As mentioned by another commenter, the GPS requirement does not sit so well with me. For a mobile node this might not be an issue, but for stationary node (read somebody’s home) you could then map an ip address to somebody’s residence. This would definitively have some privacy ramifications.

But, I also don’t really see the reason to have this physical GPS based map. Aren’t we interested in finding the fastest path between two points rather than the closest physical route. Although in many cases they may be similar, this might not alwyas be the case depending on different node’s equipment and current load.

http://netsukuku.freaknet.org/

All we have to do now is wait until a significant number of router owners on earth have fon routers then we officially launch a firmware fix for a free alternative to isps one day.

Aside from the advantage of cost free information, ISPs still exist for a reason, reliability and speed. People with gaming consoles/pcs want low pings. You can’t have that with adhoc networks with its nature of many short ranged packetlossy nodes. This idea may be popular with file sharing folks but bear in mind the RIAA is moving to charge us a $5 monthly fee through our ISPs so we can download all we want with no legal implications.

The argument of trust in the government is flaky, wireless networks are the easiest to snoop on. Encryption only requires time to crack. All the government needs to do is place “wifi data” collection boxes outside one of the nodes in you local neighbourhood network and send the data back for processing. Open sourcing the constructs only makes all these easier.

On top of that what if I want to buy something online without my pimply neighbour watching every packet that leaves my home? I’d rather use my wired links.

Here’s the fon router initiative if you’re interested:
http://www.fon.com/

cheers

Your trust in the government to do anything useful is ill-founded, as is your belief in capitalism. Capitalism fails us every day, while our elections are shams, our dollar is collapsing, our economy is in tatters, children starve and millions go without health care. Capitalism is what has gotten us to this point, you don’t honestly believe that it’s going to solve the problems it created, do you?

The simpler solution – and more technically effective – is to remove the government sponsored monopolies in the broadband sector, and encourage healthy competition. Capitalism hasn’t failed us yet.

You can get wireless anywhere there is cell coverage, but that doesn’t provide a tenth of the benefits I’m describing, and it does cost you. As for finding hot spots, you do have to find them, as you have to be within range of an EVDO-equipped cell tower, but cell towers are fairly ubiquitous in modern cities so it’s rarely an issue.

But I’m talking about wireless that doesn’t depend on cell towers or subscription, a true P2P wireless service that connects any machine capable of it, to any other machine, directly, and uses each person’s machine as a node for transmitting past your own horizon.

The technology I’m describing won’t require nearly as much centrally-owned infrastructure, so it’s upkeep and upgrade costs are spread equally among all users without the overhead of also supporting a central organization.

Having to pay for something isn’t inherently wrong, but having to pay for things that don’t require paid service as a fundamental aspect of that service ranges from silly to stupid to totalitarian. Now, I admit we don’t currently have a way to avoid paying for wireless data services or at least the connection from wireless to the larger network, but that’s what I’m trying to fix.

But further, paying for something that doesn’t have to cost doesn’t support anyone or their families, it only enables your own exploitation. You drive a car, right? You don’t pay a horse trainer to keep a stable of well trained horses simply to support the trainer and their family, do you? But cars replaced horses, right? Just as what I’m describing will replace paid wireless services.

And what if every time a new technology replaced an old technology, the public had to shoulder the cost of continuing to support the old technology just because, well, those people have families too? It’s not a justifiable position. The people employed in these businesses will find work elsewhere, and new businesses will pop up surrounding the new universal wireless service I describe, just like mechanics and tuners and customizers and oil change shops and car-washes and drive-throughs sprang up surrounding the popularization of the car.

Technology changes, and some old technologies die. We don’t subsidize horse trainers, we don’t subsidize carriage makers, we don’t subsidize telegraph men, we just let those businesses naturally respond to the new condition. Things grow old and die; other things are born and mature; that is nature and nothing is more natural.

It’s not “free” but wireless from anywhere is available. I use EVDO, and there is no need to find a hot spot.

I pay for the service, but that is how one insures they keep upgrading the technology, I like knowing I am providing work for others, that they can continue to support their families.

Having to pay for a service is not necessarily a bad thing. I in turn need to keep working, and that keeps me out of trouble. It also forces me to give my best.

Thanks!

As for your privacy concern, you may know where the nodes are, but unless you have their permission, you won’t know /who/ they are unless you’re within visual range. But yes, there are issues to be addressed and concerns to be allayed, as with any new technology.