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Fire marks

Nick writes with historical precedent for "less is more":

"Fire marks: when fire engines were privately run by insurance companies, London buildings would have engraved marks or plaques showing who their insurer/fire engine was. Hence the Sun Life company, which used the sun;

or do a google for 'fire marks'

Point being that the icon is sufficient. Those who want to imbue it with
data are *doing too bloody much*. It's almost like geocaching, except that
the cache is *online*: you get the first cue, you get a connection, and you
can extrapolate and elaborate.

Posted by matt at June 27, 2002 10:13 AM
Comments

Less is more seems to be the order of the day.

I think it comes down to how much information you want to put up, or how much time you have to do it.
Certainly in the case of a chalked glyph, you might want to just "stick to basics". If you want to take the time to make a nice sign, include as much information as you like.

So the "standard" should incorporate the "basics" at the very least.

)( = open
() = closed
(W) or (E) = encrypted

Anything else is "gravy".

Posted by Wo|f at June 27, 2002 02:18 PM

Posted by Wo|f at June 27, 2002 02:19 PM

(W) is my vote for encryption. WEP seems to be a safe bet.

Bring on v 1.0! : )

Posted by Wo|f at June 27, 2002 02:33 PM

I suggest encryption go with the intuitive (X). WEP was broken a long time ago and the industry is working to find alternatives.

Posted by Jonathan at June 27, 2002 08:56 PM

I have to concur with Jonathan... intuitive is important, and new wifiers won't know what WEP is. (X) screams "unavailable".

Posted by vis10n at June 28, 2002 04:43 PM


- - - - -
http://www2.bc.edu/~benedicw/_misc/warchalking.gif

This is a quick mock up of how I think this whole symbol thing should go down. Simplicity is so so key. Three symbols should be the max. Alpha numerics should have a preferred location, but should be kept optional by all means (along with direction). SSID along the bottom (looks better, makes sense), with maybe the WEP code across the top (where known/applicable). If you want bandwidth on the right and a/b/g on the left, sure, but all of these things are super secondary. The important thing is the IDENTIFICATION OF THE LOCATION. They're just an extension of the Original Three, but (if I don't say so myself) clearer, more unique, and too pretty :) . This whole idea will fly--but I want it to look nice and clean, too.

If the data can be easily put by the symbol, well great. If the only surface is a stone wall face of a coffee shop, best stick with the nice looking simple symbol and the rest can be gleaned with software, or friggin walking inside and asking the story. Direction can be as simple as nothing (you are * here), a clock-compass (noon = forward, 6 = backwards, 3 = right), or a simple map (through the door, down the hall, passed the restroom, door on your right with circular window).

The original symbols are a bit too simple. A circle on a wall is way too ambiguous, as is (though less so) the open butterfly-circle. Combine the two, and it takes on the qualities of a true rune (not that all runs are encased in circles, but that they are obviously intentional and meaningful shapes). The W was always no good. Also, the way these are drawn, the status of the node could be easily updated by erasing or adding a simple line here or there. They're also symbols I wouldn't mind making a cool sign out of and posting in front of my coffee shop or library or whatever...easily transferable to other mediums, but also good-looking (again, if I don't say so myself ;) .

Posted by Tremelune at June 30, 2002 04:58 AM


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