<mchua> There is a session on school in a box - we need hardware spec help
* Ian_Daniher (n=chatzill@69.61.230.246) has joined #nyc-jam
* mchua is taking notes from the discussion
<mchua> the idea is to provide a portable, deployable school that can be taken on a plane (hence size/weight limitations) and set up anywhere
<mchua> provide connectivity, learning resources, supplies for a small (<8? may have misheard number) number of kids
<mchua> perhaps in an emergency situation - disaster area, war zone
<mchua> http://www.unicef.org/supply/kits_flasy/schoolinabox
<mchua> crud, wait
<mchua> http://www.unicef.org/supply/kits_flash/schoolinabox
<dwinslow> mchua: 80 kids + 2 teachers
<mchua> there
<dwinslow> for a month
<mchua> thanks
<mchua> so that is the current (analog) school
<dwinslow> it also has an alter ego as an emergency communications center
<mchua> we want to make a digital one
<dwinslow> well, the digital version should, anyway
* mchua watches video of donkey carrying school-in-a-box (analog) up mountain trail
<mchua> SIAB right now:
<mchua> paper, pen(cils), blocks and geometry-type rulers/right-angle measures/t-squares... things...
<mchua> clock, posters for math and ABC, paint for making blackboard
<dwinslow> goals for the digital version: allow satellite distribution of curriculum info
<dwinslow> broadcast a wireless network (for XO's and other wifi-aware devices)
<mchua> is the DSIAB supposed to replace or complement the ASIAB?
<dwinslow> communicate via point-to-point wireless (range ~10 miles) and share the satellite connection
<mchua> we've got a rough spec up - chris is posting it to uniwiki so people can read it here
<mchua> we've got solar panels here - they fold out
<mchua> about the size of a cafeteria tray - three panels that size, hinged together
* Schuyler leaves for UNICEF
<mchua> ddn't hear what voltage they offer
<dwinslow> sufficient to charge a cell phone -- probably less than 12v
<mchua> should have a 15 mile range - connect 2 DSIABs
<dwinslow> oh wait, that was a satellite phone, prolly better voltage output than that
<mchua> http://mepemepe.com/wiki/Digital_School_in_the_Box - the current specs
<mchua> (formatting is being fixed now)
<mchua> drawing: large box (think refrigerator box sized box, stood up the tall way), speakers on the bottom, laptops protuding from each side
<mchua> (4 laptops)
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<mchua> http://www.ustream.tv/channel-nyc-jam for the live camera feed
<mchua> ack, sorry. http://www.ustream.tv/channel/nyc-jam
<mchua> I can't type today!
<mchua> Ian_Daniher: any thoughts?
<mchua> basically asking "given these specs... what would you make?"
<mchua> clarification: DSIAB = ASIAB + Stuff, but still fit it into 3 boxes
<mchua> we're "upgrading" ASIAB to include computers/connectivity (at least that's one route of doing things)
<mchua> so space in the boxes would still go to things like blackboard paint, and notebooks... have to fit those in around antennae etc
<Ian_Daniher> I've been partially distracted
<mchua> must be completely self-sufficient power wise
<Ian_Daniher> so we're looking at a mix of traditional schooling with digital tech?
<Ian_Daniher> solar is the only semireliable way to go
<Ian_Daniher> XOs for any and all computer needs - nothing touches them for durability/power
<dwinslow> the tech probably should play more a role of distributing information to teachers
<Ian_Daniher> ok
<Ian_Daniher> makes sense
<dwinslow> less than trying to use it for presentation to kids
<Ian_Daniher> then an XO shipped with xfce and a big keyboard
<Ian_Daniher> kinda a hack-job
<Ian_Daniher> but like I said, nothing touches them for power/durability/cost
<mchua> wifi: consuming 20w
<mchua> terminals: 10-20
<mchua> watts
<Ian_Daniher> mesh networking wouldn't be too hard with an active antenna
<mchua> (guesses)
<Ian_Daniher> XOs for terminals?
<Ian_Daniher> ~5-6w, iirc
<Ian_Daniher> I'd have to say sealed lead acid batteries for night use
<Ian_Daniher> and short-term power
<Ian_Daniher> for cost
<mchua> discussion on only using "global" wireless in spurts - turn on at start of day, transmit/receive, shutdown - all requests get queued until that time
<Ian_Daniher> That could be nice
<mchua> goal: <$5000 per kit
<Ian_Daniher> High power burst transmission
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<Ian_Daniher> off the top of my head, I say that power is going to run the most
<Ian_Daniher> I'd have to check, but solar power for ~200-300 watts could up to 3k
<mchua> (I'll push your comments to the room - one second)
<Ian_Daniher> why not standard walky-talkies to a server for voip?
<Ian_Daniher> good range
<Ian_Daniher> rechargable
<Ian_Daniher> a base station could server 20
<Ian_Daniher> easily
<Ian_Daniher> forward it all to other stations via active antenna
* cjb (n=cjb@pullcord.laptop.org) has joined #nyc-jam
<cjb> 'ello.
<mchua> cjb: hey!
<mchua> cjb: I'll pastebin the transcript
<dwinslow> hi cjb, you walked in in the middle of a discussion on the digital school in a box
<cjb> Thanks.