Geek trends

Wi-Fi Users: Chalk This Way

The iconic sign in a storefront window along downtown San Francisco's busy Folsom Street is there to alert passersby to the presence of an available 802.11b wireless network. Its double-curve symbol is one of the few physical manifestations of this year's fastest-spreading tech fad: warchalking.

This is just too cool. One Day Soon I'll be getting a Wi-Fi card for my laptop. Having areas where it will function marked will make life easier. Of course, not all agree:

WiFi veterans say they don't see much use for the signs.

"You look for a Starbucks, you open up your laptop," said Matt Westervelt, founder of the SeattleWireless network. "It really is that easy."

Of course, I'm not in Seattle, and none of the Starbucks in my area offer Wi-Fi, so this is rather silly and pointless.

Of course, this could all be free advertising to M. Night Shyamalan's upcoming film, Signs.