Do you live in a rural community? If you do, odds are you wish you had a better Web connection. One of the downsides of living in the country can be poor Internet service - just ask this guy in upstate New York. One possible solution to the problem is surprisingly non-technical: sheep.
That's right. People living in rural communities might be able to use sheep to boost their Wi-Fi connections. The idea is the brainchild of Professor Gordon Blair from Lancaster University in the U.K. Blair is trying to bring the "Internet of Things" to a rural area, and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council has given him the equivalent of $267,090 to fund his mission.
The Internet of Things refers to integrating Web-enabled gadgets into everyday life, like smart thermostats, wearables, smart security sensors, smart TVs, smart appliances and more.
Usually this idea conjures thoughts of high-tech cities, but Blair thinks it can help rural areas, too. And, the Wi-Fi sheep could be a big part of the plan.
"The possibilities of bringing the Internet of Things to the countryside are limitless."
Next page: Find out how Wi-Fi sheep work