A Blog of Her Own

Wow. The tone has changed from the day’s pre-summit. There’s a bit of an ‘information wants to be free’ energy. Neat.

The speakers talk about the importance of communication to democracy.

• Participating in the most profound revolution in the history of the species.
• Relationship between technology and the 1^st amendment rights to free speech.
• As revolutionaries you have rights and responsibilities.

The agents of change are the geeks!

Wow is really the best way to describe the session. I’ll post more once I’ve had time to process.

I’ve just learned there’s a technorati tag of NS4CWN the summit.

Some random thoughts from Ron Amenta’s (Cisco) presentation.

Early adoption of wireless was at home and it drove it in enterprise space (started adhoc) which is why the security folks get extremely stressed. The phrase Ron used was “wireless access is user-driven network edge transformation.”

In 2005, notebooks surpassed desktop shipments – this will drive wireless demand.

95% of notebooks ship with wifi enabled.

The final presenter at the summit is Ken DiPietro, Conxx. Ken talked about the network that Allegheny county (Maryland) has rolled out. He stressed that the US is lagging behind the world with respect to digital capabilities. Here are some random thoughts (it’s getting too hard to keep up!)

Digital divide has changed – dial-up is almost gone, even low DSL are not getting the real experience. Japan has 100Mb symmetrical service – why are we not seeing this here? The digital divide has moved up.

We’re facing competition from around the world—we need the infrastructure to allow us to work with global partners and/or compete against them.

Sweden and other parts of Europe have access to services that we cannot get here. Such as…full screen HD videoconferencing, video on demand,

It’s interesting, what I’m hearing is that videoconferencing is actually something that is hard to do – the bandwidth does not exist. Here in AB, talking about videoconferencing seems stale and unexciting because we’ve been talking about it for so long thanks to the SuperNet. So, while we don’t have wide-spread IP videoconferencing yet, we actually have the infrastructure to enable it and we’re poised to see its use explode. We’re ahead of the US. Yay!

That’s what billboards in Corpus Christi announced when the project was finally complete.

The impetus for Corpus Christi’s wireless initiative was a dog attack on a meter reader (and the ensuing lawsuits); this lead the city to look into ways to keep city workers out of back yards which lead to an automated meter reading (AMR) system.

The AMR has quantifiable savings – it changes the meter reading and billing process completely and saves money. This is an e-government initiative, and the infrastructure required for this project can now be leveraged for other government services.

For Corpus Christi, the argument for rolling out wireless network hinges on making city government more efficient—opening the network up for free public access just becomes a side effect of that decision.

Interesting discovery in Corpus Christi – people are connecting from their sailboats! People like the technology. For information on the project in Corpus Christi, click here.

Edmonton – WiFi ever?

The Edmonton Journal had an article on Sunday, March 26^th about Edmonton’s slow uptake on creating a municipal wireless network “Edmonton slow to hook up with urban Wi-Fi revolution”. (Unfortunately the article is part of their protected materials, but I post the link in case you’re a regular 7-day dead-tree subscriber because you can get at the online version with a free registration.) If Edmontonians are serious about a wireless network, then we should perhaps start talking about changes city work processes that wireless access would enable. Then the rest of us could gain access to the network merely as a side benefit.

Think about this, if our world is completely connected, we can work anywhere. On one of those amazing summer days, we could sit in Churchill Square and still be as productive and connected as in the office! Since we get so few months where it’s warm enough to be outside, we should take advantage of it. Or what about sitting in the Muttart Conservatory in the depths of winter? Working surrounded by the beautiful plants with some much needed humidity (not to mention more visitors to the city attraction).

This is hard work, though. Here are some thoughts from the Corpus Christi project
· It’s a construction job!
· IT/MIS departments need help
· Everybody in the city is involved; citizens, employees, businesses, media, politicians
· Benefits must extend to the broad community; this is a new service, it’s a change to the fundamental way the city does business, in Corpus Christi it was a change to the fundamental city charter
· Requires commitment and cooperation from all levels
· Requires top-notch people from all departments (we have to remember it’s not technology that makes the difference, it’s how technology allows us to change work flows that make the difference)
· It’s never as easy as it looks.

Final thought:

The savings outweigh the costs. The benefits outweigh the difficulties.

So, in this session we again hear the message that we need to sell the program to everyone; the community, business, media, politicians. It is important to identify the value and then measure to be sure you realize the value (and more). In short, communicate, communicate, communicate.

So, how do you convince a municipality to build free wireless access for the public? You start with the community.

Consider this story from Sahuarita, AZ. They see the economic and social benefits to their community by having wireless access for everyone.

Jonathan shared a quick calculation for Atlanta. He estimated it would cost $25 million to provide a community wireless network. Currently citizens spend $125 million in Internet charges and they’d save that money (not good for ISPs, admittedly), giving them more to spend in the city. There are statistics that show there is a $7 return for every $1 spent, so there would be an economic impact for Atlanta of $875 million. Now, I do have to wonder if that’s a bit of smoke and mirrors. Presumably that $125 million is already going into the Atlanta economy in the form of ISPs, but maybe I’m wrong.

Now, math aside, how would you bring a municipal wireless system as a free public service to being? The short answer is to build support; from the community, from the media, from internal users, from external users, and then from politicians.

Jonathan’s Key to Success: Building grass-root community support.
· If politicians don’t think constituents want it, won’t support
· If politicians don’t understand, won’t support
· If politicians don’t feel community will benefit, won’t support

Workshops, meetings, teambuilding, consensus building…build your support before you ever thake it to council

After decision – still need to education; what will it do, how will you use it, it sounds like you need to do what Three Hills is doing for SuperNet. Public workshops are very popular in St. Cloud (10 workshops with 1200 people through them, 10% are seniors, they’re broadcast live on TV and still standing room only)

Unlike Rick’s pronouncement that wireless is a disruptive technology, Jonathan sees it as an ‘evolution of the Internet’ – wireless puts the ‘Net anywhere anytime.

The future

Communities will build, then find ways to bridge to build regional systems, then find ways to bridge to build state and national systems. In this way, it is revolutionary and there is no way to stop it. It is going to happen.

Opening remarks were made by Rick Dearborn, a broadcaster, writer, and college professor.

Mr. Dearborn states that wireless is not only a disruptive technology it’s the most disruptive technology mankind has seen. He backs up this rather bold statement with four reasons:

1. Synergy. This wireless technology is the first technology that allows previously unrelated technologies to relate (fridge reads its contents and talks to your shopping cart, your car notifies your house that you’re almost home so turn on lights/heat);
2. Almost everything can be made wireless. All it takes is a chip.
3. Capacity- it allows us to have bandwidth capacities into devices that are difficult to obtain with wired devices. You can’t wire your car to the Internet.
4. It lessens the digital divide. We can now shoot wireless signals into areas that are not financially feasible by other means.

What are the technologies that enable all this?

It’s more than just WiFi. Bluetooth, 3G, 4G (cellular); WiMax, UWB (wireless USB essentially); Zigbee; and something I missed.

Why is the revolution happening so fast?

• Wireless is an enhancement to existing technologies (which normally would be considered an continuous improvement rather than disruptive)
• it’s unregulated/unlicensed
• It’s inexpensive; anyone can build it
• We like it (in the US, schools are rolling it out because students are choosing to not attend schools without wireless—people are demanding it)

We’re not going to stop this progress. There are challenges – spectrum (1930’s allocation, HD/digital will be freeing up some VHF channels—wonderful!); security (wifi alliance has new protocol to make easier to secure networks as of today’s news); standards (there are a lot but we’re moving together); bandwidth bottleneck moving upstream (used to be at the user level but we’re giving them lots so the problem moves…)

In summary, the wireless revolution is here; this is going to be the biggest thing we’ve ever seen.

Next up Jonathan Baltuch from MRI and municipal wireless in St. Cloud, FL.

Today’s agenda includes talks about the free WiFi in St. Cloud, Florida, Corupus Christi’s wireless initiative, building municipal multi-application networks and municipal wireless technologies and strategies.

I’m particularly impressed that the Summit organizers are able to offer all of today’s sessions for free. There must be some wonderful sponsors. Oh, and they have a wireless connection set up for the pre-summit. This email-addicted geek likes that.

We’re at the St. Charles Convention Centre today, a very nice facility. The weather is amazing—sunny and warm—a real treat after a long Canadian winter. It will probably be another 2 months before we see this kind of weather in Edmonton.

Now we are already running a little behind schedule. Turn out has been fairly small so far, so perhaps we’re waiting for some more folks to arrive. I know the point of the Summit itself is to be small so that we can have some meaningful interaction.

The conference is launched by James Evans, Provost of Lindenwood University. Lindenwood started as a college for young women at a time when college education was not something for women (1827). Later, it was one of the first institutes to offer education to African Americans and Native Americans. Now Lindenwood is the fastest growing university in the state and the premier teaching college in St. Louis area. The rest of the Summit will be taking place at Lindenwood.

Opening remarks were made by Rick Dearborn, a broadcaster, writer, and college professor.

More to come…

I’m attending the summit in beautiful St. Charles, MO this weekend. Actually, I don’t know if St. Charles is beautiful because I didn’t arrive until 23:00 CST but I expect it is. I do know it’s warm and humid and my very dry Edmonton skin really appreciates it.

The summit begins tomorrow with free workshops at the St. Charles convention centre. I’ll try to post throughout the day — one would think a summit on wireless networks would have wireless access available (fingers crossed).

For more information on the summit, check out the summit page at the Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Network site.

This year will mark my 8th time riding the MS Mountain Bike tour in Hinton, Alberta. This is very exciting for me, personally. I’ve ridden in every MS Mountain bike tour and I’m planning on being around for the first 10 rides, at least.

The group of those who can claim to have ridden every year is growing smaller and smaller. Fundraising and training represent huge commitments for many people.

This year, I’ve started a brand new approach goal setting. I’m going to raise $2006 to match the year. And I’m going to ride at least one of the ‘grip ‘n’ grind’ challenge loops. Wow, it scares me to write that–the challenge loops scare me. I only started mountain bike riding 8 years ago when the MB tour was announced. I’ve come along way and I’ve had some really personal encounters with trees, but I’ve also learned to love it. Perhaps this year will be my skills development year. Anyone up for some training rides? Well, maybe once the snow has cleared up.

Finally, if you’d be so kind as to consider sponsoring me in this cause, you can do it online by following the link below. And I promise to post photos right after the tour. Hmm, maybe I can get permission to post 2004’s ‘oh shit’ video.

MS Society of Canada

Thanks to my Books 24×7 notification, I discovered a book about improving Powerpoint presentations. I’ve been dissatisfied with my own presentations for years–I view Powerpoint as a necessary evil rather than a dynamic aid for presentations. But, of course, I don’t know how to improve.

After a conversation with a friend before Christmas, I started thinking about using storytelling to replace ‘presenting.’ However, since I’m a mathematician, not a storyteller, I’m pretty weak on the whole theory of how to tell a story. Enter today’s book find: “Beyond Bullet Points” by Cliff Atkinson. I’ve been viewing it through the University library’s Books 24×7 subscription but I’m clearly going to have to buy it this week. Atkinson actually helps you learn how to create a story and then how to develop your story into a powerful, persuasive, PowerPoint presentation (without bullets).

In exploring the book and it’s companion site, Sociable Media, I found Atkinson’s blog beyond bullets. And from a comment buried somewhere, I found this wonderful little document/presentation that probably appeals most to gamers and game developers.
theoryoffun.pdf (application/pdf Object)

“We’ve heard that a million monkeys at a million keyboards could produce the complete works of Shakespeare; now, thanks to the Internet, we know that is not true.” –Robert Wilensky