Peter Fleck wrote: > - - - snip - - - > So one idea would be to (un)wire the Cedar Riverside high rises and > construct a WAN for residents, focusing on the Somali population. No > Internet. This would likely require funding and nonprofit involvement. > I don't see that as a big problem, you just get yourself a fiscal > agent. The local Freegeek/TC Open Circuit group is in the process of > becoming a 501C3 and might be interested. > > Good to see this list active again. > > Peter > > > Interesting idea, if I understand what you're saying. Unfortunately, I am a disadvantaged computer user. Been struggling for days with trying to understand how to properly set up a home network and assign IP's to two computer boxes. Assumptions: A WAN would establish an effective local broadband infrastructure for the high rises. There would initially be no Internet access. Vision: This infrastructure could support communications between residents of the network, computer to computer. If one of the computers was set up as a server on an intranet, it might provide a virtual world application like Sun's Wonderland virtual world (open source). Residents would then be able to have a virtual venue that includes individual as well as group activities. At this level, I suspect the local broadband infrastructure becomes attractive to ISP providers, telco/cableco incumbents, hospitals, grocery stores, newspapers, city services, etc., who might want to gain access to the network in exchange for reasonable wholesale Internet access pricing for the residents. The social and educational enhancement from having a WAN, or local broadband infrastructure seems obvious to me. Peter, is any of the above in line with what your committee is set up to explore? Have you had any contact with the folks at St Paul College, or possibly some group at the University? http://blogs.sun.com/wonderland/entry/st_paul_college_open_virtual Tom