Here is an example of the way in which PBase makes life easier for commuters. The setting
is a municipal parking garage in Kent, Washington (south of Seattle). What appears
to be nothing more than a typical bird-repelling device is also a local-area focused
antenna for keeping mobile surfers in touch with the millions of PBase galleries.
The City of Kent is a progressive institution. Its urban planners, when contemplating the
construction of this structure, realized that one way to get people out of their cars and
onto buses and trains was to enable commuters to surf without interruption in Kent during
their trip to work. That meant creating the ability to use the Internet while in the parking
garage. Without this system, surfers would have no connection to the outside world, as the
steel re-inforcement of the concrete structure would otherwise block signals. PBase was
involved from the start: consultants from its Municipal Partnership Program convinced the
city, with very little arm-twisting, that its plan was worth the economic investment.
The presence of this capability has had the unforeseen side-effect of minimizing a commuter’s
exposure to the harsh elements while waiting for his bus or train connection. Rather than
stand or sit outside, with the wind blowing and rain pouring down, commuters can remain in
their cars in the garage until shortly before the arrival of their ride to work. During that
time, their surfing is continuous and without degradation. You should see the rush of
commuters out of the garage just before the next bus or train arrives!
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