MIT maps wireless users across campus

http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/11/04/wireless.campus.ap/index.html

MIT maps wireless users across campus

Friday, November 4, 2005; Posted: 9:54 a.m. EST (14:54 GMT)
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (AP) -- In another time and place, college students wondering whether the campus cafe has any free seats, or their favorite corner of the library is occupied, would have to risk hoofing it over there.

But for today's student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, that kind of information is all just a click away.

MIT's newly upgraded wireless network -- extended this month to cover the entire school (2,800 access points)-- doesn't merely get you online in study halls, stairwells or any other spot on the 9.4 million square foot campus.

It also provides information (the map that can pinpoint locations in rooms is 3-D, so researchers can distinguish connectivity in multistoried buildings) on exactly how many people are logged on at any given location at any given time. It even reveals a user's identity if the individual has opted to make that data public.<snip>