A. Townsend

related links:

Urban Research Initiative
NYCwireless
Free Networks

Anthony Townsend: Nominating Expert Net Vision / Net Excellence

You are working on a project called NYCwireless. What is it about?

Townsend: It's a free wireless community network. See the articles online at www.nycwireless.net/news.html

Are wireless community networks new grassroot movements?

Townsend: Yes.

In one of your publications you have addressed the problem of terrorism, technology and the future. What can this future be like?

Townsend: Scary!

This year the topic of Ars Electronica Festival will be 'Un/plugged - Art as the scene of global conflicts' and will also address the issue of digital divide. Is there a real chance to bridge this inequality by new technologies?

Townsend: I think in general, inequality is usually worsened by technology, at least in the early stages of adoption and diffusion. It is only later when wide groups have access that technology has the opportunity to even out the playing field.

You have a background in geography. Recently Geographic tracking has started to play a bigger role - a tendency that may be quite dangerous if you imagine that people can be excluded from the Internet because of the geographical location - new borders on the net are emerging?

Townsend: Absolutely. People thought that territory in cyberspace was going to be fundamentally new and different. But as more and more of social, political and business life takes place online, the powerful institutions from the physical world are projecting their territory onto the structure of cyberspace. national governments are just one example.




no comments yet