Wired/Unwired

Ridgefield toys with idea of free wireless throughout town

When Nikola Tesla began building Wardenclyffe Tower, he thought he was starting the groundwork on electrifying the world. Tesla had invented a way of transmitting electricity that did not require wires. In 1901 he made the shocking claim that information could be transmitted wirelessly and instantaneously, which sounded like science fiction. It would take over 100 years for Smart Cities to step into science fact, offering just a fraction of Tesla’s promise.

One feature that has been the proverbial dipping a toe in the water is public wifi, something that the town of Ridgefield is looking into for their downtown area. They would be following the suit of many towns and cities around the country that offer some kind of free access to internet. In New Haven, for instance, there is free wi-fi on the green, which provides access to the immediate area.

For the past year the Economic and Community Development Commission (ECDC) has begun looking into the idea, trying to make it a reality.

Some of the benefits of public wifi is that like any other resource – whether it’s a public library or park – it attracts people to areas that you want them to be. If 2020 is any indication of where technology is going, having a fully functional internet infrastructure is one of the most important criterion for a modern city.

The town itself can benefit by controlling things like transportation flows by utilizing the Internet of Things, which allows devices to talk to each other. Major cities like New York City are installing hubs where people can charge their phones, which allows for integration of advertising revenue to pay for it all.

But this isn’t to say there aren’t drawbacks. When Tesla devised his free electric network, he didn’t realize that he was creating an environment that prohibited the advance of computer technologies. In order to create sophisticated computer boards, you need to have a completely static free area, which is not possible when everything you use is powered by wireless electricity.

In much the same way, there are concerns about all-encompassing wi-fi or 5g networks.

A group of over 200 scientists have signed a letter saying that: “Numerous recent scientific publications have shown that EMF affects living organisms at levels well below most international and national guidelines. Effects include increased cancer risk, cellular stress, increase in harmful free radicals, genetic damages, structural and functional changes of the reproductive system, learning and memory deficits, neurological disorders, and negative impacts on general well-being in humans. Damage goes well beyond the human race, as there is growing evidence of harmful effects to both plant and animal life.”

Ridgefield is fully studying the effects of these wireless systems while deciding whether or not to implement these new technologies. So, the problem is how to square the need for a good infrastructure of internet capabilities and good sound scientific advice. There’s no reason to believe that we will not continue to innovate – just like the advance of electrical systems did not stop at the failure of Wardenclyffe Tower. The next bright idea is always just around the corner.

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