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Simple, Stand-Alone Internet Communication Devices?
ashitaka asks: "One month ago my father-in-law died leaving his wife to live alone for the first time in her life. She lives in a somewhat rural part of Japan, north of Tokyo, in an area with few neighbors. My wife is her only daughter and we live in Canada; her only son is an engineer for Fujitsu and spends many days on the road. We know she misses our kids and we try to get over to Japan as much as possible, however more than once every year or two is a stretch." What ashitaka is looking for is a simple device that can be used for video conferencing or instant messaging, that can be controlled with a remote and administered remotely. Assuming something like this doesn't exist, what would it take to bend a PC to this task?
"Videophone technologies up to now have required knowledge of computer operation and Instant Messaging software or having to go through the complexities of setting up the traditional video conference. Here we are talking about a 76-year old Japanese granny who has never (and probably never will) touch anything more complex than the phone or the TV remote.
I'm looking for a device which can be administered remotely, has 6-8 large 'quick-dial' buttons and an emergency button which will try to connect through a list of contacts if required. It shouldn't look like a computer but should support connecting to whatever IM clients would be appropriate. It would be nice if it could turn on the TV when a particular Universal remote button or buttons were pressed to save Obaachan an extra step but I'm not sure if current signaling standards for TVs would support that."
I'm looking for a device which can be administered remotely, has 6-8 large 'quick-dial' buttons and an emergency button which will try to connect through a list of contacts if required. It shouldn't look like a computer but should support connecting to whatever IM clients would be appropriate. It would be nice if it could turn on the TV when a particular Universal remote button or buttons were pressed to save Obaachan an extra step but I'm not sure if current signaling standards for TVs would support that."
But apart from that, you might be able to make an N800 work.
Failing that, get ready to build your own from scratch.
My blog: http://www.seebs.net/log/ --- My iPhone/iPad app: http://www.seebs.net/seebsfrac/
They've been slowly raising their rates regularly, so we're looking to switch to another voip provider, but Packet8 has a standalone video phone.
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http://www.packet8.net/equipment/residential/vide
I am beginning to see why Japanese companies put so much effort into developing home robots.
It should be possible to throw something together out of fairly standard parts. A PC running Linux, a web cam, a TV tuner and an IR remote control. But I can't see anything off the shelf doing this.
http://michaelsmith.id.au
An XBox 360 would likely fit the bill. Well two actually, one at both ends. Equip both with an Xbox Live Gold account and an XBox Live Vision Camera and you have instant, plug in and go video teleconferencing. This would be very simple, although the cost is going to be about $600 each for the first year (xbox 360, camera, gold account, rechargable battery for the controller). Then just renew the xbox live gold accounts each year for another $50.
The Pepper Pad 3 isn't quite there with video messing or VoIP, but it might be adaptable. It's Linux-based, which is nice (even though it is Fedora Core 4 based).
This is here so you don't ignore the last two lines of my posts.
D-Link makes a video-phone type device that seems to fit your requirements, but does require a broadband connection.
You tell someone they get to see and talk to their grandkids, they learn how to use a computer. I had to do the same thing for my father once, he's the guy who would keep me tied up on the phone for 4 hours trying to learn how to make letters bold in Word.
I set up a web cam and AIM for him and showed him how to start and stop the thing a couple times. Then I let my daughter talk him through the process once or twice and it stuck. They talk all the time.
M
Sounds like you're trying to make his problem fit your solution instead of the other way around... his mother-in-law doesn't NEED to watch YouTube, she needs to talk with her kids!
It seems like the OLPC has the right idea with respect to how to use Linux: Simple, consistent, limited scope system designed for a uniform hardware platform.
Right now one of the biggest hurdles for Linux uptake is the critical mass problem. If you take all of the technologies loosely associated with Linux right now, there is probably plenty of critical mass for Linux to take off in a meaningful way. However, it's not really about Linux adoption, it's about vertical stacks of technologies in the Linux universe.
In short, we don't have "Linux" users. We have Linux + Gnome + Firefox + Debian system managment-isms. For programmers, it gets worse: We have Linux + GNU + X11 + Cairo + GTK + Python + Gnome APIs. Now, at each level imagine somewhere between one other and 50 other competing technologies.
If you don't believe me, feel free to respond to this post and tell me what the best development environment / language to write Linux desktop apps in is. Okay, now what's the best distribution? While we're at it, what's the best text editor? With that as a context, now tell me about UI guidelines and keychain standards.
It seems to me that, for better or worse, the OLPC project the potential to create a huge, gigantic mass of individuals with a more heterogenious understanding of what Linux "looks like" than has ever existed before.
Apple has differentiated itself by creating a cohesive environment. Apple users get angry when applications don't conform to specifications. If within the "Linux community" enough people could agree to write apps to a specification, Linux's popularity would rise and we'd see broader uptake.
Sugar could be that for a certain 90% demographic of Linux users. Imagine: A uniform display canvas, UI standards, consistent technology stack?
I don't even know that Sugar's technology doesn't suck, but at least it gives some architectural direction.
Anyway, lest some overzealous moderators accuse me of drifting dangerously off topic, I see a huge need for the sort of limited-purpose system that the original poster is looking for. My parents, my wife's parents and grandparents, (Myself?!) etc. I'm sure there are more than a handful of people here who wish they could set up a system that had some basics like video conferencing (to talk to the grandkids), web surfing, and... what else?
*The* killer feature would be having a big enough body of users that you knew patch management, upgrades, and hardware compatibility would be automatic. Maybe an OLPC with a bigger screen and keyboard for grandma's eyes and arthritic fingers would fit the bill?
-Peter
. Penguins Surely Ca
While I supposed an N800 working here, I think the best bet is a MythTV setup working best here. I have heard of IR remotes working with it, and IM is a cinch. Not only that but the TV funationality is built in, and you can expand it as you see fit.
As for remote administration, that is as simple as adding an SSH server, and possibly something like FreeNX/NoMachine or VNC (I recommend the former, as I seem to be able to do anything, including remote video) from it...
Not to mention, other than the hardware, its free.
Built in camera, software included, toss in Apple Remote Desktop 3 and it is remotely administrable. Very stable, not as subject to thousands of viruses, very decent power consumption, etc.
--Tomas
I shouldn't respond to such an obvious troll but yes, the idea is for her to eventually come over to Canada in the summers when it's too fricken hot in Japan and stay in Japan for winter which isn't too bad and where she feels more comfortable with neighbours and friends.
However, she won't travel alone.
If you don't want to repeat the past, stop living in it.
Looking at the D-Link videophone that was suggested I also found they have a stand-alone unit that connects to your TV to display the video and audio. It also has jacks for external audio input an external phone/answering machine to take voicemail messages even from video callers and comes in wired and 802.11b wireless models.
Control is through a TV-remote control device so it's close perfect. I would have to see how well it could be remotely controlled from outside but I'm sure some hacking possibilities are there.
Now to get Obaachan a broadband connection and we're in business.
Thanks all!
If you don't want to repeat the past, stop living in it.
Freedom, not a lack of it is the answer to the problems you think you see.
If you don't believe me, feel free to respond to this post and tell me what the best development environment / language to write Linux desktop apps in is. Okay, now what's the best distribution? While we're at it, what's the best text editor? With that as a context, now tell me about UI guidelines and keychain standards.
I don't believe you because every useful program has been made to work with every distribution without a lot of effort. Gnome, KDE, X, etc all works together in a way non free junk never will. It's about freedom, not marketshare or "standards". When you define real standards for interoperability, the rest takes care of itself.
Others have pointed to dlink and packet8 phones. Because free software has swept up the embedded market, they both probably use some form of gnu/linux. If they don't now, they will later. All that's really needed for these devices to thrive is well regulated public networks. Without that, we will probably waste another decade while "broadband" and IM providers battle it out with incompatible crap.
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
While you won't get video conferencing or even true IM, the Wii can send and receive messages to and from standard email accounts. Put her family's emails in it with cute Mii versions marking them, and it should be really simple to understand.
That may not be enough, especially for emergencies (don't they have something like Life Alert in Japan for that?), but it may be a simple work around for non-phone communication.
Either you're trolling or you've simply missed his point completely.
The poster above has it right.
The problem isn't freedom or lack of freedom. If you're given a linux-based device with the ability to install software of your choice, you have your freedom.
What the parent wants is uniformity and proper user interface design. A singular target for support.
If you're of the minority who doesn't like that singular target, it's no problem. You can go take your hardware and compile your own distro. Nothing's going to stop you. Don't get me wrong, the standards you talk about for interoperability are important. But you could have some 50 different linux VOIP phones and it wouldn't help if every single one of them have horrible UIs, right? Same thing applies to computers.
For the less technical people, the "one true Linux distro" would help greatly in getting users adjusted to Linux. This is necessary for acceptance. If every single Linux box looks completely different, wouldn't the average user get confused? Heck, think about helping your mom's friend learn how to use their new Linux box. If they can't tell you what desktop enviroment they're running, how are you to know that they're using KDE, Gnome, fwm95, xfce, or blackbox? Even among techies like us, there's merit in having the "one true Linux distro" in that sometimes, we don't want to take the time to learn about all the different tools before making a choice. We just want one good enough until we feel it's not, and the freedom to change it.
A singular Linux platform benefits us all.
One consistent UI for n00bs.
One consistent UI for writers to write books about to help users.
One consistent UI for us programmers to help the n00bs learn.
One consistent target for writing apps in any language the programmer prefers.
One consistent target for companies who just can't release their apps as open source, and one consistent platform to officially support. (Users of any other distros can support themselves as they do now)
One consistent target for hardware manufacturers to write drivers for. (If we don't freeze a kernel interface for hardware drivers, we're doomed. Freeze one interface. If there comes a time where we must change it, we can always have a 2nd interface.)
One starting point for users to learn with, but the flexibility for them to load anything else they want.
My distro of choice for making servers and stuff is Gentoo. But until there's a sign that Linux will become easier to support, my main computer will be my Mac.
A broadband connection..... In Japan.... Never... ^_-... lol
flinging poop since 1969
Just sign her up with Skype.
I'll tell you my two examples:
1) The idea of her coming to your home more or less the best half a year (by your comment that would be on summer) is not to be disregarded. We did just this with my grandma for her last decade or so (while we got her in winter not in summer). If she's like my grandma, she will be hesistant at least on the beginning (she won't want to be an overload on you and she will feel more free on her own village, that she knows as she knows her friends, her shops, etc.) -of course, your mileage my vary: it is not the same moving an old person about 100 miles, by car, and traveling on my father's car (as it was our case) than trying to move from the other side of the world (not only much more expensive but much more travel time too), by airplane and maybe alone.
2) While my mother is not in the other side of the world, she is still 300 miles away, and his daughter and my sister is some 1500 miles away, so I installed her an old PC of mine with Linux and KDE, Kopete, big icons on the desktop for the three/four apps she will use (kopete for IM, digiKam to manage her digital photocamera, a cards game I found she liked mainly for practising her ability with the mouse and lowering the "frightening effect" on "new technologies" a bit, etc.) and I make sysadmin for her through the net. In your case I'd mix that case with an old client of mine that I installed an VPN device with Linux too.
So my advice:
Buy an Asus Pundit-like box (a short form factor, noisiless, Linux-compatible PC) with a cheap video camera known to work with Linux, install Debian, be sure to configure hardware sensors and what not, and work a bit on the usability side (as I told you, use KDE, some big icons -double click an icon or click and move can be a challenge for old people). Be sure she has a broadband connection with a fixed IP you know in advance (it'll make things easier) and configure the box locally at leisure. Once it's done send the box to Japan (in my case I am in Spain and sent it to Argentina) and have her Fujitsu son install the hardware for her. If you did your homework properly it will be a case of plug-n-play (as it was on my Argentinian case). From now on, you will have complete access to her box for maintenance ("ssh -XC" will result in a terribly useful tool) and she will be deligthed with the experience.
For an A-grade, you will configure things like cron-apt and write some short scripts and rrd-tools so you will stay informed about how the hardware is behaving (it's awesome how many hardware failures you can prevent in advance by just look at how evolutions hard-disk status, CPU temperature and internal fan speeds).
For an AA-grade you will use some tool (sorry, I don't remember the name, have a look at it on Freshmeat) to make a live-CD from the installed OS (it won't take too much space if you are just a bit careful) once you configured it and previously to send it to Japan, so it can be taken as a rescue-CD your Fujitsu brother-in-law can use in case of catastrophic hardware failure.
It really worked for me, so I don't see why it wouldn't work for you.
It's called a free market. Like most every other market on the planet. There's nothing stopping you or a new user making [shudder] choices for all of the things you mention. In all the things you mention there's only a limited number of mainstream choices.
Sure it's inefficient having multiple projects competing in slightly different ways. It's called capitalism. Maybe you'd prefer communism?
If you want a true standards mess forget about linux, just look at web technologies, particularly flash interfaces. I don't see many people avoiding those.
There's nothing wrong with encouraging standards, but not at the expense of a competitive free market. Just like every other market.
---
WGA. Guilty until proven innocent. For millions. Again and again.
In Japan, the fact is the solutions are already available, and ubiquitous: Cellphones. Most of the mid range and higher cell phones in Japan already have front-mounted cameras for video-conferencing and can integrate pretty well with software-based video conference systems (though you may want to do a lot of research).
Now, obviously the resolution isn't great and you're at the mercy of signal... but I've already used a cellphone in Europe with a front-mounted camera to keep in touch with my family back in the US and it worked like a champ. It was connecting to my home MythTV system so the kids could see me on the screen. It wasn't perfect, but it was a far better communications medium for me since I was always on-the-go and didn't feel like carrying around a device all the time other than a cellphone.
Now, if you wanted something more permanent there are other net-connected solutions out there. However, few of them would give the kind of freedom a cellphone does.
Everyone else is doing it.
Deleted
You suggestion is really an insult that makes no sense:
What the parent wants is uniformity and proper user interface design. ...you could have some 50 different linux VOIP phones and it wouldn't help if every single one of them have horrible UIs, right? Same thing applies to computers.
So really, what you are saying is that KDE, Gnome and friends all suck. That's fine, go find something you like. What you claim you want is:
A singular target for support.
This is a foolish and impossible goal. Even if you chose some non free "singular" platform, you have chosen from one of many systems. As long as you have your freedom, you and your users will have to make choices. In the free world, the best methods migrate between interfaces so nothing is really lost and in the end you can find something just right for you. Without your freedom you won't be able to make any choices and everything will suck anyway because those making the choices for you are guided by their best interests not yours.
Friends don't help friends install M$ junk.
really a touching story, and a good suggestion. thanks for sharing.
I work with some real tech junkies and so I know a couple of people who have this device. They started playing with it and found it was so simple it was perfect for using with family and (gasp) even managers!
Since it uses fairly common standards for everything - video, audio, connection setup and control, they were even able to make operate with a number of different software packages, including some on Linux.
I'm done with sigs. Sigs are lame.
get a PC
install a linux distro you can admin remotely and that won't need to be upgraded to a new release too often. something like debian stable or one of the rhel rebuilds.
install a nice lightweight desktop and customise it to have easy links to the instant messaging and videoconfrencing apps, possibblly a web browser too. Set up all the software so it just works for her.
for emergency communication i think your better off sticking to the phone even if it is a little expensive, maybe get her a standalone VOIP desk phone.
note: i'm known as plugwash most places but i screwd up registering that here somehow in the past and now can't register
I can't help thinking, "wow. that would be a nightmare to support remotely!"
Damping absorbs vibrations. Dampening is caused by moisture.
Since it can talk to anything that does H.323 it should work with any standards-compliant VOIP device or software. Were they able to get into the box itself from the LAN side an change the internals??
If you don't want to repeat the past, stop living in it.
Hmmm... not sure about that part. However, I remember seeing my manager playing with it, connected to someone else who was working @ home and that the picture quality was quite decent. Not Hi-Def, but much better than your average webcam. (It's so subjective...) He was also planning to send one to his parents - they recently moved to Florida
I'm done with sigs. Sigs are lame.
We have units from Polycomm at work. You can remotely control the camera, zoom, etc. They're compatible with standardized video-conferencing software, and can dial from a list much akin to a video-phone.
They also plug directly into a TV, or video projector, and can be set to "follow" noise.
They can also be rather extensively expensive, of course, but I've seen some on eBay for not too bad a price (up to the discretion of the buyer).
Here is some stuff from their website. It doesn't seem to mention pricing though, but I do remember that it isn't cheap, especially since it is more centric to a business environment than a home one. But it's fairly easy to use... enough that non-technical exec and boss-types manage nicely.
So let me get this straight, you want:
Simple device
Instant messaging (multiple protocols)
Video conferencing
Remote controlled
Remote admin
Preferably not PC-based/roll your own
Large buttons
Emergency facility (including multiple contact list)
Automatically turn on the TV
And when presented to a solution to most of this ridiculous list of requirements, YOU COMPLAIN BECAUSE IT WON'T LOOK NICE?!
#include <sig.h>