Comments on: Libraries should offer Wi-Fi access http://inluminent.com/2003/01/21/libraries-should-offer-wi-fi-access/ my comments on business, marketing, advertising, email, CAN-SPAM, selling as a profession, photography, computers and other stuff... Fri, 21 Nov 2008 18:48:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Adam Kalsey http://inluminent.com/2003/01/21/libraries-should-offer-wi-fi-access/#comment-639 Adam Kalsey Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://inluminent.com/?p=464#comment-639 I disagree about the fees. Adding a wireless AP to the existing setup would cost less than $50. They don't need to broadcast wireless through the whole building (although that would be nice, too). They only need to add coverage in the immediate area near the existing Internet terminals. By adding this, they could actually be saving money by reducing the number of terminals they need to have in the library. When I was there yesterday, there were 4 or 5 people with laptops. Two were sitting at Internet terminals, apparently researching something and then typing on their laptops. If they had Wi-Fi cards, that's two less terminals in use. Heck, the library could even offer inexpensive WiFi cards that you could check out for a couple of hours with your library card. A cheap WiFi card costs much less than an additional terminal. An obsolete computer with some sort of captive portal software could be used as a gateway to the WiFi Net access. When you open your browser, you get a web page that requires you to enter your libabry card number as the price of admission to the Internet. I disagree about the fees. Adding a wireless AP to the existing setup would cost less than $50. They don’t need to broadcast wireless through the whole building (although that would be nice, too). They only need to add coverage in the immediate area near the existing Internet terminals.

By adding this, they could actually be saving money by reducing the number of terminals they need to have in the library. When I was there yesterday, there were 4 or 5 people with laptops. Two were sitting at Internet terminals, apparently researching something and then typing on their laptops. If they had Wi-Fi cards, that’s two less terminals in use. Heck, the library could even offer inexpensive WiFi cards that you could check out for a couple of hours with your library card. A cheap WiFi card costs much less than an additional terminal.

An obsolete computer with some sort of captive portal software could be used as a gateway to the WiFi Net access. When you open your browser, you get a web page that requires you to enter your libabry card number as the price of admission to the Internet.

]]> By: Kevin http://inluminent.com/2003/01/21/libraries-should-offer-wi-fi-access/#comment-640 Kevin Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://inluminent.com/?p=464#comment-640 don't we already pay some tax on our phone bill to cover the cost of wiring/bandwidth of libraries and schools? free should be a no brainer don’t we already pay some tax on our phone bill to cover the cost of wiring/bandwidth of libraries and schools? free should be a no brainer

]]> By: pete http://inluminent.com/2003/01/21/libraries-should-offer-wi-fi-access/#comment-641 pete Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://inluminent.com/?p=464#comment-641 Wi-Fi at the library? The first thing I thought of was: Prime real estate would be living next door to the library! Wi-Fi at the library?

The first thing I thought of was: Prime real estate would be living next door to the library!

]]> By: paul http://inluminent.com/2003/01/21/libraries-should-offer-wi-fi-access/#comment-642 paul Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://inluminent.com/?p=464#comment-642 I have been thinking about this lately, given how cheap wireless gear is. You could easily make your bookstore/coffeehouse (lots of these here in Seattle) a wireless hotspot for the price of an Airport and a cable modem drop. Of course, you might get some static from the cable/telco since some of them regard bandwidth sharing as theft of service. But, yes, I agree, libraries and public spaces like this -- even bus terminals -- could be made into hotspots and I see no compelling reason why they shouldn't be, except funding. I have been thinking about this lately, given how cheap wireless gear is. You could easily make your bookstore/coffeehouse (lots of these here in Seattle) a wireless hotspot for the price of an Airport and a cable modem drop.

Of course, you might get some static from the cable/telco since some of them regard bandwidth sharing as theft of service.

But, yes, I agree, libraries and public spaces like this — even bus terminals — could be made into hotspots and I see no compelling reason why they shouldn’t be, except funding.

]]> By: quotidian http://inluminent.com/2003/01/21/libraries-should-offer-wi-fi-access/#comment-643 quotidian Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://inluminent.com/?p=464#comment-643 <strong>ubiquitous public wireless access</strong> inluminent/weblog: Libraries should offer Wi-Fi access I'd even go so far as to say that libraries should offer for-fee Wi-Fi ubiquitous public wireless access

inluminent/weblog: Libraries should offer Wi-Fi access I’d even go so far as to say that libraries should offer for-fee Wi-Fi

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