The Use of Wireless Technology in Public Places

Keywords:
Public Wireless and Public Places
Wi-Fi and Public Places
Urban Space and Wireless
Technology and Public Places

Title: Reactivation of the Public Place

Ten years ago, many urban spaces throughout the country were vacant and were decaying from the lack of human activity in public areas such as neighborhood squares, parks, plazas, and other assembly areas. However, over the past five years, public spaces are experiencing a renaissance due to the technological advances of utilizing wireless technology in public places.

In New York City, redevelopment groups like the Downtown Alliance are installing wireless nodes across public places to create “zones” across public areas such as Tomkins Square Park, Union Square, Liberty Plaza Park, and South Street Seaport, and in San Francisco, the Bay Area Wireless Group has installed nodes across public places located in the multimedia gulch of San Francisco. (1)

However, access points to wireless zones are transforming not only the public places in major cities, but they are also transforming public places in smaller towns. For example, Austin, Texas has installed nodes in all of it’s public places enabling residents free wireless internet access. According to Jay Stone of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department, who was interviewed by Sheena Harden in CTIAustin.org, allowing wireless access is “giving back to the people…This is about giving free access and telling people to come out and enjoy your parks. The people of Austin love their parks and their high-tech gadgets, and we just thought of a way to bring them together.” (2)

Howard Rheingold’s Smart Mobs reported Gartner Research findings, which state there are still not enough public wireless LAN (WLAN) hotspots around the world to encourage user uptake. However there is plenty of growth. Gartner said while hotspots may not be profitable in themselves, they could help attract customers to a business. Airport lounges with wireless internet access were one example of using WLAN to attract customers."Viewed singularly, these hotspots do not generate profit, but as part of the overall business model they do," Gartner vice president Ken Dulaney said. (3)

While observing students at UNC Chapel Hill, any passer-by can see that laptop culture has enveloped the campus public space. As these college grads are infiltrating our cities, are our urban spaces soon to be transformed by new activity from wireless internet amenities? That is a good question to answer.

(1) Naraine, Ryan. “Wi-Fi ‘Hotspots’ Go Live in Downtown NYC.” Internet.com. April 29, 2003. 25 Jan. 2005. <http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/columns/article.php/2198211>

(2) Harden, Sheena. “Austin Outfitting Downtown Parks with Free Wireless Internet.” Inside CTIAustin. April 27, 2004. 25 Jan. 2005. < http://www.ctiaustin.org/node/view/11>

(3) Downing, Jim. “More Hotspots on the Way.” SmartMobs. Ed. Howard Rheingold. June 30, 2003. 25 Jan. 2005. <http://www.smartmobs.com/archive/2003/06/30/more_hotspots_o.html>

List of Web Sites:

Smart Mobs: How is technology transforming the public space?

Brief Description: Wireless technology is transforming the public space. Howard Rheingold explores the implications and societal changes that are occurring as the result of the emergence of wireless technology in the public space.
Source of Web Site: Smart Mobs

NYC Wireless: Where is a city that utilizes examples of wireless technology in public places?

Brief Description: NYC Wireless is an information site for public wireless users. Users may receive listings and may learn of community groups that are utilizing wireless technology throughout New York City.
Source of Web Site: NYC Wireless.net

Bay Area Wireless Group: Who are some of the people that advocate wireless technology in public places?

Brief Description: Bay Area Wireless Group is an example of advocacy groups that are promoting wireless use in urban areas throughout the U.S. BAWG is based out of San Francisco, and the organization connects advocacy groups throughout the Bay Area.
Source of Web Site: Bay Area Wireless Group

Links:
Howard Rheingold – Smart Mobs

http://www.smartmobs.com/

NYC Wireless

http://www.nycwireless.net/

Bay Area Wireless Group

http://www.bawug.org/

Techworld Wireless Article

http://www.techworld.com/mobility/features/index.cfm?featureid=1148&Page=1&pagePos=2

NewYork City to Build Wireless Infrastructure

http://www.computerworld.com/securitytopics/security/recovery/story/0,10801,93972,00.html

Hotspots go ‘Live’ in Downtown NYC

http://www.wi-fiplanet.com/columns/article.php/2198211