Welcome!

Open Source Authors: Bruce Johnston, Colin Walker, Reuven Cohen, Timothy Fisher, RealWire News Distribution

Related Topics: Open Source

Open Source: Article

Open Source & Katrina: Project Launched to Set Up Free Public Firefox Web Stations

Older Computers, Pentium 2 Level or Above, Can Run as Internet Access Computer Stations (or Kiosks)
By Open Source News
Article Rating:
September 4, 2005 03:00 AM EDT
Reads:
 24,103
A project has been launched by Linux developer Steve Hargadon with the goal of helping create a grass-roots network of independent organizations and individuals who can create and run free public web stations for those made homeless by Hurricane Katrina.

On his website, www.PublicWebStations.com, Hargadon writes:

"Hurricane Katrina has left individuals and families with urgent needs, and relief agencies will work hard to prepare food, clothing, and shelter for them. However, a huge number will be unable to return to their homes for weeks or even months. Free, readily-available public access to the Internet can provide a crucial lifeline for them during this time. This website project shows you how to do that with older, easy-to-find computers."
All the equipment needed to set up a public web station, Hargadon contends, is:
  • A Functioning computer with 128 Megabytes of RAM, a CD-ROM drive, video card(if not integrated into the motherboard), and ethernet card(or integrated).
  • A Monitor
  • A Keyboard and Mouse
  • A working internet connection and CAT5 cable
  • A burnt CD with the special DSL Linux which will boot to Firefox

    • Further details can be found here: http://www.publicwebstations.com/howto.html.

    The site has a screenshot of what a Web station screen will look like. It is sponsored by Hargadon Computer, Inc., whose "Technology Rescue" program evangelizes the benefits of the Open Source software movement and the re-use of computer technology.








    Published September 4, 2005 – Reads 24,103
    Copyright © 2005 SYS-CON Media, Inc. — All Rights Reserved.
    Syndicated stories and blog feeds, all rights reserved by the author.

    More Stories By Open Source News

    Enterprise Open Source News Desk trawls the fast-growing world of Professional Open Source for business-relevant items of news, opinion, and insight.

    Comments (1) View Comments

    Share your thoughts on this story.

    Add your comment
    You must be signed in to add a comment. Sign-in | Register

    In accordance with our Comment Policy, we encourage comments that are on topic, relevant and to-the-point. We will remove comments that include profanity, personal attacks, racial slurs, threats of violence, or other inappropriate material that violates our Terms and Conditions, and will block users who make repeated violations. We ask all readers to expect diversity of opinion and to treat one another with dignity and respect.

    Most Recent Comments
    Enterprise Open Source Magazine 09/03/05 10:59:27 PM EDT

    Linux & Katrina: Project Launched to Set Up Free Public Internet Access Computer Stations
    A project has been launched by Linux developer Steve Hargadon with the goal of help create a grass-roots network of independent organizations and individuals who can create and run free public web stations for those made homeless by the hurricane Katrina.