Kosta providing a Human Right: Internet Access to the Entire World
Currently, 4 out of 5 people in the world do not have internet access. Kosta Grammatis plans to change that. Through A Human Right, the Global Internet Access Initiative, this Sandboxer has made it his mission to provide free internet access to 5 billion people. He has already shown his ability to execute on astounding projects such as Eyeborg. Kosta and Rob, his project partner, have embedded a video camera and a transmitter in a prosthetic eye. That eye is going in Robs eye socket, and will record the world from a perspective that’s never been seen before. You can check out his other work here.
The proposed network for internet access will fill in the coverage gap with a constellation of micro-satellites, ground stations, and end user devices. The idea is not new, but their perspective is, information can no longer come at a cost. The end result would be astounding: 5 billion disconnected people will have equal access to a ubiquitous, free, and reliable information service. Can you imagine a future where everyone on Earth has a voice?
As of 2009, 83% of the world is literate, and another 79% has access to electricity. These two factors are all that is required to make use of an information service. Unfortunately only 25.6% of the world has internet access. Kosta believes that every human deserves the right to make improvements to their condition by utilizing the great breadth of human knowledge available on the internet. After all, the future of a sustainable world depends on responsible decision-making made by a well informed human population.
By enabling 5 billion people with access to information tremendous improvements will be made in the following realms: resolving the information disparity, providing disaster relief, facilitating remote education and remote medicine, as well as encouraging democracy.
So what’s the plan? A Human Right is already working closely with NASA Ames, and an Australian company which has already started a satellite design to meet the demands of this project. Low cost satellites, inexpensive ground stations, and an end user device that turns into a wireless hot spot wherever it is set up, are all parts of the system they are designing. A pilot study to test new business models around this idea is currently underway in Nairobi.
While they have already built a global team of volunteers, donors, companies and advisers who are all pitching in, A Human Right is constantly looking for new partners to involve themselves. The beauty of this project is that it is all about connecting people all over the world. If you believe you can contribute, reach out to Kosta.
On the 7. July 2010 at 18:05 o'Clock
Congratulations- what an amazing vision. I think this could be one of the most proufoundly game changing moves since the industrial revolution if this vision could become a reality. If you achieve this, or even the PROMISE of it- all of a sudden smart phones and laptops will get even cheaper and now the reality would be not only be have access to it, but also have the tools to USE it. My company specializes in innovative HR and Business consulting Impact People Practices if you can send me your twitter links or Facebook page I would like to follow your progress! you can follow me @impatcresults or on my facebook page impactpeoplepractices
On the 12. July 2010 at 10:07 o'Clock
Twitter: @ahumanright
:)