proposal: Make internet connectivity easy

[ethanjli]

Motivation

Currently, it is not very easy for users to connect their PlanktoScope to the internet (especially if they're on a network which has a captive portal), and then connect their computer to their PlanktoScope at the same time. Right now the most consistently reliable configuration is to have the PlanktoScope connect by Ethernet to the internet, and then have the computer connect to the PlanktoScope's Wi-Fi hotspot; or have the PlanktoScope connect by Wi-Fi to the internet, and then have the computer connect to the PlanktoScope by an Ethernet cable (which means an Ethernet-to-USB adapter is usually needed nowadays).

Here are the instructions @tpollina currently provides to FairScope customers on how to keep the computer connected to the internet while it is connected to a PlanktoScope without internet access: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/12lxCvi8_ENIzSPSK5SkBxc61etsmspEb95nlM9cgH3Y/edit#slide=id.g117d1bef1bf_1_226

Proposal

We should figure out what changes to the PlanktoScope distro and/or PlanktoScope hardware kit and/or PlanktoScope hardware design would be needed to simplify the options we will provide users for being able to simultaneously:

1. Give their PlanktoScope access to the internet
2. Connect to their PlanktoScope from their computer
3. Keep their computer connected to the internet while it is connected to the PlanktoScope.

(TODO) I will write up a design document evaluating the possible approaches and their consequences, and recommending one or more approaches for us to focus on if this proposal is accepted. Approaches which have been raised so far include:

• USB tethering to share internet access
• Mobile phone Wi-Fi hotspot to share internet access from a phone
• Adding a Wi-Fi dongle to the PlanktoScope (so that the RPi has two Wi-Fi interfaces)
• Providing an ethernet cable and Ethernet-to-USB-C adapter

[ethanjli]

Update: I've written an analysis of the current situation and its challenges for users, as well as a preliminary analysis of the following options:

• include an Ethernet cable and Ethernet-to-USB adapter in PlanktoScope kits
• add software support for an optional USB Wi-Fi dongle, and include a dongle in PlanktoScope kits

My draft can be viewed at https://github.com/PlanktoScope/proposals/blob/c46a4756a5d2206579ac0ff7c4657e8f8437e6a8/design/00307-internet-connectivity.md