Ask Slashdot: Making a Tablet Run Only One Application? 260
An anonymous reader asks "I'm working for a medical centre who want to make a tablet with various videos and webpages about smoking cessation available in their waiting room. The tablet can't access the Internet because of security policies. I'm planning to use a local server with copies of the (Creative Commons) videos and pages accessed through local webpages using the tablet's browser. How can I make only the browser be available to the tablet users? Ideas? Suggestions?"
easy. (Score:4, Insightful)
Easy if the tablet runs Windows or Linux. Much harder on other platforms. Maybe you should narrow the problem domain.
WAP Portal / VLAN (Score:4, Insightful)
Put it on a VLAN, and Make HTTP(S) Go straight to the web server and only the web server. There are portal WAPs that do just that. Securing the tablet from running anything else would be as easy as installing a custom version of CyanogenMod or similar. Heck even Apple might be able to make an iPad that did just that.
I'd also tether the thing to the room, or it will walk away.
On Android, replace the launcher app (Score:5, Insightful)
If using Android: create a replacement launcher app, set your new app as the default launcher, and... profit?
Why bother with a tablet (Score:5, Insightful)
I mean seriously - the first time someone thinks they can walk out the door with the tablet, it's gone. Don't think it wouldn't happen.
Why not instead just make a dvd with those videos and print out the text of the websites? You could have a small tv hooked up to a dvd player, have the dvd available to those interested, etc....
It wouldn't be as convenient to steal, and it is a technically easier way to set something like this up. Why are you going to such great lengths to make something more complicated than necessary?
Re:Curious... (Score:5, Insightful)
Please stop using technology for the sake of technology to increase my already outrageous healthcare costs.
Chrome/ChromiumOS (Score:5, Insightful)
http://www.chromium.org/chromium-os
The only app that runs is the browser, it is based on gentoo so you can install pam modules to meet your site requirements needs (ldap, kerberos, etc),
And it is designed so you can easily force an enterprise wide os refresh whenever you need/want.
Re:Curious... (Score:5, Insightful)
If the hospital management is being treated well by the tablet manufacturer, then why isn't the tablet manufacturer helping with a solution to lock down the tablet? Surely of anyone they should know best how to lock there own tablets down.
Re:DNS Hijacking (Score:5, Insightful)
Let 'em smoke. (Score:0, Insightful)
That's they way healthcare is heading anyhow.
Re:easy. (Score:4, Insightful)
Still won't keep people from exiting the browser and bumping around the system.
Well, if it's an Android tablet you could just create an app that acts as a replacement home screen. Just implement the appropriate intent and display a browser control to the user.
Re:easy. (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Curious... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Curious... (Score:2, Insightful)
Plus, it's healthcare; they have money to burn.
Ahh, another "Only in America" quote...
This guy does not want a tablet.. (Score:4, Insightful)
...he wants a digital photo frame with Wifi
and for security... unplug the dam server from the internet! if it's only serving local file then no bloooooody net access is required. ^_^
Simples!!!
Re:Curious... (Score:5, Insightful)
Is there a reason your organization wants this to be easy-to-steal-and-expensive tablets?
The hospital management is being treated well by the tablet manufacturer, who would very much like this hospital to become the envy of the `non-tablet' hospitals. Plus, it's healthcare; they have money to burn.
The reason the tablet manufacturer is throwing money/product at the hospital is because they know they don't have the right solution but want you to shoehorn it in anyway. Sometimes free is not the best solution.
Re:Curious... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:DNS Hijacking (Score:4, Insightful)
.... Nah that would never work.
Re:If you must use Android (Score:4, Insightful)
Because these discussions are much like talking to whining women: They are not looking for answers, but just to have your attention and sympathy.