[RTC List] New RTC Technologies - solar & efficiency

[Bob Freeman]

Michael
You may be missing the point..what Humboldt needs is pervasive 
high-speed connectivity  and redundant connections to the rest of the world.
This is not a high tech area with lots of engineering hackers trying to 
make "green" computers, and anyhow, MIT has already done that, complete 
with lowpower crank for those of you with more muscle then money.
Let's stay focused on the important local issues...maybe building lots 
of cheap, energy efficient, secure long distance WIFi repeaters.
Bob
BtB Software

Michael Welch wrote:
> Hello friends. I guess my previous post was way too long and involved. I received three email responses as a result of it, but none of them commented on this proposal. So, what do you all think about this? Can we have a discussion about this idea on list?
>
>   
>> Energy efficiency IS a technical issue, and I have a proposal for RTC that should be right up its alley. How about promoting and sponsoring a county-wide contest to come up with the most energy efficient "home" computer? 
>>
>> Redwood Alliance is willing to co-sponsor such a contest, and even put up some prize money, maybe in conjunction with local computer businesses. But I think that RTC is the perfect vehicle for such a contest. A set of rules would need to be arrived at, as well as a set of benchmark tests. From our viewpoint, such a computer would have to be full-featured using off-the-shelf components and be something that local computer builders could closely copy and sell. My guess is that a very nice computer can be built with all the common amenities (though with some processor speed sacrifice since faster speeds produce heat--the root of all electrical inefficiency) that can be run off of a 15 watt wall-wart, and only cost marginally more than a watt-waster.
>>
>> Please let me know what you think of this proposal as individuals, we can discuss it on list or wherever. Then if it seems like there is interest, maybe the discussion can be taken up formally by the Board.
>>
>> Thanks for the opportunity to share these thoughts and proposal with you.
>>     
>
>
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> Michael Welch, volunteer
> Redwood Alliance
> PO Box 293
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> www.redwoodalliance.org
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