Technomaly » wifi

Camera Allows You To See WiFi

Nick Upton — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 16:21:03 +0000

Panoramic Wifi Camera from Adam Somlai-Fischer on Vimeo.

I am never surprised by the insane things people make, but this “camera” is pretty amazing.

Essentially, the camera can take pictures of the radio spectrum by spotting the varying intensities within the spectrum. The pictures come out looking like a copy from a broken printer, but the it’s the principle people, the principle!

With the camera we can take real time “photos” of wifi (and we’re working towards having video too). These show how our physical structures are illuminated by this particular electromagnetic phenomenon and we are even able to see the shadows that our bodies cast within such “hertzian” spaces.

…

We do this basically by pointing a wifi antenna (or several antennas) and measuring the signal strength throughout a view – the faster we can do this, the faster we can create full-screen images.

The machine also gives a good glimpse at the inundation of these waves that blast us every day from our routers, microwaves and the radio. I’m not saying go out and get a tinfoil hat, but at least some tinfoil underwear.

The machine has the added benefit of looking like something out of steampunk villain’s workshop.

[Via Make Magazine]

UK Bill May Halt Public WiFi

Asterios Kokkinos — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:00:51 +0000

As a man who’s currently writing this article on the public WiFi provided by my local coffee shop, I’m somewhat alarmed to hear that the UK may soon be erecting copyright standards so impossible to meet that it’d signal the end of public WiFi. The culprit? The Digital Economy Bill currently working its way through the legislature.

Here’s the issue: when an ISP subscriber illegally downloads a movie or song, the ISP can target that user specifically for penalties. But when someone illegially downloads something for a public cafe, then leaves, who’s at fault? According to the Digital Economy Bill, the cafe, which is a legal liability that’s simply too high for small businesses.

There’s no way for these small businesses to patrol their connections, making sure that nobody illegally downloads files. Simultaneously, if the law were to be altered so the cafe would be immune from prosecution, who’s to stop people from simply using public WiFi to skirt the law?

Tough nut to crack, UK.

Source: CrunchGear

Photo Source: Google

McDonald’s Introduces Wi-Fi, Fat People Rejoice

Asterios Kokkinos — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 20:00:28 +0000

Last week, McDonald’s introduced free wi-fi in 11,500 of its 14,000 US stores. It had previously cost $3.00 for 2 hours, but AT&T’s changed all that – you can now check your gmail while you drink your McFlurry while you get fatter. Much, much fatter.

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have to go shove 20 mcnuggets in my mouth as fast as is humanly possible.

Source & Photo Source: Mashable

Wifi Allergies Force Man Into Exile

Nex — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 21:19:06 +0000

There are a few great reasons to become a hobo. Maybe you find the idea of eating shoe leather and punching rats in the snout to be romantic. Maybe you hear voices that you can only escape by huffing kerosene fumes. Maybe you’ve fallen in love with a scruffy drifter named Alistair Drizzlepop.

As for reasons why not to become a hobo, the obvious health and hygiene concerns are high on the list, but the number one reason almost certainly reads “because you’re allergic to Wifi.”

Despite the last two paragraphs, Santa Fe resident Arthur Firstenberg has left his house and moved into his car to escape the negative impact his neighbor’s use of modern technology has on his body.

Additionally, Firstenberg is suing his neighbor, claiming that by refusing to turn off their cellular phones, computers, routers, Internet service, iPods, fruit bats, washing machines, space heaters and Mechagodzilla, they have damned him to a life of homeless solitude.

Communications and technology enthusiast site TMC explains:

Firstenberg “cannot stay in a hotel, because hotels and motels all employ wi-fi connections, which trigger a severe illness,” says the request for a preliminary injunction. “If (Firstenberg) cannot obtain preliminary relief, he will be forced to continue to sleep in his car, enduring winter cold and discomfort, until this case can be heard.” The case has been assigned to state District Judge Daniel Sanchez, who has yet to set a hearing.

I won’t necessarily doubt Firstenberg’s allergy claims until a doctor rules one way or the other, but I am curious as to what sort of evidence he claims to have of his affliction. Actually, scratch that; I just want to watch a video of Firstenberg eating a Bluetooth headset.

No, I don’t know why.

(Image: Uberreview)