Hi Dave,
If you've got multiple MACs and could run one application per MAC, then
replacing the X Window Manager in MAC *cough* FreeBSD *cough* OS X with
a script to launch your application (and reboot if it fails) is a
simple way to achieve this. As long as it's just touchscreens (i.e., not
keyboards) this should suffice.
I would have liked to let you know exactly how to do this except the MAC
I'm typing this on is running Ubuntu, not OS X. If you weren't using
proprietary application frameworks (Flash, Director) it would be a lot
easier as you could simply re-compile a suitable locked-down Linux distro.
Regards,
James
On Thu, 10 Jul 2008, Dave Patten wrote:
> Date: Thu, 10 Jul 2008 15:02:39 +0100
> From: Dave Patten <[log in to unmask]>
> Reply-To: Museums Computer Group <[log in to unmask]>
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: [MCG] Using Apple Macs in exhibitions
>
> Thanks to everyone who has replied so far.
> Just to clarify, I am running stand alone applications not web apps or
> pages so I am NOT using a browser.
> Tony - I had found the Apple pages and thought they would provide the
> solution but the links to the demo apps no longer work, I contacted Apple
> about that but have had no response.
>
> Dave
>
>
> Dave Patten
> Head of New Media
> The Science Museum
> Exhibition Road
> London
> SW7 2DD
>
> Tel: 0207 942 4864
> Web: www.sciencemuseum.org.uk
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Timothy Furmston
> Sent: 10 July 2008 14:47
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Re: Using Apple Macs in exhibitions
>
> On 10/07/2008 13:39, "Tony Crockford" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>
>> On 10 Jul 2008, at 13:11, Dave Patten wrote:
>>
>>> Hello,
>>>
>>> I am about to install some Macs in an exhibition at the Science
>>> Museum (the first Macs we have used for about 8 years!) and am
>>> looking for advice on the best way to lock the computers down so that
>>> the public can only access the exhibit program and that if the
>>> program crashes that they have no access to the underlying operating
>>> system and filing system. I know their are a number of ways of doing
>>> this and I just wondered what peoples expereinces were - how do you
>>> do this and why do you do it in a particular way.
>>> The Macs are running Flash and Director based applications under OSX
>>> 10.5
>>> (Leopard) and are controlled via a tocuhscreen.
>>
>> I assume you've worked through this:
>> http://developer.apple.com/technotes/tn2002/tn2062.html
>>
>> see also:
>> http://haoli.dnsalias.com/Saft/index.html
>>
>> which will imbue Safari with Kiosk mode
>>
>> Are the macs using standard keyboards or housed in kiosks or something
>> else?
>>
>> we generally use something like these for added security:
>> http://www.amplicon.co.uk/IPC/product/Rugged-Kiosk-3737.cfm
>>
>> the fewer function keys the better!
>>
>>
> Try taking a look at a browser called iCab (free to download).
>
> http://www.icab.de/
>
> It has an inbuilt kiosk mode with an addition preference panel to set it
> up.
> The setup is quite simple and quick but is also very good at automatically
> disabling 'features' which preferably should not be active.
>
> Within system preferences trying taking a look at the universal access
> keyboard shortcuts which can sometimes be activated using certain keys.
> Also within SP there is the option to use parental controls which can be
> set to only allow certain applications to be run under specified
> circumstances.
>
>
> ------------------------
> Timothy Furmston
> IT Officer
> The Whitworth Art Gallery
> University of Manchester
>
> **************************************************
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>
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