Project Loon

Dr House · 20 Oct 2013 at 09:33

I dont know if you guys have seen this but its such a amazing idea.

http://www.google.com/loon/

ElliorR · 20 Oct 2013 at 09:41

As noble as that is I'm sure a lot of people without internet access would rather have food and water, not be in a war zone and free from many diseases.

nick.lidgett · 20 Oct 2013 at 10:00

ElliorR said:
As noble as that is I'm sure a lot of people without internet access would rather have food and water, not be in a war zone and free from many diseases.

But now they will be able to use the ASDA online shopping and delivery service

davido_labido · 20 Oct 2013 at 10:06

and they would be able to sign partitions against the wars etc!

its a win win!

arknor · 20 Oct 2013 at 10:16

skynet starts here

Skillmister · 20 Oct 2013 at 10:35

ElliorR said:
As noble as that is I'm sure a lot of people without internet access would rather have food and water, not be in a war zone and free from many diseases.

designed to connect people in rural and remote areas, help fill coverage gaps, and bring people back online after disasters.

It's not designed for them anyway, so they can continue not being connected

Glanza · 20 Oct 2013 at 10:42

Be interesting to see if they can pull this off. If it does work might help people in rural areas get a lot quicker internet.

Derek W · 20 Oct 2013 at 12:36

Forfar Athletic aka 'The Loons'

Azza · 20 Oct 2013 at 12:42

http://www.theverge.com/2013/9/11/4...fiber-isnt-the-only-revolution-in-kansas-city

Interesting video here that's worth a watch re: Google Fibre in Kansas and Google's own Loon project...

nick.lidgett · 20 Oct 2013 at 12:46

I read somewhere google were trialing 1Gb/s fibre somewhere in the states, so i guess the UK will see those sort of speeds in the year 3000.

Cosimo · 20 Oct 2013 at 12:48

I remember this from June.

There is a new video about the antenna:

It's worth subscribing to the Project Loon Channel if you want to know more:

http://www.youtube.com/user/ProjectLoon?feature=watch

Scougar · 20 Oct 2013 at 12:54

So how do they keep the balloons where they want them?

Dr House · 20 Oct 2013 at 12:58

Scougar said:
So how do they keep the balloons where they want them?

Watch the video

manic111 · 20 Oct 2013 at 13:48

Dr House said:
Watch the video

It doesn't really say tbf. It just says that the antenna's designed to work at a variable distance. Will it actually be on a rope, or was that just for illustration?

Something Else · 20 Oct 2013 at 14:27

manic111 said:
It doesn't really say tbf. It just says that the antenna's designed to work at a variable distance. Will it actually be on a rope, or was that just for illustration?

it uses varying wind currents in the atmosphere to navigate around the world.

Basically computers tell the balloon which altitude to go to so that they get blown in a certain direction.

wesley · 20 Oct 2013 at 14:38

what if one of the balloon broke? ie not communicating etc. how the hell they gonna bring it down?

they cant just keep sending new ones up all the time

nice idea thou

Dr House · 20 Oct 2013 at 16:53

What will be interesting is when your mobile phone can communicate directly with the balloon without an external antenna.

BigglesPiP · 20 Oct 2013 at 17:28

Skillmister said:
It's not designed for them anyway, so they can continue not being connected

I wouldn't rule it out, Grayrigg (where the Pendalino crashed) was at the time covered by point to point radio broadband running up the valley from Kendal. If Google's system is cost effective and performs well you may see it in the UK, maybe on a we buy one for the UK and one for Africa scheme.

V|per · 20 Oct 2013 at 17:32

arknor said:
skynet starts here

I can't believe they went with 'project loon' over skynet... missed opportunity