#OSE Open Source Everything – Page 102 – Public Intelligence Blog

This Handy Device Will Let You Send Text Messages Even After The Grid Crashes

Communicate without the need for any central connectivity — no Wi-Fi, cell towers or satellites needed. The gadget uses long-range radio waves — between 151-154 MHz — to send messages to other goTenna devices within its range. Depending on the surrounding terrain and elevation, the device can send messages up to 50 miles away. In the city, the range shrinks to roughly 1 mile.

2015/01/25

Yoda: DIY OpenBTS Phone & Internet

BTS (Base Transciever Station)

Kill Dead Zones With This Small Box

DIY phone and internet service for rural areas

Kurtis Heimerl enables entrepreneurs to build their own wireless networks. A postdoctoral student at the University of California at Berkeley, Heimerl packed a Linux computer, a 900 MHz power amplifier, and a 2G cellular-network antenna into a microwave-size box called Endaga CCN1. It costs a relatively modest sum of $6,000 and is simple to set up: Plug in power and Internet, mount the unit to a tree or pole, and voilà: connection. Endaga can connect up to 1,000 people within a six-mile radius.

2015/01/25

Sepp Hasslberger: Greece Leading on Democracy?

Access

Greece led the way to democracy in ancient times. Will they do it again, and show us how to build a p2p society?

Will Syriza pave the way for a Commons-oriented society?

Andreas Karitzis, member of Syriza’s think tank on digital policies and a candidate MP in the ongoing elections, recently wrote an article in the Greek version of the Huffington Post highlighting the commitment of his party to free/open source technologies, transparency and participatory democracy. Mr. Karitzis claims that Syriza will support the adoption of free/open source software in the public sector and the distribution of public data under Commons-based licenses. It is true that from program to implementation, several steps are required, however the first step seems to have been made: Syriza appears to not only be aware of the advantages of free/open source technologies but also to realize the potential and the new political economy of this emerging proto-mode of production.

Continue reading “Sepp Hasslberger: Greece Leading on Democracy?”

2015/01/242015/01/24

Bojan Radej: Oxfam Reference on Political Capture and Economic Inequality

Access, Commerce, Corruption, Government

A fine reference.

Oxfam (2014). Working for the Few: Political capture and economic inequality (Briefing Paper, 32 pages).

Phi Beta Iota: The elite is starting to fracture — inclusive and redemptive capitalism are code for “stop the pitchforks.” What the broad elite does not get yet is that infinite wealth can be created if they give up 1% of what they are hoarding and get out of the way — stop rigging the system. Electoral Reform is the only “root” means of restoring integrity to the government, the economy, and society.

2015/01/222015/01/22