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May 02, 2005

Announcement: The results of the Mapping Project are online

The results of the Mapping Project are online

Announcement: Recommended CAMPUS EVENT Tuesday 5/3

Recommended CAMPUS EVENT Tuesday 5/3

Lecture: Wireless Internet activism

Reading amnesty day.

The reading formerly assigned for today has been removed so that you can put your effort into the Wi-Fi mapping project.

Announcement: The Final Exam Study Guide is online

The Final Exam Study Guide is online

Help/Handout: Final Exam Study Guide

Download file (PDF, 1 page)

Assignment: BLOG POST: Wireless Internet

In the Bar & Galperin article assigned for last Wednesday, the authors briefly mention several concepts from the research literature that might be applied to the development of wireless data networks. Outlined on pp. 47-52, these include Hughes's four-stage model of infrastructure evolution (47), Sawhney's eight-stage "Infrastructure Development Model" (48), "path dependency" (49-50), "critical junctures" (50), the political economy of "the regulatory regime" (51).

Choose a wireless Internet event, group, technology, or case study discussed at any other point in the class (e.g., some material that is NOT from the Bar & Galperin article) and apply one of these concepts to it. Show that the model or concept is a useful way to think about the example you chose (or that it is not useful and explain why). Be sure to write about the concept in a way that makes it clear that you understand it.

For instance, you might consider the wireless Internet providers we talked about in Wednesday's lecture and their role in infrastructure development (Tribal Digital Village, Prairie Internet, the NYCWireless / PublicInternet Bryant Park project in New York, the WarCar) or you might draw on earlier examples of course material (Proxim, Atheros, Metricom Ricochet, the Champaign-Urbana Community Wireless Netowrk, or other wireless Internet groups of your choice). You might discuss examples from the Benkler reading (e.g., Benkler's definition of a mesh).

Post an answer in your blog that is at least 200 words. DEADLINE: 1 p.m. -- one hour before class begins.