Remember how T-Mobile made internet free at their hotspots after the Florida hurricanes? I was inspired by that. Free internet was being distributed in a manner similar to the more immediate needs of food, water, and shelter. It helped raise the quality of life, and reduce anxiety while helping some folks continue on with their lives.
For some time, I have been planning a globally-aware outreach project to bring wireless connectivity to people in areas with little internet access. With the Indian Ocean tsunami, I want to redirect my efforts to people in that area. Here's a post describing some of the mechanics of the effort. I would appreciate feedback on or off list. Also, I'll post more here when details emerge. Thanks, Mike http://wireless.weblogsinc.com/entry/1234000207025240/ Post-Tsunami Reconnect: Disaster Relief with Wireless Posted Dec 29, 2004, 1:23 AM ET by Mike Outmesguine I am working to organize a disaster relief effort to help those affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami. I'd like to send wireless equipment and expertise to damaged areas to help reconnect the people. I'm still working out the details and will update you as more develops. It will be organized with folks from the Southern California Wireless Users Group, SOCALWUG and other wireless groups that wish to participate. I started calling it the Post-Tsunami Reconnect. Xeni Jardin mentioned the effort today on Fox News Channel during an interview about bloggers and the tsunami. I will have a video excerpt available soon. Here is a statement I sent to the Center for International Disaster Information about the effort: "We are a Southern California based user community of experts and advocates of wireless data communications. Wireless community members supplied technical expertise and wireless equipment for the Florida hurricane relief efforts and to military personnel stationed in Iraq. We would like to organize, collect, and deliver wireless data equipment to disaster relief workers and others in the affected region to help maintain a high level of communication and internet access ability. We would also be able to send engineers into the area to help bring connections online." For more information or to discuss a donation of funds, equipment, or your expertise, contact Mike Outmesguine by email "mo at wifi-toys.com" or voice: +1-818-889-9445 ext. 102 ----------------------------------------- -- Mike Outmesguine Author, Wi-Fi Toys: 15 Cool Wireless Projects for Home, Office, and Entertainment President, TransStellar, Inc. Chairman, Southern California Wireless Users Group (SOCALWUG) Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Direct: +1-818-889-9445 x102 Fax: +1-818-337-7420 IM-AOL: SOCALWUG IM-Yahoo: mikeoutmesguine IM-ICQ: 176284 VOIP-Skype: mikeoutmesguine VOIP-FWD: 498477 Say: /OUT-mess-geen/ Corporate: http://www.TransStellar.com Wireless News: http://wireless.weblogsinc.com Wireless User: http://www.socalwug.org Wireless Book: http://www.wifi-toys.com Bluetooth Mods: http://www.bluedriving.com
