Using an iMac for a web kiosk

lionsweb · #1 October 23rd, 2003, 02:33 PM

Hi -
We're looking at replacing an IBM PC kiosk with a new iMac, but we need to be able to lock it down and preferably lock the browser (safari or omniweb, preferably) into full-screen or at least maximized mode.

I found some good instructions here for locking down:
http://hale.seattleschools.org/~tonyh/secure_jag.htm

but haven't found anything for making the browser run full-screen.

Also, is there a way to limit users to a specific list of websites?

Thanks in advance for any advice you can offer. :-)

symphonix · #2 October 26th, 2003, 11:45 PM

Have you decided on a browser? I'm pretty sure that M$ Internet Explorer has a full screen mode, as well as Netscape/Mozilla.
In these browsers, it is possible to prevent writing to the favourites/bookmarks and prefence files by changing the permissions on these preference files to read-only (make sure you take ownership of them, otherwise the user can use their own login password to take them back) - this will prevent users from mucking with Browser settings.
Find the files you want to secure, select them, and use Cmd+I to bring up the info. Go to "permissions"
and use these to change the owner to an Admin, and set permissions to read for everybody (User, Group and Other)

boi · #3 October 27th, 2003, 11:59 AM

http://www.versiontracker.com/dyn/moreinfo/macosx/20346

doesn't work with panther, though.
it was really nice when it did work.

Arden · #4 October 27th, 2003, 11:18 PM

Okay, unless the OS X versions are radically different from the OS 9 versions (which they aren't), neither IE nor NS 7 have a "full screen" mode like F11 in Windows. And I'm using both right now.

However, you can write a Javascript that will make the window fill the screen (easy to do) and disable certain controls (not as easy), then take the person to whatever the home page is.

dlloyd · #5 October 27th, 2003, 11:53 PM

boi, I've been looking for something like that! YAY!
I hope he gets it out for Panther soooooon.

boi · #6 October 30th, 2003, 12:15 AM

it works with 10.3 now =)

well, i hope you like it a lot, it's $10 now. however, i must say this... it's *really* good. i like the way it works. support your local developer =)