There is an old saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention”. If you have never experienced its true expression in recent times, then here we are to present you a really incredible story. In a nutshell, the story is about creating internet connection from simple household things and icing on the cake is that the internet connection is not only for one or two users, it is for hundreds of users, who can receive uninterrupted internet service from these household items.
The development process is very simple and is based on basic principles. A single commercial wireless router on RF reflectors and then covered in a metal mesh. Another router/reflector pair is installed at some distance, so that these two routers can establish a network easily and can be used by anybody with the help of a reflector. For making a reflector, raw material is abound everywhere like stones, clay, wood or metal or something as simple as plastic, which can simply mount on the metal mesh. For making the system more powerful and for ensuring an uninterrupted supply, you can attach an automobile battery and voila…its done.
This brilliant innovation is being carried out successfully in the war laden and poverty stricken countries of Afghanistan, Kenya and Pakistan. In Afghanistan, these internet services are being used in and around hospitals to save lives and make quality of life better for millions of people. The costs involved in creating these wireless networks are as low as $60 a day and the things required for the wireless are easily found anywhere in the world.
The project is being supported by some of the most scientific intellects of the world, working in MIT. Fab Lab of MIT is supporting the project and some scientists from the Fab Lab are sounding so excited about the project, that they have not hesitated to sponsor the project from their own pockets. Some aid is also coming from National Science Foundation.National Science Foundation, which is an independent U.S. based government agency, aims at promoting science and engineering through research programs and education projects.
This is an open source project. For the beginners, the word open source refers to those practices in production and development of things that promote access to the end product’s source materials to everyone interested. So if you also want to create internet network at a very low cost, explore informative websites like wiki or Google the term and you will find required information to create your own internet connection.
Via: SFGate
