Re:SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation...
by fastball on Thursday January 16, 2020 @10:08PM
(#22071507)
What is it being built for, if not globally available (as in, actually anywhere in the globe), high-speed, low latency, low cost internet?
It's built for whoever gets utility out of it and will pay for it, those "noble cases" included. It's not for them, but it enables them.
The internet can tell you how to build a better stove, farm better, raise animals better, discourage you from barbaric rituals that don't actually have the effect you believe them to have, etc. Arguably the poorest, most ignorant of the world are the same people that need the knowledge the internet can provide the most.
Re:SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation...
by bdamm on Thursday January 16, 2020 @11:50PM
(#22071954)
I agree with all but the last sentence.
The Internet is not always correlated with a happier life and the Internet isn’t sure to educate the ignorant.
Re:SpaceX tests black satellite to reduce ‘megaconstellation...
by fastball on Friday January 17, 2020 @04:27PM
(#22079537)
I did not claim either of those things.
Internet access gives you access to actual knowledge. Yes, it also gives access to fake news and farmville, but I think those latter concerns are less important when you are having sex with babies to make your AIDS go away.
Likewise, those in poverty living far from population centres (by the way, those are the places with most of the people) are better served by being gifted 10 bricks so they can build an actual stove.