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LED Lights Could be Next-Gen Low Power WiFi Hotspots
"LED lights aren't just a potential replacement for lighting technologies used today.
It's actually being eyed as the next-generation wireless communications technology.
Under a grant by the National Science Foundation, Boston University's College of Engineering will work on developing a wireless technology based on visible light instead of radio frequency (RF).
Called "Smart Lighting," data is transmitted through light emitted by LEDs, making each light the equivalent of a WiFi hotspot. This means the moment you flick a light on, you can access data on any device with wireless capability anytime without the use of wires..." "LED lights aren't just a potential replacement for lighting technologies used today. ... more -
WiFi through lightbulbs.... Thats a bright idea!
With the growing use of WiFi and WiFi hotspots. Engineers have been working on a new way to get WiFi out there in a more fast and secure manner.
Boston University's College of Engineering is launching a program, under a National Science Foundation grant, to develop the next gen of wireless technology which uses visible light instead of radio waves.
"Imagine if your computer, iPhone, TV, radio and thermostat could all communicate with you when you walked in a room just by flipping the wall light switch and without the usual cluster of wires," said BU Engineering Professor Thomas Little. "This could be done with an LED-based communications network that also provides light - all over existing power lines with low power consumption, high reliability and no electromagnetic interference. Ultimately, the system is expected to be applicable from existing illumination devices, like swapping light bulbs for LEDs."
So does this mean the end of networking as we currently know it... With the growing use of WiFi and WiFi hotspots. Engineers have been working on a new way to get WiFi out there in a more fast and secu... more -
Porn becomes airborn on planes!
An anti-pornography group is now voicing concern over airlines providing unfiltered Internet service during flights.
American Airlines is the largest carrier providing the unfiltered service. The concern is that having no filters will permit passengers to access pornography in-flight. Tiffany Helfrich of Girls Against Porn says that the public needs to express outrage.
"Right now we need to nip this in the bud," Helfrich urges. "Everybody, every parent, every mom, anybody who's concerned about your child being exposed, or you yourself being exposed, sitting in an aircraft with a person next to you who might who might be watching porn."
Helfrich takes it personally. "I know, for one, if I'm sitting next to someone who's viewing [pornography], I don't want to have to deal with that," she adds. "One of us is going to be moving, and it's not going to be me."
Girls Against Porn has written a letter to American Airlines demanding filters. The letter will be sent within the next two weeks, and people can sign it by going to the organization's website. "I think it's really important just to bombard them right now during this trial period," Helfrich points out.
According to Helfrich, American Airlines has "opened the door for traumatic experiences and lawsuits."
Jet Blue, Continental, and Qantas Airlines also provide Internet service, but it is filtered. An anti-pornography group is now voicing concern over airlines providing unfiltered Internet service during flights. ... more -
McDonalds wireless hotspots for Nintendo DS
On May 27th Nintendo, in cooperation with McDonalds, started a new wireless information and gaming service in 21 restaurants around Tokyo. This is part of the Nintendo Spot project to give DS gamers wireless access to the internet on the train and in McDonald’s restaurants.
Different to Europe and America it is hard to find a restaurant or bar in Japan offering a free WiFi hotspot to connect your computer or mobile gaming device to the Web. That is because Japanese usually use their mobile phones to connect to the internet, but also because of security concerns about open networks. Another important reason is that restaurant owners in Japan aren’t interested in having their customers lingering around in the often overcrowded spots in downtown.....[more at link below]
http://www.kilian-nakamura.com/blog-english/index.php/m... On May 27th Nintendo, in cooperation with McDonalds, started a new wireless information and gaming service in 21 restaurants around To... more -
Boris wants London to be a "wifi city"
Tousel-haired Tory boy and Mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced that he wants to make London a "wifi city", with wireless internet available everywhereThough there're no solid plans as yet, he seems to be aiming for the 2012 Olympics.
Boris also said "what we need is a city where anywhere you go, you can log on, you can get on the web" - unfortunately he didn't finish this sentence with the phrase "for free". Tousel-haired Tory boy and Mayor of London Boris Johnson has announced that he wants to make London a "wifi city", with wire... more -
Free Wi-Fi in Central Park
There's free Wi-Fi in Central Park's Sheep Meadow through the rest of this month, courtesy of the owner of the Sheraton hotel chain. There's free Wi-Fi in Central Park's Sheep Meadow through the rest of this month, courtesy of the owner of the Sheraton hote... more
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American Airlines takes lead in in-flight WiFi race
The race is over for domestic airlines looking to turn their planes into flying WiFi hotspots; American Airlines is first off the runway. But can offering onboard Internet access help smooth out passenger turbulence created by additional charges for carry-on bags, food, even blankets and pillows? The race is over for domestic airlines looking to turn their planes into flying WiFi hotspots; American Airlines is first off the runw... more
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Shocker: iPhone 3G Sometimes Faster, Stronger, Better in Ad Than In Real Life
Hey, did you know that advertising misleads you? Like, products might not perform as exceptionally, look as hot or taste as yummy as they do in slickly produced ads? The iPhone 3G not cruising the internets as briskly as Apple's ads depict might be a big bucket of "duh," but this comparison video shows just how stark the contrast is.
While Apple never promises your real world experience will be the same (your mileage may vary, depending on network congestion and coverage, for instance) it is sorta misleading, zooming past even our benchmarks, indicating it's at least on Wi-Fi, even though the ad is ostensibly talking about its 3G connection. Like, it would trick my mom, and that's not cool. Hey, did you know that advertising misleads you? Like, products might not perform as exceptionally, look as hot or taste as yummy as t... more -
Stay connected while camping
When you're camping, you're connected to bluebirds, mule deer, ospreys and trout surfacing for an insect.
Well, you also can be connected to YouTube, your stocks portfolio, and oh yeah, your favorite outdoors guys at www.idahostatesman.com.
WiFi is taking off at some Idaho state parks.
There's a controversy about what camping really means. Does it mean leaving all the technology at home and just gazing into a meadow of wildflowers?
Or, does it mean buying a latte, getting the morning paper and going online at a state park?
Camping is both and that's why the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation is piloting WiFi access in the state park system.
Idaho Parks and Recreation conducted a survey on how campers felt about WiFi at state parks and 64 percent of 211 respondents favored having the service.
Of those who want to connect among the aspens and pines, or sand dunes, most wanted the service so they can check e-mail, gather information on park and local events, plan the next stop on a trip and to browse the Internet for news and weather.
And, get this: 73 percent wanted the service delivered to their campsite. When you're camping, you're connected to bluebirds, mule deer, ospreys and trout surfacing for an insect. ... more -
Wireless internet should be banned from schools, say teachers
The rush to install wi-fi may have a "significant impact" on young pupils, it is claimed.
It comes after claims last year, which have been disputed by officials, that wireless networks give off three times as much radiation as a typical mobile telephone mast.
Official guidance recommends a "precautionary" approach to buildings masts near schools, saying parents must be notified first.
Teachers say the same rules should be extended to wi-fi systems.
But architects suggest wireless networks are likely to become increasingly important for schools.
Philip Parkin, general secretary of the teaching union Voice, said: "I don't know whether wi-fi is safe but there is an accumulation of evidence that suggests it can have a significant impact on growing children, in particular the development of the nervous system."
Around three-quarters of primary schools and almost all secondaries in England already have wireless technology.
But Mr Parkin insisted that - until research proves it is safe - all further expansion of networks should be halted.
"Our view would be that nobody should move in any significant way until the results of that review are known," he said. "We need to be absolutely sure it is safe. We need more clear and definitive evidence."
The union first began examining wi-fi when one of its members, Michael Bevington, became ill after a wi-fi network was installed at Stowe School, Buckinghamshire.
The classics teacher, who had taught at Stowe for 28 years, claims he suffered from nausea, headaches and a lack of concentration.
However, there is no conclusive proof of its dangers.
The Health Protection Agency has consistently advised that there is no problem with the safety of wi-fi. The rush to install wi-fi may have a "significant impact" on young pupils, it is claimed. ... more -
Avanquest Connection Manager Software Available for Free : Boy Genius Report
Amongst the many processes that the Windows OS has a knack for making particularly annoying is the process of managing connections. Every time you arrive at a new location, be it a hotel, cafe, airport, conference room, public hotspot or otherwise, you need to search for available connections, maybe tweak some settings, add the connection to your approved list and so on. There are a few companies that currently offer solutions to simplify this process, but how many do you know of that offer said solution for free? Avanquest announced this morning that it’s Connection Manager software, typically carrying a $30 price of entry, is now available absolutely free of charge from its website. In a nutshell, Connection Manager does everything for you. It will find available connections (WiFi with WEP, WPA1 and WPA2 support, LAN, ADSL and even WiMAX), connect and configure your security, printer, VPN and other applicable settings on the fly. It will then store the new connection profile for a near-instant reconnect if and when you return to the location. Avanquest offers a bunch of personal productivity, multimedia, business and educational applications that are worth checking out. In the meantime hit the read link to snag the Connection Manager software and make your travels far more tolerable by giving yourself one less thing to worry about. Amongst the many processes that the Windows OS has a knack for making particularly annoying is the process of managing connections. Ev... more
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A San Marino collegamenti Wireless gratuiti
San Marino, piccolo ma dinamico Stato, ha deciso di produrre nuovi servizi da offrire ai turisti che decidono di visitare le bellezze di questo Paese. Servizi di ultima generazione che strizzano l’occhio ai giovani e ai così detti “power users”.
In pieno boom di iPhone, di Eee PC che richiedono collegamenti wireless, San Marino decide di dotare il proprio territorio di punti d’accesso Wi-Fi gratuiti liberamente accessibili da tutti.
Sarà sufficiente dotarsi di una card apposita dove saranno inclusi dei codici d’accesso, che daranno la possibilità di navigare per 60 minuti in piena libertà. Allo scadere del tempo concesso sarà sufficiente rifare l’attivazione per navigare per altri 60 minuti.
Le card si potranno reperire nei negozi autorizzati di San Marino. I punti d’accesso si troveranno in 10 zone del Paese e saranno ben identificabili da cartelli e pannelli pubblicitari. Sarà dunque difficile non trovarli e l’elenco completo sarà disponibile comunque in rete. San Marino, piccolo ma dinamico Stato, ha deciso di produrre nuovi servizi da offrire ai turisti che decidono di visitare le bellezze ... more -
Cities Gone Wireless: Safety Or Surveillance?
While some cities have seen their dreams of providing wireless Internet access for all fade, others have forged ahead with wireless networks for an altogether different purpose: surveillance.
Municipal surveillance is no longer confined to isolated street corners. Cities are mapping out vast wireless zones to create safety nets. Oklahoma City just rolled out the world's largest municipal network, linking hundreds of video surveillance cameras installed across the city. Such networks also extend to public transportation: Chicago has installed the largest network of bus surveillance in the U.S., with cameras on its entire fleet of more than 2,100 buses.
A few years ago, many cities plunged head-first into providing free wireless to the masses — especially to low-income communities — as a way of bridging the digital divide and marketing themselves to Internet startups. That didn't pan out so well in Philadelphia, which saw its much-publicized partnership with Earthlink collapse last year after the Internet service provider decided to exit the municipal wireless business.
Today, public safety is the "largest and most successful sector" in the municipal wireless market, according to MuniWireless.com, a Web site devoted to tracking wireless broadband projects and technologies. Its 2007 state of the market report found that 75 percent of cities and towns with active or planned wireless networks were using them for public safety purposes. That represents a 10 percent increase from 2006.
Concerns About Potential Abuse
Only preliminary studies have been conducted in the United States. An analysis of those studies by the ACLU concludes that "video surveillance systems in the U.S. show little to no positive impact on crime." The ACLU examined independent studies conducted in the U.S. and abroad from 2000 to '08.
"The surveillance cameras are virtually worthless as a crime-fighting device," the ACLU's Steinhardt says. "They are certainly not worth the expenditure."
Beyond the debate over the effectiveness of video surveillance as a crime-fighting tool, the ACLU has raised concerns about the potential for abuse in a variety of ways — from criminal or personal use of surveillance systems, to discriminatory targeting and voyeurism. The ACLU says video surveillance systems lack an adequate system of checks and balances and that their presence has a "chilling effect" on public life.
U.K.-based Privacy International, along with the U.S.-based Electronic Privacy Information Center, has published annual surveys on global surveillance for more than a decade. Privacy International's 2007 report ranked the U.S. as the worst country in the democratic world when it comes to putting laws on the books to protect privacy and enforcing them; it classified America as a country where surveillance is "endemic." While some cities have seen their dreams of providing wireless Internet access for all fade, others have forged ahead with wireless ne... more -
AT&T mistakenly announces free Wi-Fi for iPhone users...again
AT&T iPhone users will not be getting free Wi-Fi access after all.
For the second time in less than six months, AT&T mistakenly published a notice on its Web site indicating that Apple iPhone users would get free access to the wireless operator's more than 17,000 Wi-Fi hot spots around the country.
News of free access to AT&T Wi-Fi hot spots was reported on several blogs Friday morning after it was discovered that a notice had been posted on AT&T's Web site. The notice, which was still live at 8:30 a.m. PDT but then was removed by 9:30 a.m., said:
"AT&T knows Wi-Fi is hot, and free Wi-Fi even hotter, which is why we are proud to offer iPhone customers free access to the nation's largest Wi-Fi hot-spot network with more than 17,000 hot spots, including Starbucks. Now users can relax and access music, e-mail, and Web browsing services with their favorite blend in hand from the comfort of their favorite location."
But Wes Warnock, an AT&T spokesman, told CNET News that the notice was published in error.
"We have not made any announcement regarding free Wi-Fi and iPhone," he said in an e-mail. "The Web page was posted in error and is being removed."
The same thing happened in May when AT&T first launched free Wi-Fi access to its Laptop Connect customers, who subscribe to the company's 3G data service for laptops. Then, like now, a notice had been published briefly on AT&T's Web site indicating free Wi-Fi access for iPhone users. It was promptly removed. And at the time, a company representative told The New York Times that the notice had been published in error.
I asked Warnock why AT&T had inadvertently published this information not once, but twice, and he had no comment. An AT&T spokesman had told me when the Laptop Connect program launched that smartphones, including the iPhone, would be added to the list of free of Wi-Fi access later in the year. But when I asked Warnock to verify this information, he again declined to comment.
It's frustrating enough as it is sifting through the barrage of iPhone rumors and misinformation on the Web. But to have misinformation disseminated by AT&T's official Web site is even more disconcerting. I'd love to hear what readers have to say on this matter. I can't imagine it's winning AT&T any points among customers or potential customers in terms of customer service. AT&T iPhone users will not be getting free Wi-Fi access after all. ... more -
A Cremona, Wi-Fi gratuito nelle piazze
Progetto molto interessante promosso dal comune di Cremona che ha deciso di coprire con il WiFi le piazze principali e le vie d’accesso più frequentate.
Il tutto gratuitamente, nessun costo sarà richiesto all’utente. È un progetto del Comune di Cremona in partnership con Aemcom.
Ma questo sarà solo il primo passo, perché nelle intenzioni del progetto c’è la volontà di coprire tutta o quasi la città con il wireless. Ma questa non è certamente una novità per una città che da sempre punta molto alle nuove tecnologie.
A cremona infatti è da tempo presente e operativa una rete ad altissima velocità di nuova concezione(NGN), tant’è che è la seconda città più cablata della regione Lombardia.
Un progetto che avvicinerà i giovani all’utilizzo delle nuove tecnologie e che supporterà il business.
Come dicevamo le prime aree cablate dal WiFi sono già liberamente accessibili. È sufficiente dotarsi di una card in cui sono specificati i parametri d’accesso.
Gli abbonati di Aemcom riceveranno direttamente a casa la card di accesso, mentre per gli altri sarà sufficiente recarsi in un punto “Informagiovani” della città. Progetto molto interessante promosso dal comune di Cremona che ha deciso di coprire con il WiFi le piazze principali e le vie d’access... more -
ADDIO FILI: DA OGGI IL CELLULARE (E NON SOLO!) ME LO RICARICO VIA WIRELESS!!
Addio cari vecchi caricabetterie. Addio fili. Avete mai pensato come sarebbe più facile e comodo muoversi, viaggiare senza dover pensare a spine da trovare per attaccare i caricabatteria, o, all’estero, preoccuparsi di adattatori necessari per ricaricare i nostri cellulari, i nostri pc portatili?
Bene, da oggi potrebbe essere possibile.
I ricercatori del MIT hanno proposto un modo per dire addio ai normali caricabatterie a filo che ogni giorno siamo costretti ad usare. In pratica la ricarica dei dispositivi portatili potrebbe avvenire senza la presenza di cavi ma tramite una tecnologia di irradiazione: siamo dinanzi ad un vero e proprio sistema di ricarica wireless.
I ricercatori del Mit hanno lavorato per dar vita ad un sistema teorico per il trasferimento senza fili di energia che carichi dispositivi nel raggio di un paio di metri da una 'stazione energetica'. Il fenomeno alla base di questa idea è quello dell'accoppiamento induttivo che avviene quando una corrente elettrica passa attraverso un normale cavo: intorno ad esso si forma un campo magnetico e a sua volta questo induce corrente bel cavo vicino.
Per creare un raggio più vasto, i ricercatori propongono uno schema nuovo: un stazione energetica collegata alla rete elettrica emette una radiazione elettromagnetica a bassa frequenza tra i 4 e i 10 megahertz. L’indubbio vantaggio dei sistemi di alimentazione wireless è quello della universalità, potendo caricare con un solo dispositivo attaccato alla rete elettrica un’ampia gamma di dispositivi, senza dover ricorrere al trasformatore proprietario, come ogni accade anche troppo spesso.
Ma dopo la teoria del Mit, arriva sul mercato il dispositivo creato dai ricercatori dell'Università della Florida, capace di trasferire fino al 70% dell'energia assorbita dalla rete ai dispositivi posti sulla superficie attiva. Nel frattempo, Epson e MuRata hanno stertto un accordo per arrivare allo sviluppo di un caricabatterie wireless che utilizza la tecnologia denominata AirTrans, che fornisce ebnergia nel modo più sicuro possibile con sistemi di riconoscimento e autenticazione. Intanto Powercast adotta la tecnologia teorizzata dal Mit.
Uno dei primi problemi che i ricercatori dovranno presto risolvere se si vorrà davvero avere la tanto agognata universalità, è quello di sviluppare un’elettronica per imparare a gestire le combinazioni diverse della vita reale.
Keep in touch!
Fabio 31183
CREATIVE VIDEO PRODUCER Addio cari vecchi caricabetterie. Addio fili. Avete mai pensato come sarebbe più facile e comodo muoversi, viaggiare senza dover pensa... more -
Most Connected Cities
Of course Silicon Valley is on there, there should just be wifi everywhere already. bajeezus
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Cablevision Launching Wireless Broadband Network
I guess Cablevision was feeling a little left out after the WiMaxMegaZord became official with Comcast and Time on board, because they're planning to drop $350 million on a wireless broadband network for New York. It'll basically be a big Wi-Fi network initially (free for customers), though Cablevision says "ultimately it will be a mobile voice-capable network." Which is the real peg: a quadruple play option with bundled wireless (now just to compete w/ TWC and Comcast, let alone wireless companies). At least hopefully, since a $350 million glorified Wi-Fi network isn't gonna get 'em very far I guess Cablevision was feeling a little left out after the WiMaxMegaZord became official with Comcast and Time on board, because they... more
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david-brenner.net » wind-powered wifi AP repeater
These students came up with a great solution for expanding their wireless network. Apparently there wasn't any power source available for the network repeater, so they build a wind turbine. These should be on every rooftop, in every city.
Dan built the charging circuit himself. Essentially the windmill recharges two 12V batteries and the circuit exists to make sure it does not over charge them. The wireless AP/repeater (not in the picture) is connected to the battery terminals. We "waterproofed" it using plumber's putty, the plastic tuperware box, and that metal box that Dan got off ebay). These students came up with a great solution for expanding their wireless network. Apparently there wasn't any power source avail... more
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