Homeless router

Introduction

Hey. Today I want to write not so much about technological innovation, the device of something, but about the concept, about a completely new, eccentric, and in my opinion revolutionary idea.
In the morning I noticed a TV report from the USA out of the corner of my eye through the well-known channel, or to be specific from Texas, the city of Austin. I was so impressed with the report, the idea that I went to the Internet to google to search for more information. I admit, I managed to find a little about this, but what I managed to find is good material for reflection, and in a certain way I managed to form my own subjective opinion on this.

Questionable social project or ...

In the United States, Austin, Texas, marketing company BBH Labs ( these uncles ) came up with an entertaining project, one of whose goals is to find a homeless occupation, and at the same time help them earn at least some money. They gave the bombs 4G routers, put them in shirts with the words “I am a hotspot” and instructions for connecting to the Internet via a mobile Wi-Fi point. Those who wish to use the services of a homeless router can donate any amount via PayPal and access the Internet from their mobile device. All donations are targeted and fall into the wallet of the homeless person whose ID was used for payment.



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Who participates:

13 people were involved in the action (the list of names and their short biographies and wishes are published on the project website : CLARENCE, DUSTY, JASON, JEFF, RUDOLPH, WILLIAM, WILLIAM, MELVIN, STACIA, JONATHAN, GILBERT, TOM, MARK). For example, Dusty's “hotspot” is from Texas and he is now urgently seeking work, since he is no longer going to live on unemployment benefits. The site has the opportunity to see where this or that homeless person is.
Homeless people are currently serving SXSW Interactive conference participants in Austin.

Price:

The recommended price for 15 minutes of access is two US dollars , while BBH Labs emphasizes that donations are voluntary, and all funds will remain with the homeless.

Controversy

The project operates in an experimental mode and collected mixed reviews on Twitter.
The project organizers call it charitable and innovative, although it is also of an advertising nature. Austin residents and guests, as well as the World Wide Web users are ambiguous about the company: some express gratitude to the company for the opportunity to make money that it gave to the homeless, and their opponents believe that BBH Labs degrades human dignity by using people as network equipment.

From the technical part:

It became known that homeless people stood next to the conference in order to provide the Internet via MiFi devices (pictured) that connect to the Internet via the 4G network.

Interview with one of the homeless:

My opinion:

I think that this is at least brilliant, if we exclude the fact that it is not always pleasant to be near these homeless people. The fact that it is an unpleasant pleasure to sit next to the homeless and frantically send mail, choking on the smell.



The very idea of ​​a person not as a consumer, but roughly speaking, of the consumer product itself is already worth it, so that we begin to use such ideas in other areas.
Although ... agree, it will be very strange to cultivate such projects in Russia, especially those that may concern our homeless. It will be very strange to run after the wi-fi access point, if she sees the police, by the dents, climb over the fences, or if your access point steals beer in the store. And what kind of company will it be, to find out in the evening that its router is safely exchanged for a bottle of whiskey alcoholic beverage.
A swollen, gray-and-white Alconaut, in a dirty sheepskin coat, but with a 4G router. Makes you smile.

Good PR move, good idea, but raw. However, I repeat, it is revolutionary and I think it is brilliant.
Thanks for attention.