Panorama's "Wireless in schools" Program 8:30 Tonight

[pete]

Yes it's laughable, but we'll get questioned by parents. So it's probably worth a look just to pick apart the flaws in their arguments.

 

The crux of their argument so far appears to be "er... in one school, we found a strong wifi signal by dubious methodology - could you all panic please?"

 

For bonus points they include interviews from the pressure group "Mast Sanity" - obviously a bastion of fair and balanced arguments.

[Netwacky87]

Hmmmmm yeah i was reading this in the paper on my way to work, will be an interesting thing to watch....

[plexer]

Saw it advertised after last week's scientology one and on the radio this morning.

 

It looked as if some of it will include the community wifi network in Norwich.

 

Studies may habe been done on gsm and not wifi networks but what was the outcome?

 

Ben

[Mr_T]

Hmmm duck and cover time. At the end of the day the emmisions fall below the UK's safe level. But doubtless we will have some questions from the staff to answer.

[mattx]

We're All DOOMED !!! We're All DOOMED !!!!

 

I'm expecting lots of knee jerk reactions tomorrow..........

[petectid]

This whole issue in schools has arisen due to concerns voiced by one of the Teaching unions after a teacher became ill, there had recently been fitted nearby a wireless access point?

[Mr_T]

Its funny how thay have just directed this at schools as so many people have wi fi at home.

[localzuk]

Woo! More FUD to cloud the average parent's judgement!

[craiglay]

http://new.edp24.co.uk/content/news/story.aspx?brand=EDPOnline&category=News&tBrand=EDPOnline&tCategory=news&itemid=NOED21%20May%202007%2007%3A56%3A54%3A240

 

Oh Dear.... At the end of the day, i'm happy sitting close to my laptop / wifi AP's, i wouldn't be so happy that close to a mobile phone mast.

 

Until a study comes out proving they're dangerous, i'll rely on my good health

 

Craig

[CyberNerd]

Our WiFi's nothing but a PITA, I'd love an excuss to turn it off.

[bishopsgarthstockton]

Get in!..... staright after Eastenders

[tosca925]

Get in!..... staright after Eastenders

 

 

[apeo]

Dont think it will come up anything tangible or factual.. will have alot of 'Maybe','Probably','Likely'.... Thats my guess but I would be quite happy to get rid of wireless as it can be so annoying. We've just had a week of online test... getting 30+ laptops in a couple of rooms to work via wireless isnt a fun game. Even though we got it working quite well.

[apoth0r]

That's the kind of spin we've learnt to put up with under the Labour government

[GrumbleDook]

Stock response to this is ...

 

"We have not come across any studies or evidence to show it is harmful in the short or long term, but we are also aware that schools are not the only place that students and teachers will come across wireless signals. A lot of fast food joints have wireless hot spots, as do hotels, and hospitals, and let us not forget the wireless routers you get from your ISP such as the BT Home Hub."

 

Ah ... but there could be a problem .. we just haven't found evidence yet ... so we should turn it off if there is a risk.

 

"Fine ... you are right ... if there is a risk we should turn it off. Let me also turn off the Sun and move the Moon to a safe distance away, after all .. that affects the weather patterns and who knows what it will cause next ... and we will tell the comets that they cannot come anywhere near us anymore ... and while we are at it ... fire ... definitely unsafe ... should be banned ..."

 

Teachers are used to my sarcasm now ...

[dave.81]

Any idea's on the baisis of their arguement want to know for when the smart sods come and tell me i'm killing them lol

[bishopsgarthstockton]

there not die'ing any quicker in my opinion muhahahaha

[CyberNerd]

The basis of the argument is that there in no evidence of health effects, and that research should be done to prove/disprove that there are no health effects.

 

The only possible 'conspiracy' explanation that I can think of, is that microwaves could cause chemical reactions to occur in the body which would not happen without the microwaves. It's far fetched. A form of chemistry called microwave-assisted organic synthesis uses microwaves (on an epic scale, far in excess of WiFi) to create a localised dielectric heating effect to give high yields and reduced reaction times for certain reactions. IMO the worst you'd get from WiFi is a virtually unmeasurable increase in temperature.

[Andrew_C]

I've said it before:- I'd rather sit 1m away from a WiFi node, than a kilometre from a 1MW TV transmitter!

[GrumbleDook]

There is also some worry that the microwaves may 'change' the growth patterns of the neurological network of people in 'at risk' catagories including children, those on hormone therapy or those on drug based cancer therapy.

 

It is theoratically possible that it could have an effect but there is no evidence yet to substantiate the point.

 

THe same way that we know that there 'could' be an element with an atomic number of 3004, but proving it and the effects it would have on the universe would be difficult.

[bossman]

It doesn't matter if they have no real hard technical evidence to support this claim as the people involved are scare mongers. They rely upon the media to exploit the loophole in the law to furnish the everyday person with what might seem a catastrophe in the making.

 

But it is the so called educated person who will pick up the ball and start running with it. They will then explain it to the not so educated person who will then exploit the "where there is blame there is a claim" syndrome. We as a nation have become so Americanised we can almost watch ourselves ten years into the future just by taking a look at America and they way it has gone.

 

Where has all the decent common sense thinking gone I ask? or is our government so taken by the American way of life that we are condemned to go their way.

 

Anyway to get back onto topic I say "ban all forms of IT" and lets live in the dark ages once more. :twisted:

(My apologies for going off Topic)

[mrforgetful]

See I don't like Wireless anyway so anything to stop it taking off I welcome.

[webman]

The frequencies used on TV transmitters are a lot lower than the frequencies used in Wifi.

[Mr_T]

See I don't like Wireless anyway so anything to stop it taking off I welcome.

 

You dont like being able to take your laptop into the garden, bed or whereever in your house and being able to get on your home network/internet? Whats wrong with you man!!

[mrforgetful]

I don't have a laptop...