ImcUkClimateCamp08
Table of content :
Media and related infrastructure
Internet Connectivity
This wiki page
https://en.wiki.aktivix.org/SquatTelecoms contains information about the various options for providing connectivity 'off grid'. Ideally we'll have a basket of options available to provide redundancy, flexibility and maximise available bandwidth. Hopefully it will consist of the following three routes: long distance wifi to adsl via a friendly nearby resident (yet to be found); satellite from psand; and 3G via t-mobile or three pay-as-you-go etc. A reccy of the area will be needed to weigh up the options.
Those who have visited the area of the camp so far have suggested that there is no 3G coverage although we don't know what networks they tried. The Three network coverage maps suggest there should be coverage. We should look into using hi gain 1900/2100mhz antennas to ensure good reception.
The Draytek Vigor 2910 router which Ben has can run on 12 volt, uses just 10 watts and being a dual WAN router it can automatically load balance between any two of the internet connectivity options we might have available (a second similar dual wan router would allow us to switch between three sources). We might for example have the satellite and 3G connected so that we can switch off the satellite during periods of low demand to save power while not having to reconfigure any of the network. Another scenario might be connection via long distance wifi and 3g so that if the wifi is a litle flakey due to rain or vehicles moving through the signal path we'll still maintain a connection via 3g. The router can also shape traffic and choose the most appropriate path to the internet dependent on definable rules. These would enable use to prioritize certain websites or uses such a video upload to whichever connection had the most appropriate bandwidth conditions.
Around the site we'll want to run a cabled LAN and avoid providing an open wifi as that would only encourage excessive power use and difficulty managing the available bandwidth. If we do provide an access point it should be WPA encrypted and keys provided only to those with a demonstratable need that can't be satisfied by the central infrastructure provided.
Proposed photo desk work flow
Card readers attached to Ltsp Suite (and perhaps other standalone machines.)
set up the suite for digital camera work with; apt-get install gphoto2 gtkam
Shared samba drive /media created and set as default file browser location on Ltsp suite.
Gallery2
http://gallery.menalto.com/features installed on Ltsp Suite, set to use the shared /media folder, thumbnails set to a useful size for web use.
F-spot
http://f-spot.org/Features used as interface to harddrive.
f spot tag data shared between all users on Ltsp.
Trusted remote team allowed to access gallery 2 over VPN. They see the thumbnails + tags to save bandwidth.
Trusted remote team copy appropriate content to WWW.
Thoughts from Ben on photo desk workflow.
Would be good to be able to include photos sent from the field via mobile into the work flow. If advertise widely, this would reduce the chance of inappropriate images making it to the web with peoples faces visible. It would require an off site server which could be administered via an encrypted connection. There are various photo moblogging services that could be used as temporary holding points and we'd simply make the blog private then pull down the photos we wanted to make use of.
Workflow from a non tech perspective might look like this...
Take Picture
Go to physical photo desk and transfer from camera via card reader
or upload from in the field via phone service
General author/location/date meta data is added.
Photos are checked for quality, suitability etc
Selected photos are manually modified (anonymized if need be) and/or cropped
Photos are automatically resized for different uses.
Photos are captioned and uploaded to climate camp / indymedia websites.
References to past experiences
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