video: Inner working of One Laptop per Child (OLPC) Mesh Networking

A tech talk about the architecture of mesh networking on OLPC
communicating even without widespread internet access and how is the
network they create different from the network at your home or office.
At
http://geekvideo.blogspot.com/2007/0...per-child.html

"AnonGoo" <christopherz.lee@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:1181516162.855755.309560@i13g2000prf.googlegr oups.com...
>A tech talk about the architecture of mesh networking on OLPC
> communicating even without widespread internet access and how is the
> network they create different from the network at your home or office.
> At
> http://geekvideo.blogspot.com/2007/0...per-child.html

Sweet concept!

I hope it's GPL3'd so Microsoft cannot use the mesh concept in its UMPCs or
"Surface" PCs.

jim

__/ [ Jim Hubbard ] on Monday 11 June 2007 00:17 \__

>
> "AnonGoo" <christopherz.lee@gmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1181516162.855755.309560@i13g2000prf.googlegr oups.com...
>>A tech talk about the architecture of mesh networking on OLPC
>> communicating even without widespread internet access and how is the
>> network they create different from the network at your home or office.
>> At
>>
http://geekvideo.blogspot.com/2007/0...per-child.html
>
> Sweet concept!
>
> I hope it's GPL3'd so Microsoft cannot use the mesh concept in its UMPCs or
> "Surface" PCs.

A point many people seem to miss is that OLPC has this capability which is
one among many reasons those other 'contenders' (the one from Asustek for
example) are simply not suitable for the market OLPC addresses.

--
~~ Best of wishes

http://Schestowitz.com | Open Prospects ¦ PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
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In article <jE%ai.868$s9.468@bignews3.bellsouth.net>,
"Jim Hubbard" <Jim@work.net> wrote:
> Sweet concept!
>
> I hope it's GPL3'd so Microsoft cannot use the mesh concept in its UMPCs or
> "Surface" PCs.

Mesh networks are not new, and Microsoft is free to use them, regardless
of what license the one particular mesh implementation in OLPC uses.



--
--Tim Smith

Roy Schestowitz wrote:

> A point many people seem to miss is that OLPC has this capability which is
> one among many reasons those other 'contenders' (the one from Asustek for
> example) are simply not suitable for the market OLPC addresses.
>

And it's also a reason (independence from central servers) for it to be
opposed.

>http://geekvideo.blogspot.com/2007/0...per-child.html

Could someone please write up a one-paragraph
explanation of what is on the video? Vision
impaired folks can't see it and Lynx is a bit
dodgy with the audio track. Thanks!

invalid@example.com wrote:

>>http://geekvideo.blogspot.com/2007/0...per-child.html
>
>
> Could someone please write up a one-paragraph
> explanation of what is on the video? Vision
> impaired folks can't see it and Lynx is a bit
> dodgy with the audio track. Thanks!
>
They have these little laptops with monchrome screens. They basically
look like toys and part of that is because they are green and have two
antenna that stick up like ears. All of the computers can talk to each
other automatically without having to do any set-up. If the first one in
the mesh is connected to the internet then the next one can share the
connection. If each has a wireless range of 300ft then if you have 4 of
them in a staightline extending away from the web connection the last
one would 1200 ft away and it could still be on the web. They can also
share applicatione between them without being on the web. In the example
give one was reading an e-book and it shared that application with
another one. It too was reading the book, but could be in a different
place. Is supposed to be simple as meant for children.

Ian Singer

--


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================================================== =======================

On Jun 11, 2:27 am, John Bailo <jaba...@texeme.com> wrote:
> Roy Schestowitz wrote:
> > A point many people seem to miss is that OLPC has this capability which is
> > one among many reasons those other 'contenders' (the one from Asustek for
> > example) are simply not suitable for the market OLPC addresses.
>
> And it's also a reason (independence from central servers) for it to be
> opposed.

It is only such a reason for people with dictatorial mindsets.

Independence from central servers is not a disadvantage, it is an
advantage. Even if you cannot connect to the internet, you still
potentially have a local network.

The reason people oppose it is because such networks can avoid
government inflicted censorship.

Dean G.

"Dean G." <dguttadauro@4ecp.com> wrote in message
news:1181603957.632859.24510@k79g2000hse.googlegro ups.com...
> On Jun 11, 2:27 am, John Bailo <jaba...@texeme.com> wrote:
>> Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>> > A point many people seem to miss is that OLPC has this capability which
>> > is
>> > one among many reasons those other 'contenders' (the one from Asustek
>> > for
>> > example) are simply not suitable for the market OLPC addresses.
>>
>> And it's also a reason (independence from central servers) for it to be
>> opposed.
>
> It is only such a reason for people with dictatorial mindsets.
>
> Independence from central servers is not a disadvantage, it is an
> advantage. Even if you cannot connect to the internet, you still
> potentially have a local network.
>
> The reason people oppose it is because such networks can avoid
> government inflicted censorship.

But, isn't it a little self-restricting?

Think about it....one user is attached to the internet. Then one user
attaches to him...then another adds to the cloud....then another...and
another...and so on...

At what point are so many people sucking off of the single connection that
the internet essentially stops for all connected? And, doesn't that screw
the first person who is in a place to connect to the internet and is
expecting somewhat decent speeds?

Maybe I don't understand this mesh thing well. If so, starighten me out.

jim

__/ [ Jim Hubbard ] on Tuesday 12 June 2007 00:39 \__

>
> "Dean G." <dguttadauro@4ecp.com> wrote in message
> news:1181603957.632859.24510@k79g2000hse.googlegro ups.com...
>> On Jun 11, 2:27 am, John Bailo <jaba...@texeme.com> wrote:
>>> Roy Schestowitz wrote:
>>> > A point many people seem to miss is that OLPC has this capability which
>>> > is
>>> > one among many reasons those other 'contenders' (the one from Asustek
>>> > for
>>> > example) are simply not suitable for the market OLPC addresses.
>>>
>>> And it's also a reason (independence from central servers) for it to be
>>> opposed.
>>
>> It is only such a reason for people with dictatorial mindsets.


Exactly. This may actually be perceived as a disadvantage in countries that
OLPC targets because some of them favour censorship. Then again, laptops can
be configured to block sites, so it's just traffic monitoring that's the
'problem'.


>> Independence from central servers is not a disadvantage, it is an
>> advantage. Even if you cannot connect to the internet, you still
>> potentially have a local network.
>>
>> The reason people oppose it is because such networks can avoid
>> government inflicted censorship.
>
> But, isn't it a little self-restricting?
>
> Think about it....one user is attached to the internet. Then one user
> attaches to him...then another adds to the cloud....then another...and
> another...and so on...
>
> At what point are so many people sucking off of the single connection that
> the internet essentially stops for all connected? And, doesn't that screw
> the first person who is in a place to connect to the internet and is
> expecting somewhat decent speeds?
>
> Maybe I don't understand this mesh thing well. If so, starighten me out.


I think it's self balancing (in terms of the load). Apart from the fact that
traffic should be encrypted, you also need to find routes that are not
overly congested. If you are in a highly populated area, there are many
routes you can choose from.

--
~~ Best of wishes
Modern man is the missing link between Neanderthals and the civilised man
http://Schestowitz.com | RHAT Linux | PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
1:20am up 17:16, 7 users, load average: 0.17, 0.45, 0.70
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Ian Singer wrote:
>
>
>invalid@example.com wrote:
>
>>>http://geekvideo.blogspot.com/2007/0...per-child.html
>>
>>
>> Could someone please write up a one-paragraph
>> explanation of what is on the video? Vision
>> impaired folks can't see it and Lynx is a bit
>> dodgy with the audio track. Thanks!
>>
>They have these little laptops with monchrome screens. They basically
>look like toys and part of that is because they are green and have two
>antenna that stick up like ears. All of the computers can talk to each
>other automatically without having to do any set-up. If the first one in
>the mesh is connected to the internet then the next one can share the
>connection. If each has a wireless range of 300ft then if you have 4 of
>them in a staightline extending away from the web connection the last
>one would 1200 ft away and it could still be on the web. They can also
>share applicatione between them without being on the web. In the example
>give one was reading an e-book and it shared that application with
>another one. It too was reading the book, but could be in a different
>place. Is supposed to be simple as meant for children.

Thanks! What do they use for the micro processor
and the operating system? Monchrome screens --
those can be read in direct sunlight, right?
I think a lot of these poor countries have schools
that are outdoors or just have a roof with no walls.
do they have solar re-chargers or may be a hand crank?
I hope they include a programming language --
perhaps small talk or basic or python? Imagine ten
million kids all knowing how to write programs!

invalid@example.com> wrote in news:ksudndP3JKqW0PPb4p2dnA@giganews.com:

>
> Thanks! What do they use for the micro processor
> and the operating system?

AMD Geode LX-700 for the processor and a Linux distro based on Fedora
core 6.

> Monchrome screens --
> those can be read in direct sunlight, right?

Yep, but the screens are dual mode TFT's, capable of displaying in colour
too.

> I think a lot of these poor countries have schools
> that are outdoors or just have a roof with no walls.
> do they have solar re-chargers or may be a hand crank?

They have versions with hand cranks, foot pedals and pull cords.

> I hope they include a programming language --
> perhaps small talk or basic or python? Imagine ten
> million kids all knowing how to write programs!
>
They have python and Javascript built in, but they don't mention any
compilers or IDEs.

On Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:24:39 +0100, Roy Schestowitz
<newsgroups@schestowitz.com> wrote:

> I think it's self balancing (in terms of the load). Apart from the fact
> that traffic should be encrypted, you also need to find routes that are
> not overly congested. If you are in a highly populated area, there are
> many routes you can choose from.

The "mesh" sounds like a text-book description of how the internet is
supposed to work, and problem of every child in the class piggy-backing on
one person's connection sounds like the reality of internet access. (Most
of us depend on a single route for at least some part of the link between
our machines and the wider internet.)

What part of this is supposed to be new?

__/ [ Ken Hagan ] on Tuesday 12 June 2007 11:55 \__

> On Tue, 12 Jun 2007 01:24:39 +0100, Roy Schestowitz
> <newsgroups@schestowitz.com> wrote:
>
>> I think it's self balancing (in terms of the load). Apart from the fact
>> that traffic should be encrypted, you also need to find routes that are
>> not overly congested. If you are in a highly populated area, there are
>> many routes you can choose from.
>
> The "mesh" sounds like a text-book description of how the internet is
> supposed to work, and problem of every child in the class piggy-backing on
> one person's connection sounds like the reality of internet access. (Most
> of us depend on a single route for at least some part of the link between
> our machines and the wider internet.)
>
> What part of this is supposed to be new?

This is peer-based mesh, so the routers are not spread around near the nodes.

--
~~ Best of wishes
Roy S. Schestowitz
http://Schestowitz.com | RHAT GNU/Linux ¦ PGP-Key: 0x74572E8E
1:00pm up 1 day 4:56, 8 users, load average: 0.62, 0.67, 0.75
http://iuron.com - help build a non-profit search engine

invalid@example.com> wrote:

> Thanks! What do they use for the micro processor
> and the operating system?

Didn't say. Clip was on the networking only.

> Monchrome screens --
> those can be read in direct sunlight, right?

Didn't say. Clip was on the networking only.

> do they have solar re-chargers or may be a hand crank?
> I hope they include a programming language --
> perhaps small talk or basic or python? Imagine ten
> million kids all knowing how to write programs!
>
>
Didn't say. Clip was on the networking only.


--


================================================== =======================
See my homepage at http://www.iansinger.com
hosted on http://www.1and1.com/?k_id=10623894
All genealogy is stored in TMG from http://www.whollygenes.com
Charts and searching using TNG from http://www.tngsitebuilding.com
I am near Toronto Canada, can I tell where you are from your reply?
================================================== =======================

"Ken Hagan" <K.Hagan@thermoteknix.co.uk> wrote in message
news:op.tts1x0f7m60l4k@khagan.ttx...
> The "mesh" sounds like a text-book description of how the internet
> is supposed to work, and problem of every child in the class piggy-
> backing on one person's connection sounds like the reality of
> internet access. (Most of us depend on a single route for at least
> some part of the link between our machines and the wider internet.)
>
> What part of this is supposed to be new?

Some wireless technologies, like WiFi, only allow peers to talk directly to
each other if they're within range for direct communication; others, like
GSM, only allow peers to talk if they're both in range of a base station.
Meshes allow peers to communicate through one or more third party peers,
extending the range significantly and/or reducing the amount of power you
need to reach a peer (by making several low-power hops instead of one
high-power one). Of course, the reachability of a peer (or your uplink to
the Internet) is then unpredictable, since it depends on where other devices
are, not just yours.

Most of the advances in OLPC are just in making existing technologies (a)
easy to use or automatic and (b) dirt cheap. The OS's security model is
about the only completely novel feature, and it remains to be seen how good
it is against live adversaries or unexpected threats.

S

--
Stephen Sprunk "Those people who think they know everything
CCIE #3723 are a great annoyance to those of us who do."
K5SSS --Isaac Asimov


--
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Ian Singer wrote:
> They have these little laptops with monchrome screens.

Actually it's way more clever than that. The displays have a high-resolution
high-contract B&W mode, and a lower-resolution lower-contrast color mode.