New Linux-based Public Internet Terminal

[hw40]

I would like to know what forum members think of this concept. www.hotmouse.net I developed it over the last 15 months and now I'm testing the waters to see what the best way would be to introduce it to the market.

What challenges do you see for a concept like this to take hold, especially in rural, under-serviced areas?

 

[nic777]

Awesome

This is really great. The first 3 groups of people I can think of is goverment, NGO's working in the communities and the Shuttleworth Foundation as they like pushing tech in education.

The one challenge I can see is cost. You will probably need to look into sponsors if the cost is excessive

Good luck and please keep us posted.

 

[hw40]

Thanks!

Thank you for the positive feedback! At this stage it looks like we're sitting at around R15k +VAT per unit. For alarge number of nits, I'm sure we'll be able to bring the price down.

 

[labratza]

dam ok then and how many units are you going to be needing?

 

[Cadavre777]

hw40, there is only one thing missing.... sound! Adding a set oh headphones to the terminal with the option of using ones own headphones would be great (obviously at a greater cost to the person/company owning/leasing the terminal).

A good idea for protecting the cable of the heaphones, you could cover it with a metal sheath much like the ones used for bath shower heads. If you would like, I can recommend alternative companies for producing and powder coating the unit casings for you. This might help bring down the cost.

 

[hw40]

It does have sound (regular PC speaker), and I have considered what you're proposing, but for the first prototype I've decided to keep things as simple as possible.

Good idea though, thanks.

 

[hw40]

Does anyone know what constraints/threats exist in terms of running the OS from a flash memory?

www.hotmouse.net

 

[I am Penguin]

I would like to know what forum members think of this concept. www.hotmouse.net I developed it over the last 15 months and now I'm testing the waters to see what the best way would be to introduce it to the market.

What challenges do you see for a concept like this to take hold, especially in rural, under-serviced areas?

One constarint is WHERE to place it. Even ATM,s are stolen today for its valuable contents and a PC in a rural area would be exactlly the same. Get a BEE partner if required and sell it to Government/Schools.

 

[macxsanity]

I have seen a similar concept in the freestate about 3 years back in postnet offices...the initiative was government sponsored