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

[Cary Gordon]

Wow. This started out as an inquiry about coming up with a low-cost
OPAC kiosk, morphed into a discussion of tablet spyware, and, like
Voyager (the spacecraft, not the ILS) it seems to be headed to a new
solar system.

I am not commenting on the content of the last post. This is just a
note to myself to wear a helmet when trying to follow these threads.

Cary

On Mon, Dec 24, 2012 at 9:28 PM, Richard Wiggins
<richard.wiggins at gmail.com> wrote:
> I've watched this discussion with interest.  It seems that libraries are
> searching for a role in this age of laptops and tablets and such.
>
> In my opinion, the role of a public library is to provide access to
> information.  It is not to be cool or current.  Therefore IMHO it is great
> to provide Wi-Fi.  It is foolish to seek to provide the latest devices for
> checkout.  Let the patrons bring their own devices, and provide them USB
> power and a comfortable place to sit.  Offer an old-fashioned PC with
> Internet access for those who lack fancy hand-held devices.  Leave them, as
> it were, to their own devices.
>
> As to content, I think that is a different discussion, but once again, the
> role is basic access, not trying to be Best Buy on the fly.
>
>
> 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
>>
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>>
>> 2012-12-19
>
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> 2012-12-25



-- 
Cary Gordon
The Cherry Hill Company
http://chillco.com

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2012-12-26