News Wireless lamp posts take over world!

Great idea, but not keen on the Big Brother overtones. This from el Reg:

Computerised lamp posts look like being the basis of the biggest data network ever, as the world's traffic monitors set about controlling cars with wireless. And the result could be an absolute windfall for a startup company which, it seems, owns all the relevant patents.

The excitement about WiFi has, at last, started penetrating through to the consumer mind, with home users connecting their PCs to the Internet without wires and working in their bedrooms, sitting rooms, kitchens, and even in coffee shops, gyms and railway stations. And it turns out that you can even use your PC as a sort of free telephone - to the point where people are even asking whether perhaps, home-made wireless might penetrate further than 3G phone networks can. One day, maybe in three years or longer, perhaps, say the pioneers.

But if Last Mile is right, then the WiFi revolution could happen much, much faster than anybody has dreamed. It will give us the Internet almost literally everywhere - in town, in the country, even in tunnels - and it will give commerce and industry a whole new media. And it could start being installed this year, using the world's highways as the base network.

More here

 

This is a great idea, one of those we really ought to expect with today's technology, yet usually never happens. It would make life safer and easier when driving, and of course you would have the country-wide internet access. luckily I have a street light outside my door

I can see two likely problems though -

1. opposition on principle because of the microwave stuff involved, as the article also predicts

2. the big brother issue. However considering most of us use or carry around traceable electronics all day I cant see how this new thechnology could be much worse. Also i dont see the government being efficient enough any time some to start introducing double-speak... Besides, I dont reckon I'm ever important enough to be more that a statistic.

You'd be surprised at the cost of road hardware anyway, with a speed camera costing £30k, a standard speed-limit/hazard sign costing the best part of £1k, etc etc so adding a bit of electronics that retails at ~£100 aint gonna add much to the price of new signage...

 

That would be good but if it is going to be in Us/Britain soon it will be in Australia in about 10 years most likely but would be sick if it does come.

 

eh? I think i missed the point - you reckon it's good for UK/US but not for Australia? Out of interest, why not?

EDIT - Oh, I guess you meant Sick in a good way

 

Yea, right... It won't be in the US anytime soon. Actually, let me clarify... It will be in the US, but in places already saturated with a multitude of ways to obtain broadband - ie: large cities. Why? Cost. Pure and simple. It's the exactl same reason why I can't get DSL or many people can't even get cable. The parent companies (Time Warner, COX, Verizon, etc) don't see a large enough profit margin to get into the rural areas and won't run lines or upgrade their services in those areas. Everyone says that this will be the "last mile" solution, but untill someone actually ponies up the cash to install the infrastructure, it's all a pipe dream and I don't see anyone coughing up the cash.

I see it happening in other countries a LOT faster than the US. The governmente there are more pro-active with getting tech out to the masses and there are non-profit organizations that will go in and hook everyone up for nothing. Look at Africa - I mean in many rural places people don't have indoor plumbing, but a non-profit has come in and hooked up satellite tv and Internet for these people.

 

anyone know a billioniare?

the first company to build nation wide wireless will have the ultimate monoploy.
like in snowcrash (by Neal Stephenson (book))
no one could compete with you as they'd have to build their own then undercut you.