Greetings list! John Erwin writes about investigating wi-fi access across the park system. Some discouraged the idea as costly, not something the average citizen would want, something that many folks could not use because they lack laptop computers. One poster said that "Unless private money is used to pay for 100% of this, I can't believe that minneapolis go for it. In a time of serious, I mean serious budget cuts, this is something that minneapolis simply does not need."
I'm not going to argue our financial straights but I'll point out that now is the time to dream, to plan and to strategize. Perhaps the parks are the perfect place to implement a city-wide wi-fi network. Connectivity would extend beyond the park borders to most addresses in the city. Residents could purchase high speed access through the park system creating a new profit center for the park system. Folks could connect at their desktop computers as well. And, when "shoe" computers (see "When Things Start to Think" [http://www.media.mit.edu/physics/publications/books/ba/ ] by Neil Gershenfeld) become more prevalent we'll be able to get our important communications whenever we pas a park in the city. Thanks to John and Annie for thinking ahead and working to keep Minneapolis' Park and Recreation system the best in the world despite budget concerns! -- In cooperation, Erik Riese Seward: a great place to live, work, learn, and play! (612) 724-3217 home ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ TEMPORARY REMINDER: 1. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. 2. If you don't like what's being discussed here, don't complain - change the subject (Mpls-specific, of course.) ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
