tablets come with spyware / was: [WEB4LIB] Low-Cost Prototype OPAC System

[John Lolis]

Regarding what Ross had mentioned, we're exactly one of those places that has plenty of spare monitors, keyboards and mice.
 
In our situation, the library is about to undergo a major renovation, and the architectural design firm was recommending the use of all-in-one computers for the OPACs.  I advised against them because of price, over-performance and long term maintenance.  I also prefer being able to replace components as they fail, rather than having to replace an entire system (as would also be the case with tablets).
 
While I've toyed with the possibilities that tablets would offer, they would present too many issues for them to be practical for our needs (privacy notwithstanding).  The biggest issue is the size of the screen which would be a disadvantage to our patrons who have poor eyesight.  And while I must admit that I haven't looked into it, I would expect tablets to require a fair amount of software customization to achieve a suitably secure kiosk mode.
 
So for our purposes here, over all the other options, a single board computer like the APC or Raspberry Pi promises to serve us quite well.
 
pax.
 
John Lolis
Information Technology Manager
White Plains Public Library
100 Martine Avenue
White Plains, NY 10601

E-Mail: jlolis at wppl.lib.ny.us 
Tel: 1.914.422.1497
Fax: 1.914.422.1452

http://whiteplainslibrary.org/

>>> On 12/19/2012 at 9:17 AM, in message <CANnhVG-U+q5dT+fb6FnCbXdSPmssqcd5nQeGvAHtN0kHoqEkrw at mail.gmail.com>, "Brice, John" <jbrice at CCFLS.ORG> wrote:
As for the cost of using a Pi or some other Android based product the prices look like this. 

Cost of Board 28 to 55
Cost of 8 gig sim card 12
Cost of 19" monitor (HDMI) 95 ) I purchased this today at my local Wal_mart
USB Mouse Keyboard 15
USB extender 


On Wed, Dec 19, 2012 at 8:04 AM, Christian Pietsch <chr.pietsch+web4lib at googlemail.com> wrote:


Hi Cary,

interesting point! Unfortunately, using an Android or iOS tablet as a public
terminal is probably illegal in many countries, including all EU countries --
for valid reasons. The problem is that Google/Apple as well as many app
creators collect personal information from users.

In return for getting tablets at a subsidized price (the regular price),
libraries offering such tablets to their users would automatically hand over
detailed information about their users without their consent. Installing
spyware-free operating systems and software may be a way out. Firefox OS
(formerly Boot2Gecko) comes to mind. Are there other alternatives that run on
current tablets?

Don't get me started on e-book readers. Libraries lending them to patrons may
already aid and abet data crime/spying:
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304870304577490950051438304.html 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/booksblog/2012/jul/05/e-reader-spying-big-deal 

Cheers,
Christian


On Tue, Dec 18, 2012 at 03:52:34PM -0800, Cary Gordon wrote:
> That said, I think that taking this approach to building a kiosk,
> while it might be fun, is not all that efficient. My first choice
> would be an android tablet. You can buy a name brand 10" android
> tablet for about $200 and an off-brand for about $150 (thinking
> WalMart).
>
> I can't imagine putting together a package like that using an SBC for
> that price. Just the monitor would be more than that.


--
Christian Pietsch <http://purl.org/net/pietsch>
LibTec (Library Technology and Knowledge Management),
Bielefeld University Library, Bielefeld, Germany

============================


 

============================

To unsubscribe: http://bit.ly/web4lib

Web4Lib Web Site: http://web4lib.org/

2012-12-19
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://listserv.nd.edu/pipermail/web4lib/attachments/20121219/5b2bba16/attachment.htm>