Okay this is another thought problem.
Proof of Concept:
The apocalypse has entered a second year (at least).
There are survivor groups with some technical know-how and enough security/stability to use it.
The lights around the world did go out.
There are no government agencies as of yet repairing land lines/fiber optics/satellites.
Your competent survivor group can produce enough additional power to allow for computing.
Okay that's the loose rules of the idea. But questions start rolling immediately for me...
Would computing serve any purpose? If so, what? I can think that old computers could be treasure boxes of data to help rebuild societies.
Could a communications network, wired or wireless, (even one of only a few miles, but better than pigeons and smoke signals) be resuscitated?
Would satellites still function? Would they be of any use?
How much surge-protecting (or whatever else) do you need to do to run a computer off of a non-traditional power source?
The only positive I can see from the Zed foe, is that they wouldn't specifically try to trash the infrastructure. So transmission lines, stations, etc. could still be standing. I just don't know if small groups of people could get enough of it going.
I messed with Texas. |
I think the satellites would still be running because they don't run on batteries, they run on solar panels and are located in space. A satellites function is to bounce data back and forth, but they need a command center of some sort to tell it when and where to send the data most of the time. I am not sure how affected NASA would be in the event of a zombie outbreak. Satellites would not need repair unless something in orbit (meteor) hit it and destroyed vital components, or if it just "fell" out of orbit. GPS positioning systems may still work as well as satellite based phones. Heck, it's worth a shot.
The purposes a computer could serve would be many of the same they serve now. Documentation, Organization, Planning, and Teaching.
Wireless communications have are not really wireless when it comes to being in the home. To be clear, the router sends the "wireless signals" but it has to be connected to a network on a land based line.
Small radio stations are not run by that many people, usually a small skeleton crew with playback loops for to fill time slots.
"They drew first blood not me..." (Stallone in Rambo: First Blood)
I know next to nothing about this but if someone managed to resurrect a major server it could serve with information that would help us recover lost knowledge. Im sure not many of the already few brain surgeons will survive the big Z and so we will need such knowledge to get ourselves back into the golden age of humanity.
Also if several such working hubs could communicate in even a small distance like 100 km apart ir could easily mean the difference between life or death.
Cause wearing a tux during Z-Day will make me look good and die trying.
A small server would be sufficient store data for up to about 200 - 250 computers! We could easily establish a 'Personal' network for the survivor group with outposts scattered over a small town (3-4 miles in diameter) using simple old laptops or desktop pc's (windows vista not included) we could set up a 'chat room' sort of thing where survivors can communicate to discuss issues on supplies etc. Its a very simple task if you have the right people!
Charged - The MC wannabee Ninja
There was a cool device that I saw on the internet a while back that would allow all of us to stay in touch throughout the outbreak. It uses a ham radio and a computer. It creates a chat room so people can write back and forth. I think that this would be a great computer tool to have. You could also connet security devices to a computor. You could controle your safehous through it. You could do things like turning on the lights panning a camer, tirgering an alarm ect.
Have a nice day!
I like knives.
I'm a cat! MEOW
First and foremost let me address power.
Most areas in the USA (as far as im aware) will have some personally owned solar and windmill generators. These require little maintenance and usually have batteries that they charge up to store power. As for natural gas, coal and nuclear reactors I do not know how many people or how stable they are to run/start up. otherwise you could use something like an alternator and a power converter on a water wheel as a small generator as I think using a gas generator wold be too costly in gas.
Second you have satellites I think Chillbert covered it pretty well but Ill throw in my 2 cents.
Most satellites are owned and operated by major corporations and unless you are a damn good hacker with a good sized dish you wont be able to get a hold of them short of going to the corp building and taking them from there. Alot of these satellites have programing on board them to self correct but they need constant updates from ground based stations to stay on course and to stay in the sky. I think that half of the satellites will fall out of the sky within the first year of Z-day. How long was it that the Russian Sputnik stayed in orbit? 90 days?
Third you have Computers.
Yes they would be useful if you could get them up. How many people are there that know how to set up a internet server? Lots let me tell you I know of at least 3 and I'm willing to bet Elliot has a good idea on how to do it too. with a server for your base you can let people communicate allot faster without havening to install phone lines and switchboards. With computers and a server put up you can do lots of things like putting up learning courses, build battle and raiding plans, make a base layout (if you have a large base) so people know where things are and don't get lost, share growing technics. besides all that you have military manuals that you can put on there so that people can look up how to maintenance weapons and vehicles as well as learn tactics for when they go on raids. If you can get your hands on a satellite you can put this on the internet (witch im sure wont have shut down entirely) of make your own internet if the net went down completely.
Will you hold me back? If need be I will leave you behind...
this is an excellent post.
short wave radios and walkie talkies work as long as they have power, wether it be batteries or whatever... but if mankind survived the holocaust they would have to reclaim control quickly, before too many resources ran out... if we can't do that then we're stuck until the last of the infected is killed.
but, to be completely realistic, would there be a terrible amount of use for electronics when the earth is overrun? it seems like we'd revert back to the primitive and start over... i don't see why not... it obviously has worked before.
krupt
How much information was lost during the FIRST dark age? Wasn't the library of Alexandria burned during the crusades? What about the ones we know nothing about? No, Ill pass on reverting technology it would make allot of things (like future space travel) take allot longer to develop then is needed and more then likely with poorer results.
Will you hold me back? If need be I will leave you behind...
I believe that libraries are going to be of extreme importance and luckily there are three of them not too far from my current position.
On a lighter note, could you imagine the overdue charges for a book that got borrowed before z-day?
"They drew first blood not me..." (Stallone in Rambo: First Blood)
On a lighter note, could you imagine the overdue charges for a book that got borrowed before z-day?
Ouch... I think you should have gotten the movie.
oh it'll get you somewhere, it'll get you bait
i think a small laptop would be useful for holding tons of stored knowledge . all in one compacted form. if you get one with the bigger power source they can g be on for 9hours or longer with out charging. they charge when there off. so if need be you can find a simple printer power it and print out what you need when you can. and laptops use less energy than desktops. im kinda waiting till i have more resources then im gonna make a way for me to power my laptop with a bike generator or something see if i can make it work.