§ The proliferation of mobile computing devices including laptops, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and wearable computers has created a demand for wireless area networks. WLANs allow proximal devices to share information and resources. The mobile nature of these devices places unique requirements on WLANs, such as low power consumption, frequent make-and-break connections, resource discovery and utilization, and international regulations.

§ Building Wireless community networks is about getting people connected to one another. Wireless technology is being used right now to connect neighborhoods, businesses, and schools to the vast massively interconnected, and nebulous entity known as the Internet. One of the goals of this project is to help get our community “Unplugged” and online.