Burning Man Goes Open Source For Cell Phones 152
coondoggie passes along this excerpt from Network World:
"Today I bring you a story that has it all: a solar-powered, low-cost, open source cellular network that's revolutionizing coverage in underprivileged and off-grid spots. It uses VoIP yet works with existing cell phones. It has pedigreed founders. Best of all, it is part of the sex, drugs and art collectively known as Burning Man. ... The technology starts with the 'they-said-it-couldn't-be-done' open source software, OpenBTS. OpenBTS is built on Linux and distributed via the AGPLv3 license. When used with a software-defined radio such as the Universal Software Radio Peripheral (USRP), it presents a GSM air interface ("Um") to any standard GSM cell phone, with no modification whatsoever required of the phone. It uses open source Asterisk VoIP software as the PBX to connect calls, though it can be used with other soft switches, too. ... This is the third year its founders have decided to trial-by-fire the system by offering free cell phone service to the 50,000-ish attendees at Burning Man, which begins today in Black Rock City, Nevada. "
Why is this on the front page in red? (Score:3, Insightful)
Seriously, I'm totally confused by this. Did the burning man attendees actually set the /article/ on fire as well?
Bummer (Score:5, Insightful)
I haven't been to Burning Man in a few years, but when I did go it was nice to get away from it all. I suppose I could choose to not use/bring my cell phone - but if other people are still tethered to the ordinary world...? Well - bummer!
Re:I may have read that one wrong (Score:5, Insightful)
There's certainly a lot of overlap between the techie crowd and the hippie crowd. Steve Jobs, for example, experimented with LSD.
Jobs never has been been really a techie though, he is more of a hipster businessman.
Re:Encryption? (Score:2, Insightful)
What about encryption? How do I know my call is safe, and do I trust the operator of these devices?
In a crowd of 50,000 people I'm not sure that call safety and call security are the most reasonable things to be concerned about...
Re:I may have read that one wrong (Score:1, Insightful)
The people who make Burning Man happen are awesome, and they're seriously into tech.
As with any festival, there is a large contingent of "tourists" who are just there for the party.
But the organizers and contributors are skilled, interesting, and motivated.
Re:Bummer (Score:4, Insightful)
Well, if this project does what it says, there won't be any place left in the world where you won't be tethered to the grid.
Bad license choice (Score:2, Insightful)
Re:[Citation Needed] (Score:3, Insightful)
I think what he's trying to say is that he was Steve Jobs best customer.
Re:watch out for cops (Score:4, Insightful)
I fear the burning man festival may soon flame out, or at best, morph into an anemic lame-o semblance of it's former self
I think I've been hearing that it's already done that from people who have attended it every year in the last decade. People were probably saying the same thing before then, I just wasn't paying attention.
Burning Man: Disneyland for Marketing Suits (Score:5, Insightful)
Burning Man had its brief, shining moment, but when was that...? Circa mid-90's? Now it's a staged pseudo-event the very promotion of which cuts against the grain of what it was supposed to be. I see the jowly middle-aged Marketing Suits queuing up for their Burning Man tickets and I am reminded of the giddy tourists in and around Woodstock, NY paying $25 for a tie-dyed peace-sign T-shirt.
Re:Wait. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:I may have read that one wrong (Score:4, Insightful)
Not a techie? He worked as a technician for Atari, and worked on the design for the motherboard for Breakout. You also don't successfully manage a technology company like Apple without having a grasp of technology.
Of course, Woz was far more adept at hardware, which brings a lot of people to make the claim that Jobs is just a businessman.
Re:Nekkid People (Score:3, Insightful)
Remember that the most popular guy on the beach is the one who can carry a dozen donuts and a cup of coffee in each hand.
Re:Burning Man: Disneyland for Marketing Suits (Score:3, Insightful)
Maybe it's an outlet for any remaining desire to not "act like suits".
Re:watch out for cops (Score:1, Insightful)
The gift economy in Black Rock City is amazing. You just walk around and people give you stuff, food, drinks, strange art, random blinky lights, compliments even. Besides the standard cup and water supply I also carried a bottle of vodka, a bag of nuts, sunblock/moisturizing lotion, and sanitary wipes - they were all personally useful and made great gifts. You hunker down in some random camp to wait out a dust storm and whip out your nuts and vodka and say hello, next thing you know someone else has mixers and another person is cooking you lunch. That's the incredible thing about the gift economy, it brings people together in this unique way. Without the expectation of economic exchange the entire culture of the city is transformed at a fundamental level that you really can't grok until you've existed within it for a few days. One of the most amazing behaviors that emerges from this fundamental change is that people become much more willing to help each other. There's this group dynamic that develops where random strangers will suddenly team up to accomplish things for each other. You might overhear two strangers talking about how much they want bacon and remember a bacon themed camp on the other side of the city, you mention it to them and another stranger says they just came from there and the camp is only making bacon for 30 more minutes, there's no way you can get across the city in time, except another stranger who overhears says their neighbor has an artcar who can give everyone a lift. Next thing you know you're riding a pirate ship across the playa with 10 new friends en route to bacon.
The public safety rules are fairly minimal and entirely rational. Last year there was an art installation which was very obviously a potential safety hazard, that was actually the entire purpose of it as the theme of that year was evolution. Many people dumb enough to take the risk suffered minor injury, many others laughed at the idiots. The rate and severity of the injuries were insufficient to force people to not take the risk, if you were stupid enough to do it you were free enough to do it. That's generally how Burning Man is, people will probably warn you when you are putting yourself in danger, and they will help extricate you from danger if necessary, but they will respect your right to express yourself however you see fit.