Water and Wireless? Austinites Can Now Surf at Barton Springs

Back during SXSW, the City of Austin announced a new partnership with the World Congress on Information Technology (WCIT) and network powerhouse Cisco Systems to deliver what they call the Outdoor Wireless Mesh Project, which aims to set up an enormous blanket of free wireless internet access across Central and East Austin.

The three stage deployment began in April with hotspots installed in the lower downtown area, connecting up to existing hubs at City Hall, Republic Square, the Convention Center and various places on the Eastside. Last week, Zilker Park became the latest outdoor location to be connected; specifically, this includes Barton Springs and the adjacent picnic, playscape and pavilion areas.

From a press release issued by the Office of Council Member Jennifer Kim:

“The City of Austin’s downtown wireless initiative is exciting for those who call Austin home -- including our students, environmentalists and downtown residents. Every member of our community benefits from this initiative,” said Council Member Jennifer Kim, who along with Mayor Will Wynn has been instrumental in putting the project on the fast track.
“Downtown is busting at the seams with young people on laptops, Blackberries and other wireless devices,” Kim said. “With several area colleges including the University of Texas at Austin -- the largest university in the country -- this initiative is just another reason why this project is desirable and shows that Austin is among progressive cities expanding Wi-Fi services.”

The City’s downtown wireless initiative further assists in the City’s goal to continue to close the digital divide for those without access to the Internet and provide creative opportunities to those who do.

The Outdoor Wireless Mesh Project will allow Austinites to stay connected while enjoying Austin’s quality of life. It also benefits the City of Austin’s economic development practices by providing another “selling point” for attracting young professionals to live in the urban core.

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By Allen Y Chen in News on June 12, 2006 11:19 AM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

odam

it was meant as a tongue-in-cheek reference to those signs found in people's bathrooms that are used for pool changing. like, you know, pool houses, etc.?

i suggest you take things a little more seriously, edward, or our special little relationship will just never work.

Edward

*Your* pool??? This comment reminds me of the sign for the upscale Milago condos on town lake. The sign pretentiously reads "My Town. My Lake." Thankfully, in typical Austin fashion, someone had the sense to cross out the words "My" and replace them with "Our". Sorry, you're going to have to share.

odam

fair enough.

but....i don't swim in their toilets so why should they pee in my pool.

or. something.

Edward

Thanks for sharing, Commando. Point is I can't blame people for wanting to do their work at a coffeehouse, the Springs or anywhere else that isn't as dehumanizing as an office. If you *have* to do something that is socially isolating, might as well do it in some place that isn't. On the other hand, anyone who isn't under the gun and brings their laptop to the Springs instead of relaxing and enjoying it is missing out, but still, that's their loss and not mine.

odam

i quit wearing panties weeks ago, eddie.

Edward

Same could be said for coffeehouses too. In protest, please do all work in a cubicle from now on where God intended. Seriously, why get your panties in a bunch about this? Don't like laptops at Barton Springs, don't bring one. Last time I checked, my coffee tasted just as good and the water at Barton Springs was just as beautiful whether there was WiFi or not.

odam

at the springs yesterday i was thinking how nice it was that it was one of the few places left where you didn't have to see people with faces illuminated by a laptop, heads down, not talking to others. or, if talking to other, being too distracted to actually listen. it was a natural environment where people could connect while disconnecting from the net. i don't find this new change as a good things. at all. and this is coming from a blog editor.