Cidersomerset
1st May 2014, 18:39
I'm not a techy by nature and am usually slow off the mark on new technology,
but I have wondered what will happen if the web goes down by a natural disaster
or government crackdown after a 'false flag' ....etc. This seems to be a modern version
of the old CB network. but with a larger range, but needs to have mass participation
to make it effective. No doubt some of you more technical bods will have heard of it,
but as it mentions in the article it has the potential for total secrecy which I would
not have thought the alphabet soup agencies would allow for long ?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/2.60.6/desktop/3.5/img/blq-blocks_grey_alpha.png
1 May 2014 Last updated at 00:01
Mesh networks chat apps to the rescueBy Richard Taylor
Vid on link.......http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27225869
North America Technology Correspondent
Richard Taylor explains how Firechat makes use of a mesh network
Continue reading the main story
Related Stories
Plans for new 'people-powered' net
App plays music from infinite phones
Voiping the outback
As popular as chat apps have become, they all suffer from the same flaw - if you board
an underground train, head into the wild or find yourself in a situation where the
authorities block the mobile networks, you're likely to end up cut off.Now a new
technology is promising to keep such "off-the-grid" smartphone owners chatting.
It has been hailed as having the potential to trigger nothing less than a second mobile
revolution.Mesh networking is the kind of techie term that, quite understandably, would
elicit blank stares were one to mention it en passant.
But in the past few months, unprecedented anxiety over state surveillance of internet
traffic allied with the incorporation of the technology into Apple's latest mobile software,
iOS 7, has meant the novel communications protocol has itself been creating a lot of chatter.
So what's all the fuss about? In short, the technology potentially allows
communication "off the grid" from the mainstream internet.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74555000/jpg/_74555425_taiwan.jpg
Taiwan protests Students in Taiwan used a mesh network to communicate during recent
protests Its potential is huge - ranging from communication during disaster relief efforts
through to the promotion of democracy.
At risk of simplification, it is helpful to think of a traditional network as a bicycle wheel -
where every spoke connects at some point to a central hub, be it a mobile phone
network, internet service provider or computer server.
By contrast, a mesh network has no central connection point to speak of. Instead, each
point on the network acts as a "node" in a kind of webbed mesh, able to efficiently route
traffic on to any other node within range.
That means messages can pass from one point to another, without the need for the
regular internet - incredibly useful in times of disaster, where traditional
communications are often limited or severed entirely.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74553000/gif/_74553688_mesh.gif
Mesh network graphic A mesh network allows a single connection to the net to be
shared between multiple devices, many of which can be removed without the network
failing. The devices can still chat to each other even if the net connection is severed
Should even a single node be internet-connected, traffic can be shared with all other
nodes to give internet access to all on the mesh.
Secret messages
But a mesh network can also be an incredibly useful tool for those worried about others
monitoring their online activity.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74557000/png/_74557209_firec.png
Firechat Firechat can be used to stay in contact while underground - but only if enough
people are using it Since there is no central authority, it is inherently more difficult to
shut down than a traditional network and impossible to monitor unless one is directly
connected to the network itself.Mesh networking is a very well-established idea.
Originally established for the military, today it is being used in projects around the globe
- in villages, towns and cities, largely to help spread connectivity where only limited
internet access exists.
But a little-advertised feature in iOS 7 called "multi-peer connectivity" now means that
app developers can easily put mesh technology in the hands of us all, turning our once-
humble handsets into makeshift routers - no setup expertise or additional hardware
required.
Staying alive
One app, Firechat, is already creating a buzz.
Firechat was only launched in March but already boasts millions of downloads around
the world. In essence it lets users exchange messages, photos and videos among each
other, as long as there are intermediary devices nearby to relay the signal along the chain.
The app has just been released on Android too - though here it faces some competition
from a well-established though less user-friendly app called the Serval Mesh, which
draw attentions to its potential in relief efforts and providing connectivity to
underserved rural areas.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74553000/jpg/_74553691_garden2.jpg
Mesh Network Firechat's developer created this mesh network using Apple and Android
devices Firechat's founder Micha Benoliel says his app is primarily aimed at entertainment, though he concedes it does have other uses.
Some are already being played out - when faced with the threat of internet restrictions
and limited cell coverage, protesting students in Taiwan intent on occupying the
parliament recently turned to Firechat to keep their lines of communications alive.
If that kind of use-case prevails, there's little doubt apps such as Firechat will attract
the attention of governments and law enforcement agencies keen to neuter or at least
monitor traffic going to this kind of off-grid network.
But right now its main challenge is to grow its user base to a stage where contemplating
that kind of problem even becomes a possibility.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74555000/jpg/_74555423_oz.jpg
Serval Mess app The Serval Mesh's developers worked with New Zealand Red Cross to
improve the app After all, Firechat's technology is essentially "all or nothing".
Without a critical mass of users, Firechat's promise to keep users connected wherever
they may be will remain unfulfilled. And all the talk of "a second mobile revolution" may
ultimately prove to be hot air.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27225869
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Android Ad-hoc Wi-Fi Mesh network to prepare for the End of the World
XZTMLmRfb0s
Transcript Statistics Report .
Uploaded on 20 Feb 2012
Serval uses an ad-hoc WiFi to connect Android phones directly to other Android smart
phones which have the Serval Project app installed. Check out the entire article here
http://bit.ly/wgk5h1
but I have wondered what will happen if the web goes down by a natural disaster
or government crackdown after a 'false flag' ....etc. This seems to be a modern version
of the old CB network. but with a larger range, but needs to have mass participation
to make it effective. No doubt some of you more technical bods will have heard of it,
but as it mentions in the article it has the potential for total secrecy which I would
not have thought the alphabet soup agencies would allow for long ?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
http://static.bbci.co.uk/frameworks/barlesque/2.60.6/desktop/3.5/img/blq-blocks_grey_alpha.png
1 May 2014 Last updated at 00:01
Mesh networks chat apps to the rescueBy Richard Taylor
Vid on link.......http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27225869
North America Technology Correspondent
Richard Taylor explains how Firechat makes use of a mesh network
Continue reading the main story
Related Stories
Plans for new 'people-powered' net
App plays music from infinite phones
Voiping the outback
As popular as chat apps have become, they all suffer from the same flaw - if you board
an underground train, head into the wild or find yourself in a situation where the
authorities block the mobile networks, you're likely to end up cut off.Now a new
technology is promising to keep such "off-the-grid" smartphone owners chatting.
It has been hailed as having the potential to trigger nothing less than a second mobile
revolution.Mesh networking is the kind of techie term that, quite understandably, would
elicit blank stares were one to mention it en passant.
But in the past few months, unprecedented anxiety over state surveillance of internet
traffic allied with the incorporation of the technology into Apple's latest mobile software,
iOS 7, has meant the novel communications protocol has itself been creating a lot of chatter.
So what's all the fuss about? In short, the technology potentially allows
communication "off the grid" from the mainstream internet.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74555000/jpg/_74555425_taiwan.jpg
Taiwan protests Students in Taiwan used a mesh network to communicate during recent
protests Its potential is huge - ranging from communication during disaster relief efforts
through to the promotion of democracy.
At risk of simplification, it is helpful to think of a traditional network as a bicycle wheel -
where every spoke connects at some point to a central hub, be it a mobile phone
network, internet service provider or computer server.
By contrast, a mesh network has no central connection point to speak of. Instead, each
point on the network acts as a "node" in a kind of webbed mesh, able to efficiently route
traffic on to any other node within range.
That means messages can pass from one point to another, without the need for the
regular internet - incredibly useful in times of disaster, where traditional
communications are often limited or severed entirely.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74553000/gif/_74553688_mesh.gif
Mesh network graphic A mesh network allows a single connection to the net to be
shared between multiple devices, many of which can be removed without the network
failing. The devices can still chat to each other even if the net connection is severed
Should even a single node be internet-connected, traffic can be shared with all other
nodes to give internet access to all on the mesh.
Secret messages
But a mesh network can also be an incredibly useful tool for those worried about others
monitoring their online activity.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74557000/png/_74557209_firec.png
Firechat Firechat can be used to stay in contact while underground - but only if enough
people are using it Since there is no central authority, it is inherently more difficult to
shut down than a traditional network and impossible to monitor unless one is directly
connected to the network itself.Mesh networking is a very well-established idea.
Originally established for the military, today it is being used in projects around the globe
- in villages, towns and cities, largely to help spread connectivity where only limited
internet access exists.
But a little-advertised feature in iOS 7 called "multi-peer connectivity" now means that
app developers can easily put mesh technology in the hands of us all, turning our once-
humble handsets into makeshift routers - no setup expertise or additional hardware
required.
Staying alive
One app, Firechat, is already creating a buzz.
Firechat was only launched in March but already boasts millions of downloads around
the world. In essence it lets users exchange messages, photos and videos among each
other, as long as there are intermediary devices nearby to relay the signal along the chain.
The app has just been released on Android too - though here it faces some competition
from a well-established though less user-friendly app called the Serval Mesh, which
draw attentions to its potential in relief efforts and providing connectivity to
underserved rural areas.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74553000/jpg/_74553691_garden2.jpg
Mesh Network Firechat's developer created this mesh network using Apple and Android
devices Firechat's founder Micha Benoliel says his app is primarily aimed at entertainment, though he concedes it does have other uses.
Some are already being played out - when faced with the threat of internet restrictions
and limited cell coverage, protesting students in Taiwan intent on occupying the
parliament recently turned to Firechat to keep their lines of communications alive.
If that kind of use-case prevails, there's little doubt apps such as Firechat will attract
the attention of governments and law enforcement agencies keen to neuter or at least
monitor traffic going to this kind of off-grid network.
But right now its main challenge is to grow its user base to a stage where contemplating
that kind of problem even becomes a possibility.
http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/74555000/jpg/_74555423_oz.jpg
Serval Mess app The Serval Mesh's developers worked with New Zealand Red Cross to
improve the app After all, Firechat's technology is essentially "all or nothing".
Without a critical mass of users, Firechat's promise to keep users connected wherever
they may be will remain unfulfilled. And all the talk of "a second mobile revolution" may
ultimately prove to be hot air.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-27225869
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Android Ad-hoc Wi-Fi Mesh network to prepare for the End of the World
XZTMLmRfb0s
Transcript Statistics Report .
Uploaded on 20 Feb 2012
Serval uses an ad-hoc WiFi to connect Android phones directly to other Android smart
phones which have the Serval Project app installed. Check out the entire article here
http://bit.ly/wgk5h1