I have now enabled comment moderation. This means that any comments will be checked before appearing.

This may cause a delay but the blog seems to have been found by random posters that have very little to do with the topic concerned.

If you have an interest in the blog you can become a member and then your posts will appear anyway.

The Globe has got an IT box so in theory it could connect to wi-fi. Maybe this would help connections, if there was a decent camera for example. At least the video on the previous post was loaded at Google the day after the event. One problem is that few people use the wifi available. Apparently over about eighteen months there have been four people actually trying to use the wifi, of which three got it working. The signal reaches the car park so sensitive documents might stay secure.

There is a pub in Bristol, the Chelsea, where Bristol Wireless support a Linux box with web access and also wifi for any other computers available. They broadcast sometimes on Radio Vague and the music seems in the same range as the Globe. Maybe wifi could assist more contact but maybe real time is not an issue. I had thought of listening to Radio Vague this evening but will probably be back at the Globe. So here is one track from the Chelsea earlier this year, as MP3 and as Ogg. Check here if you need some guidance on Ogg Vorbis.

Visited the Globe last night. Unfortunately the King Lud reading event was cancelled. The bookshop has closed on Fore Street and the staff have moved to Oxfordshire as the word has it. The Globe has something scheduled for most days during the Exeter Autumn Festival. I did a short video of musicians downstairs as there was nothing happening upstairs. The video is very low quality because of the lack of lighting and the unsuitable camera. There is a suggestion that a really good camera could be borrowed from the Phoenix before the festival closes. There will be a link later to any video that turns up.

So before the video, a photo that has been worked on a bit to make it lighter.



Now the video

Embedding not working at the moment so please follow this link.

Apologies about the reference to the DTI in the last post.

The Digital Challenge is actually from the Communities office.

I think there was an e-envoy at some point but I'm not sure what the DTI is doing recently.

Meanwhile KPMG are sponsoring some awards for e-government. I still think the awards and shortlist style of approach will not do much for the digital divide or forms of exclusion.

What is any government doing to support internet cafés? Obviously libraries get some funding but I think that in Exeter for example somewhere like Life Bytes is making a contribution. My intention is to continue a conversation there and connect with other projects when possible.

Checking the Bristol Wireless site it turns out they are part of a bid to become a demo site of some sort.

It seems the DTI idea is to challenge digital exclusion by concentrating resources on a few dramatic sites. Manchester needs a boost obviously. Milton Keynes has only got the Open University to help it understand e-learning etc. Parts of London probably qualify.

Apart from Bristol,

"The other ‘top-ten’ finalists are; Stratford on Avon District Council, Birmingham City Council & Shropshire County Council, Norfolk County Council, Sunderland City Council, Ealing Council, Nottingham City & Nottinghamshire County Council, Kingston Upon Hull City Council, Milton Keynes Council and Manchester City Council, in partnership with Tameside MBC."

Here in 'wi-fi Exeter' I don't think there was any move to join this bid. So the South West effect will be for more energy in Bristol. Nothing wrong with that of course. Suggest we pay careful attention.

Norfolk County Council may be supported by Norwich where there is some energy for free wifi.

Exeter Television now have a video edit on YouTube from Sidmouth Folk Week.



This is a welcome development and confirms my impression that the web is outside of normal time. This is from the summer just as the fog arrives. The saxaphone gets a lot of the time available on this edit. No bad thing in my opinion. However there is nothing from the main performance by Melonious Funk. Maybe this can be released in time for Vibraphonic. This is what I mean about being outside time. Melonious Funk have four tracks on MySpace.

Anyway this summer definitely worked out ok. Last year was frustrating when the wifi failed to work at the Tate during the Thames Festival. See photos. There should have been a sax solo over the web and then nothing happened.

In an attempt to move things closer in time I have loaded a very short video on Google from the Exeter Autumn Festival continental food market on Sunday. There may be more from Exeter Television later. Not sure if television should be in real time now it is on the web. So the original idea of wi-fi as in real time and space during a festival seems to be getting more distant.

These photos show the space between the bar and the Media Centre at the Phoenix. Also the door to the Media Centre. Go through the door if you have a technical problem or some constructive suggestion to make about connecting media and technology such as asking why they don't invest a lot more in wifi kit.

The really good news is that the Phoenix Arts Centre has some new kit to improve the wifi access from the Media Centre. Previously this reached the foyer in the media area but is now reliable in the open space between the media centre and the bar. This is fine while the October sunshine continues. Probably there will be an extension to the bar or an additional resource. To make sure of this, let someone know if you would make use of wifi at the Phoenix.

The main point in my opinion is to work out what the benefit is of wifi for art creation or communication in general. Maybe it is just my slowing down at the end of the summer but I no longer think in terms of festival events where time and space are compressed. There is just as much potential in shifting time and space outside of specific events. So probably this blog will look at previous links through wifi over the next few months. There may be some new examples of wifi in use. The autumn festival looks interesting. Maybe there could be some live broadcasting but then again amybe we should just edit the stuff from Sidmouth in August.

Here is another link to inspire Exeter Television. It is in itself a short documentary that works ok online. The content is about citizen journalism, found through OhmyNews. The location is East Coast USA but presumably the same sort of bandwidth will apply in Exeter at some point.

This one was from the marquee selling magazines and CDs and instruments. Filed under 'English' folk were a selection of what might be called 'classic rock'. More research needed on history of folk as understood by most people visiting Sidmouth, some of whom were just on holiday and came across the music by accident.

Some photos not included in the OhmyNews story. The editors tend to reject those that are not too relevant or strong quality.



This is the rope for holding back the crowds from the Anchor Gardens. Evidence that the event is now well established. The rose was a gift for the security staff from a grateful member of the audience. The queue is never too long as people do leave for other venues.

I have now sent in a revised story for OhmyNews

Not edited yet. Some text has gone missing but should return.

There is a short mp3 copied from a video of Crediton World Music Choir. One really good development from writing about the tech aspects of Sidmouth was the loan of a camera from Exeter Television. This is still being edited but will áppear over the next few months.

I have dropped some opinion into a box. Briefly I have stopped worrying about wifi and immediacy as part of a festival or real time event. Online shifts in time and space so it augments an occasion. Something like that. Not sure how the OhmyNews editors will treat this. I am sending in stories as if it was a blog, there were three last year. And the ideas are not well formed. Still, something else will follow. I hope more people will start sending in stories.

Not off topic yet. Exeter wifi could follow up during Vibraphonic or in the autumn. The Melonious Funk session is included in the Sidmouth video. Not really folk but already a tradition to close the Dukes sequence.

I have now found Sidmouth Internet Access and Repairs, hiding at the back of an arcade. Sidmouth shopping Centre, 91 High Street to be precise. There is also a food hall with vegitarian takeaways.

So this is ok for checking Gmail and adding to a blog. Having said that, there is not much to add. I still have some photos in mind and plan to try for a seat for the Thelonious Funk at the Dukes. It may be a bit more jazzy than Chameleon last year. The version of Misty on the Myspace site is quite slow and extended. Don't remember Chameleon quite like that.

No signs of wifi as such.

Still working on the Sidmouth article for OhmyNews. Talking to Jo Gedrych of exeter Television has resulted in the load of a a video camera. So this is engaged journalism. The video won't be much of a feature of the story as it will take a while to edit. For one thing it has to be reporting, not a series of performances.

Citizen photographer Gary Trembling has now returned to London. There will be links later to some photos. I don't have time to load them up at the moment. Just one above, see Melonious Funk below. Maybe more at the weekend. There is something compelling about Sidmouth Folk Week as a concentration of time and space. It will come to an end gradually but the wind today had a hint of autumn. I think maybe why we write about the uses of IT in support of the event is that we just wqant to be associated with something that works anyway. There is definitely a sense this year that the new model is established. Still, looking at ways to extend it in a parallel digitised world could contribute something.

Meanwhile, Paul Gillard has loaded some short clips from a Country event held for the Devon Air Ambulance Trust back in July. Holsworthy is way north of Sidmouth so there is a gap in space and time. Also Country seems not to be included much in the Folk scope. The Fallen Apples did a couple of Johnny Cash numbers at the Volunteer but mostly stuck to blues. Anyway you can see from the clips that the people near Holsworthy seemed to enjoy it.

The Guardian is still looking at ways to expand online. The Web Editor's Week before last mentions attempts to grab the attention of the festival audience in Edinburgh.

"More people than ever will use the site from Edinburgh itself, not least because the Fringe box office's e-ticket terminals on top of Waverley station will be connected to Guardian Unlimited. Some will follow events avidly from afar. Others - especially our increasing number of overseas users - will have only the faintest of notions what we're all getting so worked up about. Still others are allergic to Edinburgh and won't want to read a word.

This year, we're launching a dedicated version of our Culture Vulture weblog (the imaginatively christened Festival Vulture). It'll host a stream of eyewitness journalism - pictures and sound, as well as text. We're hoping the blog will be a bit like Edinburgh itself, a place where performers, critics and audiences can rub shoulders.

That's not as straightforward as it sounds. Normally, when editing the blog, our main priority is community - the sense that we're connecting with an engaged, vocal audience. If we do well as editors, we draw out from our communities as much as we put in. But when those same communities are dispersed, or fighting their way up the Royal Mile, rather than sitting at a computer, it becomes much harder to pull them in and make them talk."

Now actually, this may not be a sensible idea. Maybe if they are "fighting their way up the Royal Mile" they should be left alone. Program information before the event might have saved them a trip if they are going in the wrong direction. Photos later may be interesting if they don't have enough of their own.

I realise I am criticising a point of view I have tried to promote previously. Why has the Anchor not got a few screens of what is going on at Dukes or on the Esplanade so you can decide whether to move on? Well, obviously there are limits to co-operation and anyway would people reaaly welcome the confusion? My current theory is that online is out of time and space so real life may not be connected in all circumstances.

Melonious Funk are playing at the Dukes tomorrow, Friday. Seems to be a variation on Chameleon who played last year. After a week of folk, a blast of funk and jazz will suit a lot of people, my guess. If only Exeter had some of the Sidmouth atmosphere during Vibraphonic.

Melonious Funk at Myspace, four tracks

I am working on an article for OhmyNews about Sidmouth Folk Week. They want more background on the vent than there is in my first submission.

So the story will be rewritten after the event, maybe next weekend. I am interested in how web tech etc. can be used as part of a festival. Any comments or links welcome, especially about Exeter and/or Sidmouth.

Later today there should be a guide to other blogs that I work on or at least a diagram as part of my learn9 website. This is about learning so one current idea is to make the blogs at least appear more coherent. I have tended to just start another one and then not continue.

I think this is the best blog to use as a base.

For the next couple of days at least. There will be some clarification on what is in which blog.

This weekend coming up could have been the Lost Vagueness main event of the summer and close to Exeter. One benefit would have been that Psand could well have attended and shown the effective use of satellite broadband etc. Obviously they don't tour all summer long just to help techno awareness but the occasion could have been a focus.

I tried to rehearse last weekend, just to get ready. Still in drift mode however. Not sure what it is about the middle of summer. If that is what this is. Lots of daylight anyway. It may be a time for reflection, maybe sudden action when assumptions shift.

Tomorrow is Billy Wilder's birthday. Time to get ready or update the site.

http://www.inxpress.co.uk/vagueness.html

This is the reference site. At least for the next few days. In the USA if you can find TCM on cable then you will get the original and best Lost Weekend.

Photo loads ok

 

This seems to be working ok so far. Just downloaded a new version of Picassa. It seems to offer me a choice of which blog to put a photo into.

This photo is from the Globe. Not off topic for wifi as in theory any sound or image could be anywhere at any time. Actually the wise people you meet at the Globe are convinced that live television is usually a mistake. Why not spend a few days in a studio with an edit suite and get rid of the nonsense? Then again, why don't I just stay home anyway? 

David Tebbutt reports in Information World Review about the 'Innovate Europe' event last month. Load up video from your mobile, attach a projector etc. Not yet ready for distribution, but interesting as a sign of what is possible. Another reason to widen the scope of this blog to mobility in general.

Meanwhile there is already some interest in my attempt at a Swicki on 'ubiquity'. I came across 'swickis' trying to find out more about web 2.0. When you start one you can select a cloud of words and prioritise your own site as well as choosing other ones. So this 'wifi-Exeter' site may turn up as an example of ubiquity. I have included 'Korea' as I found out about 'ubiquity' through OhmyNews and 'Psand' as they are mostly mobile over the summer at least.

Ramblings on the occasion of the Rocket festival, please skip to something interesting.

The conditions are right for a new level sometime soon during the third summer of vagueness.

For instance, Life Bytes exists on Sidwell Street opposite the Odeon. 8 megs on a fixed line with seats and resident support staff. How very sensible.

http://www.life-bytes.co.uk

Wifi for free in the Exeter central library, maybe in the Rougement gardens through the window.

The Rocket festival starts today Friday. Check Radio Vague for details and a stream. If there is a technical hitch just try something from last year or the year before. Maybe not from Spain, from somewhere.

http://www.radiovague.com/

Coming soon, Lost Vagueness near Exeter. The "wifi Exeter" site has been updated showing Powderham Castle on the map. I am still not sure how the map works. I just get lucky now and again. Please update.

http://www.frappr.com/wifiexeter

http://www.acrobat-services.co.uk/wi-fi-ex/oldindex.html

Meanwhile it remains clear that streaming media is only one option. Paul Gillard has visited Life Bytes with a work in progress on DVD. This year the digital fringe for Animated Exeter was postponed as there was no Life Bytes. Something will resume when Paul is ready with something to show. There is still a lot online.

http://www.podmovies.com/movies.html

Recently a webcam featured in a gallery work at the Phoenix. Webcams are not cutting edge on the web but this was an early example of a web enabled gallery in Exeter. I sent in my own short clip of the river Teign and it showed up a couple of days later. I also took loads of photos, with permission.

http://www.inxpress.co.uk/muse.html

http://www.blindditch.org/

It turns out Blind Ditch also do a Vanland project about web access and mobility. Something may come together to result in greater visibility for these concepts.

What a disaster last summer was. The disappointment of the Thames Festival still lingers in the mind. It was advertised that a sax solo would occur, streamed over the web. Then nothing happened, all because of an admin mixup involving the Tate Modern. Maybe the Exe valley is a rehearsal space and something better will be prepared for the Thames Festival this year.

http://www.acrobat-services.co.uk/wi-fi-ex/index-tate.html

It is now possible to add contributors to the wifi Exeter blog. Or just send something if you like. 'wifi Exeter' may not be just about Exeter although Powderham for example is not far away.

Alas, it seems the photo bit is not working today either. This blog will now continue as text though there will be pictures at the companion website.

The news is that the famous BT phonebox has gone from South Street though it may be back. The reference library now offers wi-fi, free till August. You may pick it up from the gardens at the back. Find the castle and ask the way round to the Phoenix or otherwise find the Phoenix and soforth. The Phoenix also has wifi in the Media Centre but you may need to become a member. The strength of signals has not been recently tested but any reports are welcome. There are seats outside the Media Centre so it would be sensible to boost the system a bit. Positive feedback to the management may be helpful. Or just complain if that is easier.

Rougemont Gardens, may be near wifi from library 

The BT link in South Street is still there 

However the picture seems not to be. I will have to do some further investigation to find out how this is supposed to work.

Not sure how this works. Tried to load four photos through Picassa. Only one seems to have gone. May be able to add text here. Shows South Street without the phone box.



ff 

Well yes that seems to have worked ok

Google maps offers a link you can put in a blog.

Some other links

CECOP , a European organisation for worker co-ops, also connected with many other sorts of activity

O'Reilley Open Source Europe event OSCON

Somehow these things fit together.

I started looking at Google maps following a talk at the Phoenix in Exeter on Saturday about going for a walk. The mis-guide to Exeter has been followed by a mis-guide to anywhere. It seems to be an argument for staying at home but paying attention.

Google Maps - brussels belgium

not sure how this works, could be a link to a map of Brussels, that is the Botanique.

Some years ago I went to a CECOP meeting in Brussels. Memory of a Brussels map is now quite dim but I am pretty sure this looks like the Botanique. there is an Open Source meeting coming up later this year in a hotel not far away. Looks amazingly expensive. Maybe the lucky few who attend could meet up in the Botanique during a break and pass on some hints. Maybe in a world of blogging such moves are no longer needed. Maybe the event will be cheap and easy to attend anyway.

Also not sure if I would understand much of it. someone should explain what it all means in terms of cost and capability for the user if that's an ok term.

recent screenshot 

At Excel for the Book Fair.

It is very bookish. No internet cafe at all but BT are in the central area between the two exhibits. Openzone is free for ten minutes so this may be short.

Guardian Review yesterday included a blast against Google from Bloomsbury publishing. Civilisation is about to end if too much literature is free. Authors will cease to write, apparently. Google is here witha reassuring talk each day and a large stand easy to find. They explain they will put a link through to a publisher site and/or local bookshop.

The 'e-content pavilion' is right at the bak, hard to find, and very few people are looking at it. Content mostly science and reference, aimed at library subs. Almost no e-book promotion other than Google. What do publishers expect to happen?

I have found a recent article by Barry Collins in the Sunday Times, feb 19th. Back page of the Sports section for some reason.

Time to halt the Wifi rip-off

"The sky high prices at most of Britain's wireless internet hotspots is nothing short of scandalous."

Barry wonders if a hotel should charge extra for central heatings or air conditioning or set up different areas for those prepared to pay. He reports that a coffee shop in Brighton is paying £100 a month to Loose Connection for free wifi on offer to all customers.

Maybe five cups of coffee a day extra to cover this cost. Surely this is the future.

Jason Frost said...
I can understand cafés and pubs not making a network completely open to anyone in the area, but you'd think there would be more that would include access with purchases.

see comment on previous post

This is a very good suggestion. I think eventually wi-fi will be free. Many cafes offer a free newspaper, obviously you can't read it through the window.

The Southgate Hotel used to be free for wifi. An experiment showed that the signal was weak outside although there was a stronger securely protected signal from the Barcelona.

At the moment the nearest free wifi hotel is in Dawlish.

Meanwhile Philadelphia is about to seek bids for a free service covering the city, with charges for faster rates. This blog will continue to note what is going on in other places as well as 'wi-fi Exeter'.

Checking out the reality of wifi Exeter ahead of the Animated Exeter events coming up.

The Southgate Hotel still has access in their bar but it is no longer free to non-residents. Pot of coffee for two, £7.50 so you might think there was some margin there.

Wifi £3 for half an hour, so pretty much the BT rate.

Meanwhile the Media Centre at the back of the Phoenix are offering web access for members and are also looking at wifi. It may bot reach the bar but could reach the tables outside. Still very cold in Exeter but this could be worth checking out, say in April.

By April also there might be a case for a trip to the Langstone Cliffs Hotel in Dawlish Warren where the wifi is still free.

Several cafes seen recently offer free newspapers. Sometimes out of date and not always the ones I would choose. but the free newspapers model is well established. I still think free wi-fi is the future.