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Who's Fred Gilbert and What Does He Know about Wi-Fi?

February 22, 2006 BY Mark Evans

It turns out a new expert in Wi-Fi technology also spends his time running Lakehead University in Thunder Bay, Ont. Fred Gilbert, the university's president, has banned Wi-Fi on campus because he believes it potentially has “some fairly significant” health consequences based on some literature he's read. So Fred, what makes you think this research is so conclusive? You got any concrete evidence it's true? And what makes you such an expert when Wi-Fi networks are being established everywhere from hotels to hospitals? Just out of curiosity, Fred, what's your take on reports that cell phones cause brain cancer? It is somewhat ironic that at a time when “Wi-Fi Fred” bans wireless networks, Via Rail is launching Wi-Fi on it trains.

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  • Tris Hussey

    I guess he doesn't use cordless phones either … since it's the same spectrum.

  • Anonymous

    I hear you can fashion a helmet out of tinfoil to protect
    yourself from all of this.
    Tell Fred it works great for blocking unwanted government mind
    reading and brain scans as well :)
    Mike B

  • Stuart MacDonald

    Via has actually had wifi on some of their trains for quite a while now. In Via 1 cars, on at least some trains between Toronto and Montreal, anyway. It was a free beta for a while, then went to a paid service. It is awesome – sit there, with space, a plug, GPRS and wifi webtone? And a glass of wine? Sweetness.
    – Stuart

  • Tyler

    Took several decades before the effects of asbestos were understood. Takes more than 10 years for most cancers to show themselves in response to an environmental condition. Several credible studies, many out of Sweden, have looked at cell phone use 10 years or beyond and have found slight increases in certain cancers. Others have found effects on learning and conditions such as headaches.
    Most of us haven't used cell phones that long, let alone used Wi-Fi. Yeah, this guy is perhaps overly paranoid, but I wouldn't write off anybody as crazy until enough time has passed. BTW: Last week the city of Salzburg in Austria banned Wi-Fi in all public schools. So Fred ain't the only one concerned about kids. The Brits, having concluded that kids should limit cell phone exposure, have just launched their own study into Wi-Fi.
    I'm a big lover in wireless technologies, but I'm not about to completely dismiss potential long-term health issues related to electromagnetic frequencies just because the industry, and industry-funded studies, suggest it's safe. That said, we're so bathed in these frequencies that if a problem ever does emerge we'll all be doomed anyways.

  • Anonymous

    You are clueless.
    WiFi and Cellphones both run on radio waves. This is a fact. There is no debate in the scientific community about the fact that radio waves give you cancer.
    Radio waves will give you cancer in large enough doses.
    The only debate is how much. WiFi and cellphones emit very small amounts of radio waves and no conclusive resarch has been found that can prove that these small amounts are enough to give you cancer. That is the only point you can argue without showing your complete ignorance of the subject.

  • Tris Hussey

    And it looks like its made the International press …
    http://news.com.com/2061-11199_3-6042429.html?part=rss&tag=6042429&subj=news

  • Anonymous

    Just so you are made aware, Lakehead University does have a full time daycare in the middle of campus with dozens of children. They also host several summer-long science camps for kids.
    P.S. How long was it before they told people not to build under power lines?

  • Anonymous

    “So Fred, what makes you think this research is so conclusive? You got any concrete evidence it's true?”
    Any concrete evidence that it's not? Err on the side of caution, I say.