John Hibbs wrote: > First, long ago we tossed the idea of a "bus"...the van (40 foot > container) would be towed for placement weeks and months on end. > (outside of a Walmart) > > Next, it seems to me there is some advantage to having a > self-contained "shell" where the equipment can be stored, used, and > shipped - and where people can make their way to it, and work shoulder > to shoulder. > > Just a thought. And you could be right. Maybe a boxes of computers > which have all the information on their hard drivers, and bookmarks, > etc. would be sufficient. Load them on an airplane and have the people > find the outer carton, unpack same and set up shop. Wireless has > changed a lot, that's for sure.
http://www.fraw.org.uk/ssp/container/ That's sort of what you're talking about, except with a focus. Maybe you could hire a few Jamaicans. :-) Now, when I worked at Central Florida Blood Bank, I built a lot of the equipment for mobile blood drives... in fact I designed some of it... using PVC. It's possible to create tables that flip into self contained boxes with systems screwed to them... picture a computer on a desktop, and you unlock the desktop and it pivots on a central screw, allowing the system to be automagically packed into a PVC box which converts back to a table. You then secure the equipment to minimize vibration, and there you go. PVC is durable and easy to replace and keep clean (especially outside of a blood bank setting). Honestly, the Apple Mac minis may be ideal for this because of their small size. Wireless out of the box as I recall, which means that all that would be needed is a server, internet access (satellite) and some chairs. Toss some solar panels on the roof, ample fuel cells (because nothing described so far is heavy) with the understanding that they need to 'breathe', a DC refrigerator (you will want something to eat and drink), and you could *try* solar air conditioning, though you should have a double seal door if you use that because they don't blow as hard, normally. You should have some windows, too, for natural light - on top, for natural light in, dispersed with dispersal plastic (like in front of the fluorescent bulbs in offices).... You could even put in a solar water pump and keep your own supply of water, which I would suggest. Toss in a HAM radio and the right software, plus a GSM modem... Actually, I just described my dream office. But I think you'll all get the idea. -- Taran Rampersad Presently in: Georgetown, Guyana [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.knowprose.com http://www.easylum.net http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/Taran "Criticize by creating." — Michelangelo _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
