COMMUNITY groups have taken advantage of the Internet by setting up virtual communities to share information and ideas.

With wireless networks being the next great thing on the web horizon it is these kinds of organisations who could enjoy the biggest benefits

The computer industry has adopted a standard for wireless networks, which has been given the nickname "WiFi".

A typical WiFi network can cover several hundred metres. A base station is plugged into the telephone socket, which provides the Internet connection.

WiFi cards inside nearby computers talk to the base station over radio waves, allowing those computers to move about anywhere within the base station's reach.

This is a perfect system for a community group to set itself up as a base and allow local people to hook up to the service.

And with the growth of broadband Internet connection this always-on service is bound to have quiet times, and the capacity to allow many users to access the web at once.

The technology is not hard to set up, and already a few charitable people are setting up free local wireless networks for the benefit of their friends and neighbours.

One such place is the Kynance Wireless Node (www.benhammersley.com/wireless) where anyone living in, or just passing through, Kynance Place in London, is free to switch on their computer and use the bandwidth.

Seeing that the Internet is all about sharing things and cooperation, WiFi networks are just a natural progression for the web.