http://www.wpix.com/wpix-homeless-hot-s ... 4047.story
Is this good or bad?? Mutually beneficial, or a process that will turn humans into hardware?
NEW YORK (WPIX)— We all know how handy a mobile hotspot can be in a crowded, open area. That's especially true this year in Austin, Texas, - the site of this year's annual South by Southwest interactive festival in Austin, Texas.
But there is a controversy brewing over something - or someone - called a "Homeless Hotspot."
A homeless man named Clarence was one of thirteen homeless people who we're given mobile hotspot devices. They spent the weekend walking around the festival providing "pay as you go" WiFi access. Their services were scheduled to med Monday.
Their recommended fee was relatively reasonable - two bucks for 15 minutes. That's plenty of time to post that all important Twitter update.
The New York City-based marketing firm BBH partnered with a local homeless shelter in Austin - and handed out the hot spot devices to Clarence and the others as a quote, "charitable experiment" designed to give the less fortunate a chance to digitize the "street newspapers for sale" business model.
But critics immediately jump all over the campaign - calling it, among other things - shameful, patronizing, and de-humanizing.
If you're still breathing, it's not too late!
