Thin clients look set to be used in a network of information “pods” being created in Taranaki.
New Plymouth District Council is building a network of 16 pods, or information kiosks, for its $22 million Puke Ariki museum and library heritage centre. In a related project, Taranaki Information Network will employ 10 pods scattered across schools and museums in the district.
Some $800,000 has been set aside for the kiosks, which should be operational by mid-year. Proposals are being currently sought.
Project coordinator Simon Pickford says the interactive kiosks in Puke Ariki will sit by the exhibits and offer a range of extra information. They will be web-based and “probably” use thin clients, dumb terminals served by a centralised server, but will include technology for future audio and video services.
Similar kiosks are to be installed at schools, libraries and visitor information centres, following funding from the Taranaki Electricity Trust.
Pickford says the network will only provide access to the Puke Ariki website and its related “stories” to the whole district from remote locations. Other New Plymouth district council information will be accessed through the council’s main website.
It will use Microsoft’s content management server. The network will be linked by fast broadband connections.