**Moved to GalahTech.com** KidOS Windows Shell

Okay, we now have a KidsOS that is prety and speaks nicely to our kids, but what can they do on it?

I assume that the parents will have to maintain at least a couple of lists...
1) The acceptable websites that they are allowed to visit.
2) The acceptable application that they are allowed to run.

And then also maintain setting for look and feel. This could get frustrating for parents to do. I think it is key to keep the parental maint. as simple as possible.

What do you think?

I haven't made 3-D icons before, but show me a good tool to do it with and I'm sure I can do it.

Good point. I imagine the parents will set up the look once, so thats not a big deal. The other things are more complicated. We need to think about this

I think there should be a choice of themes in the parents mode (say XP style, children's style). Also the parent/parents should be able to set access restriction (by adding what programs the child is allowed or not allowed to use).

Themes is a good idea.

Set up several basic ones, and maybe in version 2 allow some customization.

Making the addition of access/restrictions should be very simplistic and easy to access. Maybe a certain key combination or "desktop" icon that is password protected for the parents to get at the settings even if it is in "Child" mode.

I think that each section should be a shortcuts to the actual programs. I.e., if you want your child to be able to play solitare, the app would put a shortcut to sol.exe in say the games folder.

Ok, how about 2 apps, the KidOS and ParentalControls, each with there own theme. The parent sections requires a login

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Originally posted by blindlizard
Ok, how about 2 apps, the KidOS and ParentalControls, each with there own theme. The parent sections requires a login

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no i think one app, but two levels of security would be easier.

Re: Shortcuts
Do you mean the "desktop" would have several folders (games, Websites, etc., etc.) and within each of those folders would be a shortcut to the actual application.

The shortcuts being created the parent when the granted access to that particular program.

By the way, what about different profiles?

My children are each capable of different things.

Do we want an XP style login with each user having their own picture?

I know I wouldn't trust my 5 year old with some of the things I trust my 8 year old with.

What I mean is that the app has a folder called games, in /games are shortcuts to the actuall programs that the parent has designated. Otehrwise we could have a database with the paths to each game

Yes, different profiles would be great!-Yes, I like the idea of the XP style login-with each user will be able to have their own piture-just like in XP.

Ok, we could have security based on user. If a parent logs in, they get the parental control stuff. If 8 year old logs in, they get whatever, if 5 year old logs in, they get less whatever

You can pick the picture in XP? I had it at work for about a week, and had to re-install 2K, I couldn't stand it!!

Waht if the 5 year old clicked to log in to the 10 year olds?

I think the child should have his or her age enetered-and if they click on the wrong age button, a message would appear stating that they most click on their age abour-eg. 5 yr old clicks on 5yeatr old)-all others a greyed out.

Quote:

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Originally posted by blindlizard
You can pick the picture in XP? I had it at work for about a week, and had to re-install 2K, I couldn't stand it!!

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It is a bit Quirky at first, but once you change everything to look like Windows Classic, it isn't too bad.

The User Icons would also require a password. Even my 5 year old can remember his password on my Win2K machine at home...maybe if I would remember to log off I wouldn't have so many problems with him!

How about, the low rights are for the non-readers. Once they learn to read, they can have a login / password. So, the 8 year old would login, the 5 year old would just click in

I like that!

If you have multiple non-spellers in the house, they are all probably going to have similar permisison. Don't you think?

Exactly, so do you like the parents log in the same way, but get parental control stuff?

blindlizard , I really like the way of logging on-non-readers just click on a button, readers, type in their user name and password-simple and very effective.

Yes-

In case you forgot what XP Login looks like....

see attached.

I bet we can find all the icons we need online check this http://icons.visualnoise.net/

How easy is will it to be to recreate the XP logi screen for KidOS?

Looking at what cbond put up, that seems easy

Do we want to let them upload thier own pictures?

I've got a friend who is really good with PhotoShop - can you make icons in Photoshop?

(I obviously don't use it much)

That will be a great idea of letting the user upload their own pictures. When \can we expect a kidos website?

I don't think directly, but you can import gif/jpg into a converter.

Ican create some colorful icons in Iconforge for KidOS.

So let me summarize where we are:

1) We want an XP style interface
2) The user can choose between different themes
3) The are different levels of user from basic (cannot read) to Parents
4) The parents log into the same application to do parental tasks
5) Icons will be big and colorful
6) Try to stick to primary colors Red, Yellow, Blue, Green
7) The desktop is split into sections (Games, Music, Videos, Paint, Web)
8) Parents can add other sections

We need to decide how to retain what the user can do, ie shortcuts in a user folder, or entries in a database.

Sounds Good aafuss.

By the way are your really in Australia? -- Just want to confirm time difference.

I'm heading home from work now and will not be able to jump back into forum for several hours.

Ok, aafuss make some samples for different basic games, like minesweeper and pinball.

Quote:

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Originally posted by blindlizard
So let me summarize where we are:

1) We want an XP style interface
2) The user can choose between different themes
3) The are different levels of user from basic (cannot read) to Parents
4) The parents log into the same application to do parental tasks
5) Icons will be big and colorful
6) Try to stick to primary colors Red, Yellow, Blue, Green
7) The desktop is split into sections (Games, Music, Videos, Paint, Web)
8) Parents can add other sections

We need to decide how to retain what the user can do, ie shortcuts in a user folder, or entries in a database.

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While a bit more cumbersome to maintain, I think the shortcuts is a better idea. That way we don't have to worry about what data objects the user has and doesn't have. We are, after all, trying to make this run on a couple of very slow machines!

I'll do the icons sometime this week-and they'll be emailed to you. Yes,I am in Australia.

I think each user should have a directory structure. So KidA would have KidA/Games, KidA/Music, etc... In each folder would be shortcuts to the things they have access to. The shortcuts would have one of the icons that aafuss makes. Then we don't have to worry about associating programs with icons. Let Windows handle that.

Looks promising, your idea.

- I think you should have a built in browser, parents can send themes to the server for review, kids can get new themes from the server based on their favourite TV show, etc.
- Parental Control Panel.
- Block all internet access but from KidOS and your 'net browser.
- When a kid goes to a new site, their parents must authorise it before it becomes viewable.
- Be able to IM only other KidOS people (and have them auth'd).

Just some ideas... know I wouldn't want my kid to be hacked or have someone they don't know talking to them.

Sastraxi ,
Some of your ideas are good-but with internet access, there should be accessible toall users.

Hi,

I'm a friend of aafuss. Can I help out with the project?

Also: I'm (as people might say), a "half-kid". Age 10 here. Good for testing isn't it. I'm parent and kid. :-)

Quote:

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Originally posted by Sastraxi
Looks promising, your idea.

- I think you should have a built in browser, parents can send themes to the server for review, kids can get new themes from the server based on their favourite TV show, etc.
- Parental Control Panel.
- Block all internet access but from KidOS and your 'net browser.
- When a kid goes to a new site, their parents must authorise it before it becomes viewable.
- Be able to IM only other KidOS people (and have them auth'd).

Just some ideas... know I wouldn't want my kid to be hacked or have someone they don't know talking to them.

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I had tossed around the idea of instant messaging. I think the IM should talk too. And lots of emoticons... But yes, only talk to people on your list that the parents put their. Also, does everyone notice the play on words KidOS (kid operation system) looks like Kiddos!!! We can pronounce it kiddos, but it is Kid O-S

Quote:

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Originally posted by blindlizard
I had tossed around the idea of instant messaging. I think the IM should talk too. And lots of emoticons... But yes, only talk to people on your list that the parents put their. Also, does everyone notice the play on words KidOS (kid operation system) looks like Kiddos!!! We can pronounce it kiddos, but it is Kid O-S

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Mr. Lizard you crack me up. That "Kiddos" is how I was pronouncing it all along. I just assumed that's what you were going for. LOL

It hit me like a truck on the way home. I am a little slow :D :D