Internet-in-a-Box explained

Internet-in-a-Box is a low cost digital library, consisting of a wireless access point with storage, which users nearby can connect to. The hardware and software from which it is build has changed since 2012, as miniaturization of storage space and electronics progressed.[1] As of 2017, its hardware often consists of a Raspberry Pi with a replaceable storage card.[2]

In 2016, Columbia University's Masters in Public Administration in Development Practice (MPA-DP) explored using these boxes in the Dominican Republic for three months.[3]

Distribution of devices assembled by Wiki Project Med Foundation via the Wikipedia Store began in 2024.[4] What is shipped has a Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W with a 256 GB SD card which contains all of English and Spanish Wikipedia among other resources.[4]

Digital library

The digital library is composed of multiple modules; modules may be pre-installed, or users may choose which to install. Examples of modules include Wikipedia in a specific language, Wikipedia's Medical Encyclopedia, Khan Academy Lite, and OpenStreetMap.[3] [2] Other content includes Moodle, Nextcloud, MediaWiki, PhET (interactive mathematics and science simulations), TED Talks.[5]

History

The concept grew out of One Laptop per Child's school server project.[2]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Internet in a Box. Gaskill. Braddock. 2014.
  2. Web site: Watkins. Don. How to create an Internet-in-a-Box on a Raspberry Pi. Opensource.com. 14 August 2017. en.
  3. Web site: Internet-in-a-Box: Connectivity for the Rest of the World. 14 August 2017. 13 June 2017.
  4. News: Frauenfelder . Mark . Wikipedia's $58 gadget lets you access its entire library offline . 2 August 2024 . Boing Boing . 1 August 2024.
  5. Web site: How to create an Internet-in-a-Box on a Raspberry Pi . Opensource.com . en.