken up as a need, not want, by the council/people ... if it 
became so!

I really like the FAQ, and it would be good to get a printed form of it 
that can be disseminated and start building knowledge of the technology as 
an alternative, _different_, way to share information locally, and how it 
can be used to utilize and access others content. An 'info' sheet on how to 
get started and also find support.

Something like this should be continually revised and redistributed to the 
community with ways to get further information.

Just a thought, as I think if Melb-Wireless informed groups a little like 
this, much of the momentum would be taken on by the groups and members 
themselves.

Dave F

PS: Maybe Melbourne Wireless should send out 'invites' to it's meetings to 
community oriented groups? let them know it's there ... and growing? 
Updates on the group as a wholes progress? get out in the thick of it .. 
melbourne wireless is a 'community group' too.

At 12:44 AM 2/08/2002 +1000, you wrote:
>One of the things I'd be interested in would be the potential for local
>community, activism and tourism information via wireless tech (say
>information on things happening local to Melbourne (or whereever) in a
>local cloud).
>
><skeptic>
>The article is really pointing at the latest "thing" that's been picked
>up by a county council/public info officer and a school of journalism
>looking for something to "offer to high tech industries that may want to
>relocate" and bring other business in.  I'd feel more confident about it
>if they said they were reacting to a perceived need/use rather a need
>for a promotional activity/updated image :)
></skeptic>
>
>I'd love to see a real go at providing a community/local service/use and
>providing local content like tourism stuff (while being wary of issues
>of cost/maintenance/digital divide/etc).
>
>SusanW - list lurker
>
>On Thu, 2002-08-01 at 09:39, Robert Tchia wrote:
> >
> > http://www.cnn.com/2002/TECH/science/07/31/coolsc.wireless.cloud/index.html
>
>
>
>
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