Here is a thread I started on knoppix.net about building a kiosk version of knoppix for public libraries. http://www.knoppix.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2534&highlight=
Here is a couple of quotes from me in that thread that sums it up: "In a library situation, you would not want your patrons to have use of all of the more powerful tools available on the Knoppix cd. Espically those who have some knowledge of how to use them. This would be a CD that would boot up into KDE and just have a browser and an office suite. Very basic setup just for a public access workstation. In the wrong hands with the default software included on the knoppix CD, it could be a huge security risk. I'm just thinking... browser, education software, office suite. Everything a public access workstation in a library needs, nothing more. I guess the problem would be preventing the smart ones from installing anything they want anyway into the ramdisk" =========== "The internet filter we have under control. We are using a hardware based filter at the router. The hard part will be bringing the distro down to it's basics for public use. Most of the patrons that use the comptuers have little to NO computer skills what so ever, but for some reason they feel the need to HAVE to use the internet. (I have seen people come in to do research for a report and want to find ALL of the info online, and have never heard of a search engine, and have barely used a mouse before!) Almost all of them have no computer at home. and CD burning is something that probably most have never done. Most people just want to come in and look up DragonballZ, the WWF, and print pictures of Rap artists from MTVs website. I have seen people come in to type up legal documents using Microsoft Creative Writer which is meant for 7 year olds. They also HATE it when you SHOW them the nice shiny book right next to them with the index that has all the answers about how to do everything in MS Word like "center" and "bold", they would rather you "do it for them" which I refuse. I will often explain to them how, and make them do it so they will learn something and take that knowledge with them. If I do it it for them, it does them no good. Now me personally as a Knoppix user, I think you have a great idea going, but as long as the patrons can get to the pokemon website, and print 50 copies of a picture of "puff daddy" that they swear they did't, the public will be happy. Sometimes I even think that if I did use Knoppix as a Kiosk, the CD would be stolen by the next day. (you laugh, but someone took my etherboot floppy out of my LTSP terminal that we use as a card catalog, and I had tape over the drive! Won't that be a nice surprise when they try to use a bootrom disk somewhere to save files on!) Sorry if this is harsh, it feels like a monday. I shouldn't be this cynical for 23 years old. " ========== Adam J. Melancon
