Well, the idea so far is: get some computers with some (working!) modems, attach some acoustic couplers to the modems, point them at each other via two tin cans and a string, and see if they can communicate. Once they get working really well, start serving content (page counter, most likely) from the far machine to the web. How fun, eh?
OK, so we're going to try a few different types of cans:
Soup (Campbells Tomato), Beans (Busch's Baked), Cat food (Friskies Prime Filets Turkey Dinner in Gravy), soda (Diet Caffeine free Dr. Pepper), and maybe even a plastic cup or two.
I realize that not all of these are necessarily tin, but it's my project, I can do what I want to it.
And we're going to try a few different types of string:
Twine, kite string, guitar string, string bikini, string cheese (ok, maybe not the cheese)