Larry.org

Good post from Aaron Schwartz predicting the subversive and enabling potential of WiFi.



I'm very much in agreement with him.



The other half of the problem is not how it will happen, but why it will work for individuals and where the potential products and services are.

• First there's the issue of the 'last mile' problem. WiFi has the potential to finally solve it, as do a number of other technologies. WiFi is currently in the best position.



• Second there will need to be an understanding in the level of trust, not in corporations, but in other people. Currently that is working on file sharing networks where people are trading content, this is going to be helpful becuase that experience will draw people to trust the stability and value of a mesh network instead of a centralized network.



• Third there will need to be a good deal more personal responsibility and control. This is a huge market opportunity. The security folks are out there doing it now at the OS level. The security service providers of the next generation will need to adapt to the unique problems of protecting your identity and filtering (whatever your definition of) offensive content (is) from your people.



• Finally there will emerge a strong group of community leaders in specific neighborhoods that have demonstrated that they can manage these issues in a decentralized way so that the mesh network in their area can rely on them to keep them informed of malicious abuse of the local mesh.

The good news is no-one will have to gover bandwidth anymore becuase, it will be literally as plentiful as the air we breathe.



Let's light this candle.

An instant WiFi community software has just been announced. Do we really need a new online community medium? I mean for chrissake, I don't even like standing in line at the grocery store and having to make small talk. What the hell do I say to someone that's 'nearby' just because they also happen to be using WiFi?!



Seems like it would go something like the call from the cell phones on an airplane.



"Yeah i'm talking to you from the plane"

"Great, why'd you call"

"Just to call you from the plane"

"Ok.. well listen I have to go"

"Me too, this is costing me a fortune."



Course the notable difference is people tend to call people they already know and with this WiFi thing they'd be, if you can imagine why, introducing themselves (!). If some geek sent me a note using this service I'd probably want to figure out where they were so I could avoid them.



Thanks for the link Steve.

Credit Card size Access Point detector! Not sure if this is a shipping product or not but it's pretty cool. It'd be nice if they made a pocket size one that can provide security checks too, considering how easy it has become for people to hack WEP and discover unannounced SSIDs.



Thanks for the link Steve!

I just wonder if this is actually a Pringles can underneath.



Another thought is that they should advertise on the side of Pringles cans.



Thanks for the link Steve!

New book on the ins and outs of Wireless Networking. Thanks Martin!



I've been noticing a lot of the local coffee shops are finally starting to roll WiFi out. Even saw one in a restaurant in Scottsdale last week.

Are you kidding me? 12 friggen miles?



I'm assuming that a line of sight is required, but even so there's no way this kind of solution is going to get left on the shelf. The cost of running copper and setting but CO's has to be at least three orders of magnitude more expensive.



I guess if these kinds of products keep coming to market the real question is, what's the FCC going to do to break up this party?

Interesting mesh network distribution practice for "Free Wireless" networking.

Check out the link to the "How to Build a War Car" in the story.

Another great link from Steve.



All-in-one war-driving kit now available.



Great justification at the end of the article (I won't spoil it here).

Ok so if you run a wireless network and your concerned about War driving.. here's another thing to worry about.



War Flying: Wireless LAN Hunts Go Airborne



(another fine feed from my friend Steve)