Warchalking is the practice of drawing chalk symbols to indicate the presence of a nearby wireless network. The symbols were influenced by hobo signs and include three designs to indicate open, closed, or encrypted networks. The concept was created in the UK in 2002 but has since lost popularity.
Warchalking is the practice of drawing chalk symbols on surfaces in public places such as sidewalks and walls to indicate the presence of a nearby wireless network. The design of these warchalking symbols was heavily influenced by the “hobo symbols” of the Great Depression era. The concept originated in the UK in 2002 and quickly gained popularity. Since then, warchalking has lost much of its luster, but the concept of using symbols to indicate the availability of Wi-Fi® hotspots hasn’t completely disappeared.
The warchalker’s arsenal includes only three distinct symbols, but these are enough to alert any passerby to the presence and installation of a nearby wireless hotspot. Two broken semicircles pointing in opposite directions indicate a fully open Wi-Fi® network, while a full circle indicates a closed hotspot that may require some form of payment or have other restrictions. A full circle with the letter “W” inside indicates an encrypted network. The service set identifier (SSID), a user-defined name that identifies the network, may be listed above the symbol, and the available bandwidth of the network may be listed below. All are meant to be drawn in chalk, forcing the community to reapply the markings with current information on a regular basis.
The concept of warchalking and the design of its symbols were heavily influenced by the hobo sign language used during the Great Depression. These symbols were simple signs to communicate the presence of a free lunch, danger or other general information among the tramps of the 1920s and 30s. The warchalking symbols were not taken directly from hobo sign language, but the stylistic influence is clear.
British information architect Matt Jones created both the concept and term warchalking in 2002. The term was a deliberate reference to “warwalking,” the act of walking around a neighborhood in search of Wi-Fi® signals. Within a few weeks, Jones’ idea had become something of a digital fad and was being shared across blogs and tech news sites. A community of warchalkers seemed to appear overnight; one entrepreneur has even designed a T-shirt inspired by the phenomenon.
Warchalking has since been mostly forgotten. Many of the grassroots movement websites have disappeared, and most of the chalk symbols themselves have vanished. In an age where wireless networks are ubiquitous, users don’t often need to waste time searching for a hotspot. However, the idea of using symbols to indicate the availability of Wi-Fi® service was not a complete failure; many bars, cafes and bookstores use stickers or signs to let customers know that wireless access is available.
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