Welcome!

You have seen the signs and I have peeked your curiosity. Good! This intervention is part of an independent study. There are 3 short blog entries:

-What WARchalking is
-survey
-WARchalking in Ames


Take a few minutes to read the info and fill out the survey

What WARchalking is

WARchalk is an acrynym for Wireless Access Revolution. Inspired by hobo symbols, the warchalking marks were conceived by a group of friends in June 2002 and publicized by Matt Jones who designed the set of icons.

Once a Wi-Fi node/signal is found, the warchalker draws a special symbol on a nearby object, such as a wall, the pavement, or a lamp post. Those offering Wi-Fi service might also draw such a symbol to advertise the availability of their Wi-Fi location, whether commercial or personal. The marks are designed to be recognized by those who understand WARchalk symbols.

Short Survey. Please Participate!

If you have a few spare minutes I would like you to participate in this survey. All you have to do is number your short answers in your reply so that I know to which question it corresponds.

1) How many hours a day are you on a computer?

2) Of those hours, how many are spent online?

3) How many of those online hours involve live person to person communication, such as AIM, Yahoo Messenger, MSN messenger, etc?

4) How many of those online hours involve passive person to person communication, such as email, facebook, and myspace, etc.

5) Do you take your computer to locations other than your home?

6) Are those locations places that have WiFi, or other wireless internet access?

7) How much of your time at a WiFi location is spent connected to the internet?

8) How often/how much time do you spend physically communicating with words with others at WiFi locations?

9) Would you like to see more WiFi access in public places?

10) Do you feel that wireless communication (computers and cell phones) is a normal way to socialize?

WARchalking in Ames

You may have seen these signes posted about campus. The intent is to introduce the WARchalking symbology to Ames. The ISU Wi-Fi network is what is known as an "open" network whereby anyone can access the signal as long as they have a wireless reciver in their computer.

These symbols will also show you whereWi-Fi is accessable outside in the hope that you will utilize that space. By stumbling across this an "open" symbol you may designate yourself a personal hot-spot from which to connect to the internet.

You can also see a map provided by ISU detailing where Wi-Fi is accessable across campus at http://www.fpm.iastate.edu/maps/closeup.asp?left=115&top=1188&width=800&height=600&layer=wireless

This is a direct link to the wireless map of campus. That can be found on the campus maps home page http://www.fpm.iastate.edu/maps/