OnPoint by Keith Ng

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OnPoint: Retaking the Net

12 Responses

  • andin,

    Current projects include a tool to browse the web anonymously, a computer hub set up in an inner-city soup kitchen, .

    good idea

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • merc,

    City is dead.

    Since Dec 2006 • 2471 posts Report Reply

  • Rich of Observationz,

    I'd commend this. I would have given it more time myself, but I have too many other projects on.

    I'm particularly keen on the idea of making the use of VPNs more accessible.

    Back in Wellington • Since Nov 2006 • 5550 posts Report Reply

  • Kumara Republic,

    Wouldn't mind coming, but got work 'till 4pm. And RPGing all day straight after. Schedule clash fail.

    The southernmost capital … • Since Nov 2006 • 5446 posts Report Reply

  • Stacezilla, in reply to andin,

    Yeh its a fantastic idea to provide a web pc in the soup kitchen. It's a crime that Blanket man can't review the quality of food on dineout.co.nz while he's there.

    Library, duplication etc...

    Since Oct 2011 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie,

    Occupy Wall St has 250,000+ Likes on Facebook.
    Just sayin'.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to Stacezilla,

    It’s a crime that Blanket man can’t review the quality of food

    I somehow doubt much of that would go on.
    But even if he does, so what! and Library pc's arent anonymous.
    You obviously havent been poor, it is debilitating in ways you wouldnt know.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to andin,

    In Nashville The Homeless Guy who blogs from public PCs has already linked to NZ Labour's policy launch on homelessness.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report Reply

  • Sacha, in reply to andin,

    Library pc's arent anonymous

    Is that really a big problem?

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report Reply

  • Sibylle Schwarz, in reply to Stacezilla,

    Library, duplication etc...

    We're definitely not trying to duplicate anything that's already there. We're working closely with Wellington ICT (who is running computer hubs in Council Housing) and other groups such as Computers in Homes. Our aim is to fill gaps, and any resources and materials we develop are being shared back with those other groups.

    We've also talked to soup kitchen guests to find out if they do have access and where, and what they need most. One of the things we found is that it's important to go where people are. The CBDFree wifi is great, but requires people to have a computer or other wifi device, which is a huge barrier for most. Of course, it's not enough to just put a few machines in a room; this needs to be supported with mentoring, training, resources, etc. There's much good work already out there but often people don't know about it, or they work in isolation, so part of the effort is to better connect some of these disparate groups.

    Anyway,we've written about the project in a lot more detail on the Retake the Net website if anyone's interested in getting more background than a half-sentence in an article. :-)

    Wellington • Since Oct 2011 • 1 posts Report Reply

  • Ian Dalziel,

    the Lattice Day Saints...
    Good luck with this project...
    Access to tools is what builds communities
    Other destinations for useful old(ish) computers:
    McPhail Foundation Charitable Trust in Chch
    and Molten Media also in Chch
    sadly the St Albans Community Centre has been demolished and I'm not sure what happened to their community access computers set up, but it was a great initiative...

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report Reply

  • andin, in reply to Sacha,

    I wouldnt say big, perhaps barrier says it better.
    And thanks to Sibylle for answering the duplication issue.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report Reply

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