A Mesh Data Currency
From Cashwiki - the Collaborative Website about Money.org, the Money Wiki
I ( we**? ) want to set up a Mesh Cooperative.
In addition to the set up and interoperability of the communication protocols, it can use an "alternative currency" for accessing the internet. ( its units / megabytes / can also be used as currency for any other type of exchanges )
Ideally it creates partnerships between all participants, credits earned by the network preferably reinvested into valorizing the network while promoting open source hardware.
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[edit] It works like this
People use their wifi router ( check hardware + software, and interoperability ), their wifi enabled pc or laptop, or their wifi enabled mobile phones, to enable ad hoc networking, becoming relay's.
As they participate in the network, they have access to the network.
As they provide bandwidth to the local network, they have access to bandwidth in the local network BUT they give a certain percentage more of what they receive to the network,
which makes it possible to the network to "sell" credits to non contributing people wanting to access the internet.
Thats the business model.
The extra cash is being spent in a not for profit to promote the network, create partnerships ( with national libraries, universities, schools, businesses ) increase its usership, and set up critical nodes in places where the density of existing users is not high enough.
It can be a combination of MANET ( Mobile Ad Hoc Networks ) and Fixed routers.
[edit] Links
Two existing , different projects :
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Mesh Networking :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mesh_networking
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_ad_hoc_network
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_ad-hoc_routing_protocols
Also see some of the posts on
http://p2pfoundation.ning.com/forum/topics/could-peernet-be-separate-from
including Sepp's post
http://p2pfoundation.ning.com/forum/topics/mesh-potato-how-to-roll-out
http://p2pfoundation.ning.com/forum/topics/project-spiderweb-a
http://p2pfoundation.ning.com/forum/topics/evernote-cloud-app-for-mobile
More links :
http://delicious.com/deliciousdante/mesh
and related
http://delicious.com/deliciousdante/adhoc
- Its an old idea I have been thinking about since I interacted with reseaucitoyen.be some 8 years ago,
and set up back to date through interacting with Gael.
==Further discussion== :
It could be completely distributed, enabling users to have an
open ID, choosing which "currency" not for profit they want to support.
The not for profits can compete and collaborate with each other, enabling transit of bandwidth between them based on needs, and competing with each other in regards to the amount of credits they provide to the user for a certain amount of bandwidth shared, but also in terms of the ease of use of the platform they enable, and potentially of other services offered.
Contributing universities or public libraries with big potential for shared internet bandwidth, can choose to create their own networks, and individual users can choose to be part of several networks at the same time.
For academics ( students, teachers, ... ) it may mean potential to have access to internet on areas larger then their campus.
Not for profits enabling such currency would have an advantage in concentrating their energies locally.
Open source implementations of the softwares enabling the data currencies can be developed conjointly through a meta cooperative.
[edit] Open ID
Users can have an open ID account, which they can use with several providers, or which they can use to migrate more easily to other providers ( although "provider is not accurate - it are more of some kind of "transaction facilitators" )
[edit] Open Source Software
[edit] Open Source Hardware
[edit] Open Communication Protocols
[edit] Meta Cooperative
The not for profits can combine along an alliance which will benefit their common needs, such as the development of open source software for managing their users, tracking bandwidth usage and data currency exchanges.
[edit] Partnerships with Internet Providers
Internet providers may want to participate as it can be used as a marketing tool to have access to more clients, or may need to join the program in case more users demand for such kind of service.
They can contribute by making their routers compliant with distributed mesh networking