Sorry for not getting a post up yesterday. It’s been a very hectic week of projects, presentations and travel. I did, however, want to share an experience that just truly blew my mind:
I’m currently staying in a hotel with the typical “free wi-fi” amenity. Now let’s ignore the fact that “free wi-fi” typically means “wi-fi that doesn’t work or is embarrassingly slow” and focus instead on an unbelievable hotel policy that makes their “free wi-fi” entirely and utterly useless.
As tends to happen in smaller, old hotels, wi-fi networks crash – a lot. Been there. Done that. Doing it tomorrow. All that’s typically required to fix the problem is a quick phone call to the front desk asking them to reset the network.
Thirty seconds later, you’re back up an running.
But what happens when the reset button is located in the locked “money counting room” (as the night desk clerk described it) where only senior management and ownership can access it?
What happens when the likelihood of a network crash is at its greatest during the peak usage hours of 6 – 9 pm, well after senior management and ownership has gone home for the night?
What happens when the network crashes 3 times in less than 24 hours?
I’m sure ownership has some very sound and logical rationale for putting their network reset button in a locked room accessible only to themselves (likely for some perceived rather than actual increase in security), but such policy is utterly unworkable for the day-to-day runnings of an old hotel in a major city.
I’m sure Rube Goldberg would be proud.
At best, policy crafted in a space devoid of implementation and practice is useless. At worst, it can disrupt the natural processes and flows we’ve all come to know and rely upon.
3 Comments
Well here is the trick. The wireless routers are very often installed in the corridor. I just routinely reset them either by pressing the button or pulling the plug before i even enter my room. Mostly i pass by the wifi router on the way to the room so little extra time is needed. And its faster than to discuss with hotel staff.
If i run a hotel i just would reset the devices every 30 minutes. The hotel staff should be bothered with the wifi at all.
You’re my hero. That’s awesome.
And how about 3G-technology using UMTS? Anytime, anywhere – flexible and independent. A tutor at university showed me back in 2005, when it was brand new. He accessed the network of the compny he was working in literally from anywhere. Since around 2007 all the mobile phone companies here in Germany offer low cost solutions for 3G as well.