With the mesh network built in to the OLPC, a local network that worked without needing a central access point (or the CPU), farmers used the chat function to compare prices offered for their produce and found out that merchants offered different prices. Draining the batteries while their kids were sleeping. This led to pressure on the merchants to pay better. The government was not amused. And mesh networking became a problem. Ultimately an inspiring story that was never told, IMHO. 2/3

Decentralisation remains an underexplored field in commerce and communication, IMHO. For obvious reasons. Capitalism relies on control and centralisation. Kind of a contradiction, IMHO. A reason why decentralisation and transparency are often touted as goals, but never really implemented. 3/3

(In a flat and open field, the mesh network of an OLPC, that didn’t need the CPU for transmitting network traffic, so still worked when the OLPC was „sleeping“ had a range of up to 4 kilometres)

@OLPC #meshNetwork is something we should really get as default in all #laptops and #phones. I will try to keep an eye on #IEEE802.11s

@paoloredaelli some years ago mesh networking in phones was a no-go, because it would drain their battery too quickly. Lately I was very surprised to see a Gl.inet XE300 travel router last for 8 hours on its integrated 5000mAh battery with a #Freifunk firmware with #11s + #batman_adv (and no user traffic). So maybe portable 24/7 mesh networking devices in your pocket or bag is on the table again these days.
I'm wondering what #OLPC's experience with 11s and battery life was.