In Region 2, one dilemma often leads to the next. We expect dilemmas to involve how to accept other people’s cultural norms and values when they are contrary to some of our own beliefs and views. We expect technical glitches and challenges.
We didn’t expect a techno-ethical conundrum.
One of my favorite philosophers/thinkers, Ken Wilber says that the evolution of people and history has involved a good news-bad news effect. In every age, the solution to one set of mankind’s problems opens up an entirely new set of problems.
For example, good news – we invented mechanization that allowed for dramatic advances in transportation and mobility which led to development of economies, new inventions and advances in the quality of life; bad news – people figured out how to use those same technologies to wage war in more devastating and unprecedented ways.
Here at the Keraleeyam Resort, the advent of WiFi technology created a highly unexpected good news-bad news effect.
Like most first-world exporters of technology, we didn’t see how advancing technological infrastructure could be bad. When we decided to purchase a WiFi router in town and give it to the hotel as a gift for them to keep when we’re gone, we thought that not only were we solving our problem, but we were helping the resort keep up with the times.
Of course, we knew better than to purchase without asking – so we had the very helpful gentleman at the computer shop call the nice people at Keraleeyam and explain both what a WiFi router is and our idea about donating one so that we could make use of it during our stay.
They said we could do that and were interested in his help for an installation. I was capable of installing it myself, so that never happened – but the fact that they were prepared to pay him for a professional installation seemed very positive.
In the process we learned that Keraleeyam’s plan to bring Internet to our bungalow didn’t involve transmitting their broadband from their office to our bungalow using a wireless antenna set-up, it involved using a CDMA wireless modem of the same kind we already possess. The problem is that it doesn’t get speeds here anywhere sufficient enough to work for Emily’s needs.
That also meant that we couldn’t install a WiFi router in our room to solve our issues. We would have to install one in the resort office with the signal extending to their dining room, lobby and gazebo area outside. That was better than nothing, so we went ahead.
When we returned to Keralaeeyam, we were welcomed to set up the router – which I did immediately. Emily asked them if they wanted us to create a security password for them or not. My initial assumption was that we were probably the only users and that none of the neighboring houses or hotels were close enough to pick-up the wireless signal – so a password wasn’t necessary.
George, the manager said that he would like a password. Then he asked if anyone could use the router. We happily told him they could if he wanted. George told us that they pay for their Internet data as they go – it’s not an unlimited package, so he doesn’t want just anyone to be able to use it. Just us.
So, we set up a password.
Just at that moment, a new arrival came to George asking for WiFi. He didn’t want to say he had it and told them it wasn’t working. Naturally, they would see the router signal on their laptop if they looked – but George didn’t understand that.
In the end, we were not asked to keep the WiFi a secret, but got the distinct impression, he would prefer no one know about it. I explained that he could give the password out as he liked – or not.
Then it happened. Emily’s computer couldn’t connect to the wireless router. Some conflict I couldn’t resolve kept it from logging in successfully. After 25 minutes of trying, I knew that it could all be solved by simply getting rid of the password.
Somehow, people kept arriving with laptops, inquiring about WiFi. Another couple wanted the same, but George made them use the office computer. No WiFi for them.
Meanwhile, Emily was up against a work deadline and only that broadband speed would do. I did what had to be done – I went in the office, got on their computer and dropped the security settings – no password necessary. Emily’s computer worked and the day was saved. For a minute.
While previously no one seemed to have computers – to the extent that the staff didn’t even know what WiFi was and we had to have a computer man in town call and explain it – yet another group found the WiFi with their son’s iPhone and asked Emily if she was connected to WiFi. She tried to dismiss him without answering. But a minute later he was Skyping a friend through his phone.
The whole thing was becoming a house of cards.
We decided that as soon as Emily was done with her work, I’d go back into the office – show the night desk-guy how the router works and what it is, because he’s their “tech” guy – and while doing it, restore the security settings back to password. We would either figure out the issue on Emily’s computer or she would rely on her USB modem since she had just finished her most data-demanding work for the week.
Only, the family with the kid who was Skyping on his iPhone settled into the office to use the Internet computer – which is the only way to access the router. They were still there at almost midnight and the night/tech guy said it was not big deal, I could show him tomorrow – and he urged me to call it a night. I have to reattempt tonight if things don’t take a bad turn beforehand.
But adding security protocols doesn’t entirely solve the problem. No matter what, people will see us sitting in the dining room or in the gazebo working. We won’t be able to hide that we’re online for hours at a time.
Further, George didn’t seem interested to sell WiFi usage. Most places charge an hourly or daily fee for wireless Internet. He could make up the costs in revenues. He’s seemingly uninterested.
Emily wondered if Keraleeyam doesn’t want to defend their status as an relaxing Ayurvedic resort by staying out of the laptop supporting, WiFi enabling business. After all, they don’t sell sodas or alcohol because that’s not in concert with their Ayurvedic approach. Maybe it’s the same issue.
I’m not so sure. Emily emailed in great detail about needing WiFi to work, asking about the speed, explaining what we do, and was very clear about everything. The responses – which we reviewed – indicate they understood and agreed to accommodate us with WiFi, in-room if possible and in-office if not. They said they already had it.
Clearly, someone was confused about something – and we think they just didn’t understand the difference between WiFi and a wireless/cellular modem. But if they didn’t want us sitting around their lobby and restaurant with our laptops where people could clearly see us use Internet, then why didn’t they just tell us they don’t offer Internet because they are an Ayurvedic resort? If they don’t want people tapping in to technology on site, then why not let us know in a nice way that we aren’t suitable candidates for their accommodation offerings?
I believe George just hasn’t thought it all through because he barely understands what WiFi is – and that if he’s at all smart, he’ll eventually want to charge people for usage.
Either way, we need to work and we can’t hide what we’re doing. So, others will ask and George will probably get queries if the flow of laptop-holders continues as it did today. Maybe it was a fluke – but these days, people travel with their netbooks, laptops and iPhones.
All of our thinking and discussing has led us to only one solution among the choices we see as viable. We’ll do what we said and put the security password in place. From there, it’s up to George what happens. We don’t really know what else makes sense. But we worry about him getting fed up and perhaps deciding this whole WiFi thing was a bad idea.
We’ve been so unnerved by the oddness and uncomfortability that we even considered looking for another place to stay – which would devastate us. But we don’t want to screw up these people’s business.
In the end, George and his team made choices and promises. We came because they said they had WiFi – the definition of which they could have looked up if they weren’t sure – and they emphasized that they understood our needs and would do everything they could to accommodate us in at least three different emails.
Still, Emily remains uncomfortable not sure what the real issue is.
No matter what, we need to do our work – which requires the high-speed WiFi. I feel that there is a solution they could employ if they are worried about costs. They could choose to make money off this technology and not only pay their Internet bill, but turn a profit – like so many hotels in India do. I’m somewhat okay with it because we haven’t left them without recourse if cost is their worry. And they are charging us an Internet surcharge.
Is it what they wanted? Is it what they understood? Is it what they meant? What exactly did they think and mean? We just don’t know.
We’ve decided to go to work, enjoy and hope that it all starts to settle down as smoothly as the Kerala backwaters on which the Keraleeyam sits.
Sent from my iPad
