(FIXED)The vast majority of our stratosphere isn’t polluted by satellites - airborne communications stations will change that
Apart from space junk, satellites have massive carbon footprint.
https://astrodon.social/@jknodlseder/113028380162373253
This problem seems like it was already solved using satellites.
The only real niche I see for this is during natural disasters, which could get a cell network back online in a limited capacity. But even then, it seems like it would be cheaper to just run some more diesel out to the cell towers’ backup generators.
The issue with that is getting information in and out of the disaster area. It’s all well and good having a cell tower online, if the back haul network is down.
Technology like this would, in theory, be able to reach outside the disaster area and get clear communication with the outside world.
Oh yeah, let’s build our infrastructure project based on tech that requires a large amount of helium. You know, that element that is extremely hard to store and transport. Yes, the one that’s already scarce and is required for vastly more important technologies.
I don’t see what the problem is, it’s not like helium production is a byproduct of an energy sector were trying to rapidly divest from…
They should just use hydrogen… you won’t even have to worry about recovering anything if there is an accident.
It seems today’s pattern in general. Such projects go for something hardly achievable, don’t achieve it, give us all that feeling of passive frustration, and divert attention.
I think it’s about hijacking discourse.
There are plenty of places on the planet which could use additional electricity, water, wired connectivity, normal roads. Or, say, security from armed apes with UN membership, like Azerbaijan.
It’s just that we’ve reached the stage where further development changes the balance of power.
seems today’s pattern in general. Such projects go for something hardly achievable, don’t achieve it, give us all that feeling of passive frustration, and divert attention.
I think it’s kinda a byproduct of venture capital funding. With the Fed prioritizing low interest rates for the last decade, investors are a lot more willing to stick their money in yolo financial schemes.
There are plenty of places on the planet which could use additional electricity, water, wired connectivity, normal roads.
Pssh, why build physical things when you can just gamble on things like virtual currency, virtual intellect, or even virtual reality… /s
Or, say, security from armed apes with UN membership, like Azerbaijan.
Lesser Armenia has really flown off the handle lately. I don’t really know why they have UN membership, Azerbaijan is basically “what if the Saudi tried to build Singapore on the Caspian sea”.
Pssh, why build physical things when you can just gamble on things like virtual currency, virtual intellect, or even virtual reality… /s
… But someone will consistently collect money of real value if they have influence on the discourse making people flock the way they want.
Lesser Armenia has really flown off the handle lately. I don’t really know why they have UN membership, Azerbaijan is basically “what if the Saudi tried to build Singapore on the Caspian sea”.
With some KGB flavor, but yes, I was going to argue Saudis are not that bad, then remembered Hashoggi, al-Qaeda, ISIS, Yemen, the whole sharia state thing, and decided that the metaphor is fine.
Problem is that a lot of that remaining third live in countries where the state will actively try to destroy the air craft to keep their people insulated from the wider global internet
Who needs food and clean drinking water when you can have Internet.
Democratization of communication resources substantially helps other facets. I hate this sort of knee jerk whataboutism. Aid can and should be multifaceted.
I agree, but there is a pretty substantial list of stuff to arrange before internet becomes a thing people need… Granted, internet can help with some of them. But focussing on the primary things to keep people alive and allow them to Prosper seems good form.
“Don’t you people have phones”…
Just an example, but I’ve worked in central Africa and was recently at a very rural hospital where there was no running water and no electricity (other than local solar), and while there they received an airborne blood delivery via drone from a facility about 100 miles and about 4 hour drive time away. This was extremely helpful and managed through Internet communication.
Internet access means access to information on all sorts of things that can improve their day to day lives.
Physical resources are also important, obviously, but the free availability of information resources genuinely is life changing.
