| Katrina public web kiosk project wants volunteers |
Sep. 02, 2005
[Updated Sept. 5, 2005, 12:20 PM] -- A Linux developer is organizing volunteers for a public "web station" project to assist Hurricane Katrina victims. Steve Hargadon's plan is to create numerous Linux-based public kiosks that boot directly into the Firefox browser and display a special home page with links to various services. In addition to offering disaster relief information and news, the kiosks will provide basic email capabilities via Yahoo!, Gmail, Earthlink, MS Hotmail, and other web-mail services.
A typical public kiosk installation
(Photo courtesy Steve Hargadon)
Hargadon has already launched www.publicwebstations.com, which explains the simple process of setting up a public web station. Through DIYparts.org, Hargadon plans to coordinate the aggregation and distribution of computer equipment needed to create ad hoc thin client networks and other communication centers that will assist and support the public webstations project.
What is needed
"Some of us on ... have computer equipment we want to get rid of. Some of us have media access. Some of us have programming skills. Some of us have bandwidth. Some of us contacts in the business community. Some of us are active in LUGs (Linux User Groups). Some of us know fundraisers or are in the position to be financial donors. This is an opportunity to show the power of open source code and community," volunteer Christian Einfeldt said in an email.
"Older computers, Pentium 2 level or above, can run as a Firefox web station (or kiosk), requiring only 128MB of RAM, a CD-ROM drive, a network card, and access to an Internet-connected network," Hargadon explained. "Schools, libraries, agencies, and businesses could easily and quickly provide free public web stations to assist those displaced by the hurricane."
"The computers needed are available in abundance for free or minimal cost, and many organizations have an excess of these older computers with no use for them," he added. "The technology needed to turn them into web stations is both free and effective, being based on the Linux operating system and the Firefox web browser. A single file is downloaded and burned to a CD-ROM, placed in the CD-ROM drive of the computer, and then the computer is booted from the CD-ROM. The computer boots up directly to a Firefox web browser window in less than a minute, not requiring any keystrokes or skills to get there."
"A working web station would take no more than 5 minutes to set up, and requires no ongoing maintenance except in the case of hardware failure," Hargadon continued. "In case of any difficulties, the machine is just rebooted."
Hargadon said that "today (September 2nd) will be devoted to getting the best possible [bootable Linux LiveCD] .iso prepared, and getting a core team of volunteers to manage the larger project."
LiveCD iso progress -- it's done!
Hargadon reports as of 5:00 PM on Friday that the required LiveCD iso is now ready and version 1.0 is available for download.
It's "based on DSL (Damn Small Linux), which is from Knoppix," Hargadon says. "My buddy Jason did the final touches, but it comes from a sourceforge project called Boothbox.
"We've tracked five or six "LiveKiosk"-type CD's for many moons, wondering how this technology could actually get used, Hargadon adds. "I am really hoping people pick up on what this can do, as I'd like it to be a grass-roots initiative, but I wondering if it may take a larger entity subsidizing a broader implementation to really make a difference."
The LiveCD image, currently pws-1.0.iso, is now available for download on several mirrors, indexed here. The iso image is currently 57.3MB in size.
First installation up and running (Sept. 9, 2005)
"Our first Dallas site is now live! We're stationed at the old McKinney, Texas WalMart just inside the old vision center. We have roughly 25 machines up and running on the internet. We worked all night on getting the local T1 up and running with no avail. We still have a chance on that line. We're currently running a bridged wireless setup from the old WalMart to the new WalMart. WalMart had some interesting high gain wifi gear laying around. So here's the scoup. The old WalMart (previously scheduled for demolition) has been retrofit with showers, cleaning facilities, living partitions, food preparation areas and a small datacenter! Thanks to WalMart for providing much of the nitpick gear and patience to make this thing possible. Thanks to Hotels.Com for providing ALL the PC's and the vast majority of the networking gear. Thanks to all the random volunteers for providing their time and fingers for making cable ! :) "
Photos from the McKinney installation are here.
Initial requests - Volunteers to set up the web stations. This involves someone with the ability to download a small (60MB) version of a "LiveCD" -- that is, Linux that runs from the CD-Rom drive and doesn't require the hard drive -- burn it to a CD-ROM, connect a monitor, mouse, and keyboard to the computer, and then connect the computer to an Internet-capable network. Sign up here to volunteer to help.
- Organizations who will donate the computers, monitors, keyboards, mice, and network cables. DIY Parts is acting as a clearinghouse for the used equipment. As well, CompuMentor in San Francisco keeps a list of non-profit computer refurbishment organizations that could assist in locating used equipment.
- Organizations to provide mirror sites for downloading the .iso image(s).
- Web page help:
- Someone who can build a quick database of volunteers -- name, phone, cell, email, city, and state -- and a few simple php pages for others to locate local volunteers.
- Someone to keep a Katrina portal page updated
- Someone to write up easy instructions for setting up a public web station
- Someone to create a graphic file for a standardized banner/sign that can be printed at Kinkos which easily identifies a public web station.
- Someone who can monitor the LiveCD and LiveKiosk projects and make sure we continue to provide the most effective versions.
- Grass-roots publicity volunteers: anyone willing to post a note about project to mail-lists, news organizations, friends and family, etc.
Getting involved
To learn more about volunteering to help the project, visit the following special discussion area hosted by DesktopLinux.com:
Join the Katrina "Web Station" Discussion
We are hoping that you will be able to use this discussion forum to coordinate, brainstorm, and connect with others on this idea of public web stations and the immediate needs for the Katrina hurricane victims. Thanks for helping! --Steve Hargadon
Join the discussion here
Check out eWEEK.com's Katrina Special Report
(Click above image to read the special report)
Also read this column at Linux-Watch.com by eWEEK.com Senior Editor Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols:
A small Linux-borne light in Katrina's aftermath
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