Like you, I tend to forget how gruesome data acquisition is in some parts of the world. Just here, Mexico and the Navajo Nation are horribly underserved. Even expensive data through a cell connection isn't available.
Is there hope for 'outside the box' connection? Elon Musk's starlink promises cheap and available high speed internet. His plan is to pay for the have nots through the haves in the world. At least that's his stated position. Make it cheap and reliable for the 'paying customers' and free to the underserved world. I'm skeptical.
A couple of years ago I was somewhat involved in a 'Venezuela Project' that curated posts from undervalued creators from Venezuela where even a dollar a day was the difference between eating and not. Far as I know almost all of them were strangled off the 'free internet.' A couple of them managed to escape, the rest were just ground into submission.
6 billion people on earth. It's amazing the small percentage that has access to unfiltered internet. I guess the beat goes on.
Elon can keep his space trash and stick it in his Boring tunnels. Haven't we learned enough yet from all trash we produce, and all damage it causes, to next repeat the same behavior in space... just because there was an economical great idea behind. Yes, that was also how plastic was pitched.
I agree. I'm really skeptical. The idea of internet service for all is enticing but already the light pollution from the starlink satellites is a problem here in Arizona. Not often considered, but we have 3 really famous and serviceable telescope installations that are already comprimised.
Yes, there's that too. Unless they change the locations the starlink sats will also interfere with several more of the strongest telescopes in the world.
It was a great idea but we know enough to decide "this probably isn't the solution, let's ditch it".
!ENGAGE 30
ENGAGEtokens.I don't put a lot of faith in corporate goodwill, but who knows, one day someone will just say "screw it" and do the right thing. Most people even when they aren't completely crushed, will choose entertainment over something of substance as it offers less mental, physical and emotional resistance.
Corporate goodwill is, in my experience, primarily used up on the shareholders.
Corporate goodwill in 2020 is (careful) hashtag PR. Make a statement about any hashtag that shocked people and went viral, but don't really commit to any values you will uphold.
It is because of this that I am hoping that we can all become shareholders.