Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video] • Hacker News Board

Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#61

Post by Retrograderz » Fri, Jul 31, 2015, 3:55 AM UTC

forgetsusername wrote: post #49

roymurdock wrote: post #45

There's an interesting phenomenon where people in developing countries begin to think that Facebook is the full extent of the internet: Indonesians surveyed by Galpaya told her that they didn’t use the internet. But in focus groups, they would talk enthusiastically about how much time they spent on Facebook. Galpaya, a researcher (and now CEO) with LIRNEasia, a think tank, called Rohan Samarajiva, her boss at the tim…

> think that Facebook is the full extent of the internet: My mother wanted to "get on the internet" because of the Facebook phenomenon a few years ago. Now she thinks Facebook is the full extent of the internet. Googling something or visiting a "homepage" is completely foreign to her. She'll search in the Facebook bar or ask questions in her feed if she's looking for information. Now she has a smartphone, and outside…

Most likely she just prefers it that way.

Sure, could Google search, but Facebook search is right there plus she likes it.

Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#62

Post by darawk » Fri, Jul 31, 2015, 4:25 AM UTC

dylanjermiah wrote: post #50

dropit_sphere wrote: post #42

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't think that's true. We can substitute (no internet + desire for internet) in for the right side, and I think that's better than (some internet + lessened desire for full internet)

You are assuming a lessened desire, why? There are no perfect options, only trade offs. FB can provide a service, and if people don't use it, fine. But, let them decide.

Ya, there's nothing wrong with them providing this service. They just shouldn't be heralded as providing some great charity, I think that's all people are saying.

If they were providing full internet, that would be an incredibly charitable, generous, and positive thing. As it stands, it's just another business venture - which is fine, but not great.

Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#63

Post by melling » Fri, Jul 31, 2015, 4:31 AM UTC

oscargrouch wrote: post #59

melling wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Internet.org isn't for only Facebook, right? So, the question is are you an idiot or a troll?

Oh you are right, Facebook plus a bunch of friends right? But thats the "internet" right? Facebook just added some sites, so people couldnt say "but its just Facebook" guess what.. people are not stupid, it is just facebook, and something else so we can think that is not "just facebook" But if you think is right to train people that are not used to the internet that the internet is facebook, just for the facebook´s s…

People do have the option of not using it. Giving people nothing without a say in the matter seems wrong. Other organizations are free to bring more of the Internet. Google is working on solutions too. It seems wrong to criticise others when you are offering nothing better.

Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#64

Post by PakG1 » Fri, Jul 31, 2015, 4:36 AM UTC

So Facebook is the new AOL/Compuserve in some places. Did AOL die because people prefer the full open Internet, or did AOL die because it was too limited? Either way, history will likely repeat itself. Are people on this thread really worried that as things develop, people won't want to reach outside of the wall garden eventually? I think they will naturally.

Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#65

Post by cpach » Fri, Jul 31, 2015, 4:38 AM UTC

kuschku wrote: post #51

qmalxp wrote: post #44

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why don't we ask the people who currently have no internet what they'd prefer?

Disclaimer: I am only a young person in Germany, but used the 0.facebook.com service (facebook for free) here for almost 10 years. Result: Yes, some internet is better than no internet. Nowadays, where I stopped using facebook mostly, I just buy like the tiniest data package my provider supports, wait for it to throttle to 64kbps, and just use IRC, the web without JS, etc.

More like 5 years, right? :-p

https://www.facebook.com/notes/facebook/fast-and-free-facebo...

Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#66

Post by xanderstrike » Fri, Jul 31, 2015, 4:52 AM UTC

melling wrote: post #54

sokoloff wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it better or worse than simply: NO CARRIER I argue it's better.

People aren't even considering that once it becomes a solved problem, the next company that wants to do it gets the knowledge for free. Figuring out the engineering also has value. Other uses for autonomous solar airplanes? Delivering medicine and supplies to remote areas?

> Other uses for autonomous solar airplanes? Delivering medicine and supplies to remote areas?

Or even, say in five to ten years when the cost of the technology drops, delivering unrestricted, high speed internet to hundreds of millions of people.

Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#67

Post by kytmizuno » Fri, Jul 31, 2015, 5:01 AM UTC

panic wrote: post #16

This is not an effort to provide the full internet. See this critique by the EFF for more details: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/05/internetorg-not-neutra...

According to the project lead:

"Maguire told Quartz that the company intends to provide “the full internet,” but also noted that it will work with network operators’ bandwidth needs and business models."

http://qz.com/468376/facebooks-internet-beaming-drone-is-rea...

Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#68

Post by adventured » Fri, Jul 31, 2015, 5:08 AM UTC

Zelphyr wrote: post #52

jmstout wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What if it's the other way around? What if the smart and passionate folks at Facebook really do just want to get the internet to the rest of the world, and this is the way they can justify doing so? They are a public company, after all. They have to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities to shareholders, or at least appear to do so...

They have to fulfill their fiduciary responsibilities to shareholders And those shareholders get priority over EVERYONE else in the chain. What the investors want, the investors get.

In the case of Facebook, no they do not.

First, that's a myth. There is no legal fiduciary responsibility to shareholders beyond the basics required by the SEC (which does not cover anything to do with maximizing profits et al).

Second, Zuckerberg controls Facebook. He has less realistic responsibility to the shareholders than almost any other CEO of a big public corporation in US history. The dual class share structure ensures he is able to ignore shareholder concerns and pressure that most other CEOs simply cannot.

Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#69

Post by Onochie » Fri, Jul 31, 2015, 5:55 AM UTC

I believe that as facebook gains the territory, so does Instagram, messenger, WhatsApp, and every other acquired product. So the plan isn't really to just deliver internet service but to buy up the social world in the area without competitors. Since about 1.49 billion of the 1/3 of the internet enabled regions use one of Facebook products even with the competitions, it's evident that this project would triple their impact.

Re: Facebook completes construction of first full-scale aircraft, Aquila [video]

#70

Post by trhway » Fri, Jul 31, 2015, 6:05 AM UTC

multiple months on station - dream come true for data acquisition in a lot of civilian and not very civilian applications. Like a platform for that gigapixel/Argus continuously recording everything happening in the city. Almost not existent noise and IR signature, and with carbon fiber construction i'd suppose very low radar cross-section. It can toil for months near China/Russia/etc. airspace listening/watching/etc. Or electronic CAP/AWACS kind of mission during peace time over aircraft carrier group. Sky isn't even the limit :)