The objective being to give computer time to as many children's courses in remote areas as possible, how would you try to make a mobile computer lab? Would you simply rely on several laptops or could you reasonably expect to make it in the form of a server hosting several virtual pc wireless touch displays?
For the purposes of these questions standard power outlets are available in most contexts but internet is not. Quicker set up and breakdown times could mean the difference between hosting 2 and 3 classes a day. Hosting 10 quality computing experiences in a single class would be excellent, as well as being able to host multiplayer learning or normal video games where the lab is at rest between working days. If in some contexts adults could use it for video editing or autocad it would also be ideal.
When I taught programming some time ago, the school had a "mobile cabinet" on wheels with a load of laptops in it. There was space for 30+ laptops. They called it The Fortnox. It had a big charging hub inside, so you'd put the box in the middle of the room, plug it to the wall and everyone would just plug into the box. If you need to you could even build in a Ethernet hub for super fast LAN connections (If you can get one with enough plugs.). I don't know if you're going to need to move this in-between buildings, but if that is not the case, you could consider something like it. I think it might work fine. Just get the pupils to roll the chargers up neatly and put everything back into the box. With only 10-ish laptops in it, I don't think it would be too-too heavy or difficult to build.
I would indeed need to be moving it in between buildings and hopefully it is handy to load into a car. I fully expect the class to be popular and would like to be able to scale to something like 20 users in any one sitting. I should mention other teachers will be using this lab in a night and morning class schedule possibly as much as 6 classes in a single day, in other words recommendations for sturdy laptops are welcome. Weight is something to keep in mind in consideration of the borderline petite other teachers that may use the lab (thinking of the more scrawny or clumsy little devils too.)
Something like an Ethernet hub is more of a cherry on top than a necessary thing. Something that would be interesting to me but not mandatory is every aspect of this lab being open source besides the few proprietary teaching programs that would have to be run on wine if I go down this path, potentially opening new avenues down the line like maybe a mini 3d printer.
I definitely expect the laptops to be the keep-it-simple approach when trying trying to optimize performance. A realistic budget would be 10,000 dollars by the end if it could be justified by having sufficient number of users.
Does anyone have experience using the AOC e1659Fwu portable monitor?
I am curious if one could use these as monitors for virtual machines, a question that goes along with this is how many wireless mice/keyboards can you have in the same room before they interfere with one another. The monitors and computing components being separate from the keyboards makes me think I will only ever have to replace the keyboards and mice from any particular abusive use as well as can be relatively free in periodically upgrading components on the server.
Ok. I've got a few questions left, and I can help look for a solution.
How heavy video editing are we talking here? Windows Movie Maker level or big Premiere Pro comps?
Max total weight and size goal?
What will be done on these for the classes? How heavy is the workload, programming HTML, or large-scale 3D modeling?
How quickly so you need to build it?
I'm thinking this project would work great as a full Tek Syndicate video.
I am not myself familiar with video editing but would like to have the ability to add power features, it is fully certain the initial use case for video editing will be windows movie maker style with open source program alternatives when possible. It is why I am very much liking the idea of avoiding laptops for something much more interchangeable.
Without going into great thought on traveling case designs for the entire lab I would like to keep the weight to no more than 30 kg for lets say a rolling road case(s) containing everything necessary for 10 users. This is a rough estimate at best. As long as low weight is in mind there is no reason the cases for this equipment can't be separate from one another. Maybe it makes sense to have two 15 kg cases and in this regard I see no issue with actually having 100 kg worth of equipment as long as it can be carried case by case.
I would like to integrate 3D modeling in the relatively near future to introduce 3d printing, but it is not going to be architects mapping high accuracy topography or anything like that. Simple question and answer quiz programs, typing courses, video editing, perhaps music creation, where there is internet there will be typing of essays, perhaps the art teacher is inspired to make a photoshop introduction course. There are reasons to believe there are more intensive and diverse courses that could be taught in the city if an entrepreneurial spirit evolves from this and I decide to put forth my own funds.
One idea could be a hardcase style thing, like what they use for concert rigging (Image link), with a router on top and a couple of power strips.
It could hold 5, 7 or 10 laptops on , so it'd almost be modular, depending on how many sign up for the class, you'll just bring another case.
I don't know much about remote computing so I don't think I'll be able to help you there, but I would be concerned about preformance and delays because of a crappy network being possible issues.
I'm talking about bringing the server with me in a box and having it linked up to multiple displays. Remote computing is out of the question in this case considering the lack of Internet at many of the locations
I am trying to see if maybe I can use these;
http://us.aoc.com/products/details.php?173-usb-powered-monitor&id=39
How would you make it possible for one machine to have multiple cursors and separate text inputs?
I had managed to do it a few years ago when I was automating some stuff. But nowadays i think it is a standard feature for virtual machine programs. Shooting from the hip I am fairly sure this is possible but Ill be looking into confirm this shortly.
What I really am not sure about is how I can set up multiple wireless mice and keyboards without issues.
That sounds dope. I'd love to learn about that, this is a blind-waters area for me.
The aoc monitor doesn't a have brightness control. It's stuck on blindingly bright in my opinion. I got one of these instead.
why not just use tablets?
the Sony Xperia Z Tablet and microsoft surfaces are pretty durable. add rubber frames, wireless mice, and maybe a rubber waterproof keyboard and your all set. you get touch screen, and they are made yo be portable.
wouldnt be the best solution for power users, but for portability, durability, and price you are set.
Since I'm not in a huge rush I was thinking doing the C+ (asus) model. Even if it ends up being 200-300 dollars I think it will still be attractive to the people putting the money down. All assuming I can make a seamless virtual machine server.
Something I wish they would do with these is add a single USB or SD card slot along side the power/video USB. Making wired mice/keyboards more viable
Tablets could and likely will be something I supplement the lab with but I want to move away from having any all in one devices. For example as long as I am running the interfaces from a central machine which itself is upgradeable I imagine money can be saved in the long run between replacements and scaling upgrades.
Secondly, ideally I am attempting to provide a suite of open-source alternatives. And correct me if I am wrong, but I think it will be easier from a desktop experience rather than a tablet.
linux works fine on a tablet, but your right about the difficulty in upgrading, however a 400-800$ pc vs a 300$ tablet in the long run might save you more even with the whole replacing then entire system thing. you can still resell the tablets a few years down the road and make back 25~% and by then something like a surface book will be around 300 range.
you could save the rest for upgrades down the road, or put it toward raspberry pi's or a few nicer cad/editing workstations.
I didn't bother with the plus model because it's a second screen. I wanted the plus model but after thinking hard enough I decided that 720p was plenty. Also, the regular model uses less power. Some people swear that the provided case/stand sucks but it works just fine. Anyway, good luck.
Question is which open source alts are optimized for tablet use.
These will be "primary" screens for the user and i don't think power will be an issue in most cases (although a powered USB hub is likely going to be a good idea if considering the asus screens we are talking about)
Thanks for the insight. If I'm not mistaken the C is the 2016 model. That may make the B an attractive price point.
I thought the c was a typo. I'll go check them out. Thanks for the update.
Edit: ahh! It has usb c, it's full ips and it has blue light filtering! I MUST HAVE IT! Arg!
