When gadgets meet morons

How's this for the definition of "unnecessary"? Almost every laptop that exists today and is less than 3-4 years old has WiFi built in (and if not - USB WiFi adapters are a steal), and yet Telenor - a mobile provider in Serbia still had a bright idea of using USB wires with only a touch of WiFi for their project of creating an "Internet enabled public park".

They crossed the limit by exposing every one of their USB 3G devices in one of their project realizations in Belgrade, Serbia to the public by placing them inside small transparent boxes on benches... Users were expected to plug in the USB cord to their device (which obviously had to be a laptop) and start enjoying the online sensation while the local city folks passed by and stared in wonder.

Needless to say, the whole park was vandalized, all devices were stolen and their plexiglass outer "shield" was smashed into pieces only a few days after the grand opening. (I mean... what were the expectations? Turning an usual junkie hangout lounge into a Internet enabled location? In Serbia? Stupid.)

Here's how an "internet enabled bench" looks today in the very same park (image courtesy - B92):

The v2.0 of the box has a nasty sticker on it - "The presented devices have no material value whatsoever and can not function outside the limits of this park."

Hint: Why bother arguing with drunk people? Does any vandal give a damn if he throws his leg at that box? Or if he shoves the USB cord inside his burger just for the fun of it? Lose the boxes, and stick to plain WiFi. It can serve 99% of most Laptops, PocketPCs and high-end mobile phones... That way, morons who don't know what to do at 3AM in the morning can vandalize the radio waves in the air as long as they want.

Add comment June 21st, 2008