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Three-wheeled Wireless Internet
An anonymous reader writes "I just found this article which describes how a group of people in the UK built a 3 wheeled trike-type rickshaw to give visitors to a festival mobile Internet access. An interesting read for those /.ers into wireless networks, it also gives good information about the use of satellite for net connectivity and renewable energy sources. They do a good job of lightening a dry subject with a dash of humour." (The festival here is The Big Green Gathering, which sounds like a low-key, English version of Burning Man.)
I don't know if I'm too keen to rent a little bike with an internet connection. I'd much rather have wireless connection points scattered over the festival terrain which would allow a PDA to connect - that way, I can even walk.
One day, when technology is dirt cheap (if that ever happens), then I wouldn't mind having a little computer loaded on a little bike like that.
Until then, I first need personal connectivity
Save the whales! - collect the whole set
"I hate people who fabricate unintelligent quotes to add to their work seemingly by some 'anon' sage" -- anon
Then I realized "I'm in the middle of the desert I don't want my email to find me", quickly checked slashdot and turned it off ....
The Big Green Gathering is similar to the Burning Man with the exception of a total lack of 14 year old Californians off their heads on mescaline.
Whether this is a plus or a minus depends entirely on your age.
Invoicing, Time Tracking, Reporting
For those who are too lazy to read the entire article, I'll point you to the good stuff: Wifi Chick, complete with iBook.
Im dreaming ofa big bndwdth, That can resist the
This is on my doorstep, its my local culture and the the comparison with burning-man is a little off the mark.
/. tend to see the iTrike as a festival gimmik that is less than practical, when it is realy a high profile proof of concept with a little humour thrown in.
the BGG is an activists gathering, while there is music at night, by day it is not a hedonists paradise like Burning-Man but more a massive sustainability workshop where you can learn about non-violent resistance through to how to get web without a mains socket.
People on
I am realy glad the BGG got slashdotted because it rarely gets a mention in the UK, let alone internationally.
BTW - Heds from overseas looking for a Burningman Type experience should try Glastonbury festival - the BGG is for serious activists, travelers and the free-festival harcore, the first thing you notice is that there is no branding or commercialism on site which is wierd to say the least in this day and age.
As for cost... its difficult to know. Short of the tech itself, the iTrike is probably recycled bits and bobs from...
Rinky-Dink
http://www.baka.co.uk/rinky/
Raymundo's Renewable Lounge
http://www.ray-mundo.co.uk/
and some road protest site somewhere.
This perpetual motion machine Lisa made is a joke, it just keeps getting faster and faster. - Homer
Bear in mind that the BGG was always had a very strong contingent of the activist community, and a lot of these people have ongoing campaigns to run Commitment doesn't necessarily stop just becasue you're at a festival.
Also, it wasn't just a few hours, it was five full (and very fabulous) days for the punters, and a lot of the workers were there for a week beforehand and a week afterwards.
The rickshaw technology is not demeaning. For that matter, the opportunity it gives to grindingly poor people to feed their families rather than starving is not in itself demeaning either. Now, the culture which allows this to happen, that's another matter. And it's not a matter of history so it's not really a case of resurrection.
tomV