Page 8 - The University Star
TRENDS/DIVERSIONS
✯Star Comics
Thursday, February 1, 2007
RIX’S
TECHNOLOGY Wi-Fi is a step ahead, but only for those with the technology
FIXES
Wireless Internet suitable for such a chore. more revenue and jobs. is all but a must for Hiring a person or persons On the surface, the plan to college towns. It alin the computer science provide San Marcos residents lows students the department to oversee or with a citywide-mesh network freedom to write papossibly administer the appears to be a benevolent one. pers and study notes wireless network could Conflating the Internet haves away from the fixed help strengthen the less- and have-nots is an issue that BILL RIX locations of dorms than-optimal relationship should be resolved, but if goodStar Columnist and apartments. So that presently exists be- will is the end of this plan, then when the San Marcos tween the university and there is much else to be done City Council decided on a plan to the town and add to the prestige before the creation of a citywide make San Marcos into a wire- of the university. wireless network. less city of sorts, it ostensibly Making a city completely wireWhile the ends the city council seemed like a good idea. As City less is no small undertaking, but has in mind are questionable, I Manager Dan O’Leary pointed it is something that certainly must commend them for looking out in a Jan. 25 University Star could be done in-house, as it forward. Only a handful of cities article, it would indeed provide were. Instead of farming out all in the U.S. are wireless, and addInternet access for lower-income of the labor involved in the cre- ing San Marcos to the list would households in San Marcos. ation and upkeep of the network, be a major accomplishment worAccessibility is one thing; us- why not just create a local work- thy of national attention. While ability is another. Problem be- force to handle all the challenges the project seems altruistic, it ing, using the Wi-Fi network associated with creating and feels myopic. In any event, the would necessitate the same maintaining a wireless citywide next two years will give further lower-income families having a infrastructure? insight into what we are to exlaptop or similar device capable A citywide network would need pect out of the project. Hopefulof using wireless Internet. This almost constant management ly it will shape up into something is essentially akin to providing and maintenance, and if the final truly useful for residents of all rate plans to people who are plan involves a fee of some sort, incomes and not just for the unable to afford a cell phone. It then a billing department would ones who are already set up for has a feel-good quality, but lacks bear creation, so that’s even access. practicality. The article stated that city council is in the process of hiring his is essentially akin to a consultant to oversee and manproviding rate plans to people age the two-year project. This is interesting in that Texas State who are unable to afford a cell has a well-established, nationally phone. It has a feel-good quality, accredited computer science debut lacks practicality.” partment, which conceivably has several personnel who would be
“T
SU DO KU
Yesterday’s solutions:
Complete the grid so that every row, column, and 3-by-3 box contains every digit from one through nine inclusively.
Yesterday’s solutions:
© Pappocom