Do you live in the Nieuwmarkt neighbourhood? Then join a research project by Waag Futurelab and the municipality of Amsterdam. Together with local residents, we are building and researching a mesh network that enables communication in emergency situations.
With a power cut, communication stops. Telephony breaks down and the internet no longer works. In such a situation, mesh networks can be a solution to still be able to communicate with each other. Mesh devices only need each other and solar energy to transmit messages. Each mesh device and each person participating makes the network stronger.
Together with Nieuwmarkt neighbourhood residents, Amsterdam municipality and Waag, investigate how we can use a local mesh network in emergency situations. By participating in this pilot research, you will be at the forefront of this new development. Together, we will spend three months testing the mesh network to make it work optimally when needed.
Consider tests such as:
- At what distance do the devices still work?
- Can we send so many messages together that the network stops working?
- What scenarios can we think of where this would be useful?
- Is the technology itself understandable and usable?
To participate in the study, you do not need any technical background or prior knowledge about the technology.
Are you interested or want to know more?
Sign up at the bottom of this page for the workshop on Thursday 19 February at Waag on Nieuwmarkt. We will start the evening with an introduction to the project and an explanation of the technology. Then we will get down to practical work together: we will help you start up your own mesh device (which you will get from us), explore how it works and share tips for use.
If you participate in the study, you will be given a mesh device to take home at the end of the evening.
In March, we plan an interim meeting to share the findings of the survey. And in May, there will be a closing event where we can look back and plan for the future.
Programme 19 February
19:30 - 19:45 Welcome & introduction NodeNet
19:45 - 20:00 research questions & experimental set-up
20:00 - 20:30 explaining mesh technology
20:30 - 21:30 Hands-on: configuring and testing mesh devices (bring your smartphone/laptop!)
21:30 - 22:00 Q&A & drinks
Workshop supplies
Bring your laptop or smartphone. No prior knowledge of technology or technical background is necessary.
Learn more about the NodeNet pilot project: https://waag.org/nl/project/nodenet/
