[13835] in Public-Access_Computer_Systems_Forum
Re: Public Access Computer model
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Jamie Watson)
Thu Mar 29 20:13:43 2001
Date: Wed, 28 Mar 2001 13:21:01 -0500
From: Jamie Watson <jwatson@EPFL.NET>
To: PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU
Reply-to: Public-Access Computer Systems Forum <PACS-L@LISTSERV.UH.EDU>
Message-id: <3AC22B8D.81F1784A@epfl.net>
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I don't know that I have any advice, but I do have an opinion.
Do everything you can to get Shockwave, Quick Time, Real Player on your PCs.
Many children's sites need these plugins to work. Without them, either the site
won't load, or the box comes up to download the plugin. This confuses the
children who either open 10,000 windows trying to get away, or crash the
computer by attempting to download. Allowing these plugins allows the site to
work the way it is intended for those young ones who aren't savvy enough to
close a box or minimize a window.
Just my opinion, and one of my tallest soapboxes.
Jamie Watson
Electronic Resources Coordinator
Enoch Pratt Free Library
400 Cathedral St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410)396-5471
Rich Peters wrote:
> A committee I belong to for my local library system is presenting a model
> for a potential model to use on our public access workstations. Presently,
> because of a Gates Foundation grant, we offer machines running Windows NT
> with lots of network security. The software for the public includes Office
> 97 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), Encarta, Streets and Atlas (plus Magic School
> Bus and Barney games for children.)
> So far the only plug-ins for IE that we support are Real Player and Acrobat
> 4.
> I've asked these lists some of the same questions before. Some respondents
> mentioned allowing more plug-ins like Shock Wave.
> One product I'm really curious about is Deep Freeze, which enables you to
> install programs and change settings -- but when the computer is rebooted,
> it goes back to the original configuration. Sounds ideal!
> Are there any of you with ideas to share regarding programs, plug-ins,
> freeware, alternatives to the Microsoft suite, etc. -- or in regarding to
> what accessibility/limits the public has on the workstations?
> (Sorry for my egregious syntax -- am using VMS mailer and didn't want to
> type everything all over again.)
> Thank you,
> Rich Peters
> Amherst (NY) Public Library
> Buffalo & Erie County Public Library System
> (716) 983-7603
> PetersR@buffalolib.org
