Wi-Fi Turns Arizona Bus Ride Into a Rolling Study Hall | Hacker News Reader

Wi-Fi Turns Arizona Bus Ride Into a Rolling Study Hall

nytimes.com

27 pointsrobg15 comments

Is anyone else a little weirded out by this? It seems wrong that these kids are sitting quietly on their MacBooks instead of socializing while they're all together on a school bus.

Is the Internet really that necessary for doing schoolwork? Why did that kid need Internet connectivity for GarageBand?

My real question: Why is sitting on Facebook for an hour better for kids than socializing with their peers?

well, it seems to be neccessary, or they'd have been using laptops before the wifi.

you think high school is all about socializing, happiness and pancakes? have you ever been in one? have you already forgotten how it is? it's fighting and ruckus every time kids have free time and no work or toys.

don't get me wrong, the kids are still making a ruckus with the wifi. they're just doing it by typing. that's quiet, slower, not as immediate, not prone to escalation (getting your ass kicked over nothing).

Heh, I think we mostly agree. My real concern is that I'm not sure school bus wifi really does much to save kids from brain-rotting.

Clearly they're all just watching porn and playing world of warcraft.

Or chatroulette, which is a little of both.

Have you ever ridden a public school bus? I don't seem to remember much socializing with peers, not in a good way at least.

Kids these days... When I was their age, I talked to my ten thousand friends all the time. While walking uphill to school. Both ways. That takes me back. OK, back to posting rants on the Internet.

No offence :)

check out this school bus in Japan. You'll be shocked:

http://imagebin.org/84498

http://imagebin.org/84499

http://imagebin.org/84500

(it's an internet cafe-bus)

Would the power source for that many computers on a vehicle pull from the standard batteries/engine, or would it be rigged with alternate electricity sources?

I'd expect a separate generator, since an intercity motorcoach like that isn't hurting for physical space.

It looks like they'd fit maybe 60 seats. If each monitor is about 60W and each laptop is 90W, that's a maximum of 9kW. At 12V, that's 750A. I'd expect the cost of a complete genset would rival that of enough alternator and inverter capacity to do it off the main engine. RV owners would likely have more insight into this.

Looks likes a generator or AC unit as seen in the first photo in the lower storage area.

Wow, wish I had this when I was growing up.

Hopefully they provide power outlets for the laptops.

Me too! This is pretty cool

the power outlets will have to be waterproof though, or with plastic covers.... I remember them cleaning down busses with a hose

kinda obvious now that it's implemented, right? i mean... kids know they're wasting time by just sitting in a bus for hours and doing nothing else. homework got to be done anyway, so why not use the time now and have more free time in the evening?

> “We’re being stalked by a rainbow!” Jerod said.

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