Pat Logsdon
08-06-2004, 09:00 PM
<div class='os_post_top_link'><a href='http://www.engadget.com/entry/6437767344487534/' target='_blank'>http://www.engadget.com/entry/6437767344487534/</a><br /><br /></div><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/logsdon_20040806_wifihotspot1.jpg" /> <br /><br /><i>"The idea for Hotspot Bloom began as a portable sculpture for open parks around Manhattan. When I first started this project, I found there was little physical demarcation for open wi-fi networks. Most people didn't even realize that free wi-fi could be found in many of the parks around NYC. My sculpture was intended as a form of intervention that would create visibility for these services. I chose to use flowers because they were emblematic of the vitality of information. The flowers would bloom and grow using servo motors and lights to indicate the availability of an open wireless networks. "</i><br /><br />Curses! I've apparently been going around, finding WiFi hotspots in a way that's both unhip <i>and</i> ugly. Lucky for me, Karen Lee's thesis project puts the pretty in this unattractive activity. I wasn't really aware that this was a process that needed beautification, but kudos to Ms. Lee for initiative. While her thesis site is chock full of good solid science, I'm a little worried about a graphic in her initial design phase that appears to espouse a belief that WiFi rays come from the Sun:<br /><br /><img src="http://www.pocketpcthoughts.com/images/web/2003/logsdon_20040806_wifihotspot2.jpg" /><br /><br />:mrgreen: Happy Friday!