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content:about [21/05/2013 01:47]
Andrew Bettison add long-term goal paragraph, move technical goals to roadmap |
content:about [21/05/2013 19:13]
Andrew Bettison add [More information] section, mention that SPI is non-profit |
| //“Mobile telephony for those in need.”// | //“Mobile telephony for those in need.”// |
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| The [[http://www.servalproject.org|Serval Project]] is a [[http://www.servalproject.org/about/the-team|small team]] of academics, contracted engineers and students in the Resilient Networks Lab of [[Flinders University]] in South Australia, developing revolutionary, free, open-source software for mobile telephones. It was founded by [[http://www.flinders.edu.au/people/paul.gardner-stephen|Dr Paul Gardner-Stephen]] and [[http://www.linkedin.com/in/romanachallans|Romana Challans]] in 2010 in response to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Haiti_earthquake|Haiti Earthquake]], and has received funding and equipment from [[http://www.servalproject.org/other/supporters|several supporters]]. The intellectual property in the Serval Project is held by [[:content:spi]]. | The [[http://www.servalproject.org|Serval Project]] is a [[http://www.servalproject.org/about/the-team|small team]] of academics, contracted engineers and students in the Resilient Networks Lab of [[Flinders University]] in South Australia, developing revolutionary, free, open-source software for mobile telephones. It was founded by [[http://www.flinders.edu.au/people/paul.gardner-stephen|Dr Paul Gardner-Stephen]] and [[http://www.linkedin.com/in/romanachallans|Romana Challans]] in 2010 in response to the [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Haiti_earthquake|Haiti Earthquake]], and has received funding and equipment from [[http://www.servalproject.org/other/supporters|several supporters]]. The intellectual property in the Serval Project is held by a not-for-profit incorporated association, [[:content:spi]]. |
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| The Serval Project aims to bring infrastructure-free mobile communication to people in need, such as during crisis and disaster situations when vulnerable infrastructure like phone cell towers and mains electricity are cut off. In practice, this means finding ways to make mobile handsets (like smart-phones) communicate without mobile cell towers, repeaters, Wi-Fi hot spots, or cables. | The Serval Project aims to bring infrastructure-free mobile communication to people in need, such as during crisis and disaster situations when vulnerable infrastructure like phone cell towers and mains electricity are cut off. In practice, this means finding ways to make mobile handsets (like smart-phones) communicate without mobile cell towers, repeaters, Wi-Fi hot spots, or cables. |
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| The main focus to date has been on developing the free **[[:content:tech:serval_mesh]]** to provide voice calls, text messaging and file sharing directly over Wi-Fi links between phones. The app communicates with distant phones via intermediate phones using [[:content:tech:mesh routing|mesh routing]], and uses strong [[:content:tech:crypto|elliptic curve encryption]] to guarantee privacy and identity even though some phones in the mesh network may not be trusted. | The main focus to date has been on developing the free **[[:content:tech:serval_mesh]]** to provide voice calls, text messaging and file sharing directly over Wi-Fi links between phones. The app communicates with distant phones via intermediate phones using [[:content:tech:mesh routing|mesh routing]], and uses strong [[:content:tech:crypto|elliptic curve encryption]] to guarantee privacy and identity even though some phones in the mesh network may not be trusted. |
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| The Serval Project also develops the **[[content:servalmaps:main_page|Serval Maps]]** app for Android which uses Serval Mesh file sharing to provide decentralised mapping. This is a useful situational awareness tool for emergency response teams. | |
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| The Serval Project is developing the **[[:content:meshextender:main_page|Serval Mesh Extender]]** device to overcome the range limitations of Wi-Fi on smart-phones and to extend Serval Mesh services to handsets other than just Android devices. This will allow more kinds of smart-phones to participate in the Serval Mesh. | The Serval Project is developing the **[[:content:meshextender:main_page|Serval Mesh Extender]]** device to overcome the range limitations of Wi-Fi on smart-phones and to extend Serval Mesh services to handsets other than just Android devices. This will allow more kinds of smart-phones to participate in the Serval Mesh. |
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| The Serval Project is cooperating with the [[http://oti.newamerica.net/commotion_wireless_0|Commotion Wireless]] project to integrate the Serval Mesh into the [[http://wush.net/trac/rangepublic|OpenBTS]] GSM base station, which will bring conventional GSM “feature” handsets into the mesh and will extend the reach and security of Commotion coverage by meshing its OpenBTS base stations together. | The Serval Project also develops the free **[[:content:tech:Serval Maps]]** which uses Serval Mesh file sharing to provide decentralised mapping. This is a useful situational awareness tool for emergency response teams. |
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| | See [[:content:activity:]] for more information about all the work and initiatives under way at The Serval Project. |
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| ==== Long term goals ==== | ==== Long term goals ==== |
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| The Serval Project's long term technical goals are set out in the [[:content:tech:]], under the "Not started" column. | The Serval Project's long term technical goals are set out in the [[:content:tech:]], under the "Not started" column. |
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| | ==== More information ==== |
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| | The [[:|Serval Project Wiki]] contains much more information, including: |
| | * [[:content:contact]] -- get in touch with a real person |
| | * [[:content:tech:]] -- index of all past, present and future technology |
| | * [[:content:activity:]] -- summary of who funds the Serval Project to do what for whom |
| | * [[:content:publications]] -- internal and external papers, reports, and articles |
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| | The http://www.servalproject.org/ web site is the Serval Project's main web presence. |
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