How would I make a video locked for presentations

I

idtab

New Member
Hi,

I'm buying a presentation machine for a small show we're doing (as in, a twenty inch touchscreen computer that gets built into a kiosk) and it will have a menu of a dvd on it, until someone clicks one of the videos, in which case it will play it, and then return to the menu.

However, we've discovered a security risk. We can't be watching the computers all the time, and people can easily close the videos and start messing around with our computers.

Can anyone think of a way of locking the video so it is all that can be done with the pc?

Thanks.
 
I believe you'll need a custom piece of software tailored for your specific purpose, many companies that provide custom kiosks also provide software solutions. Of course what you're asking for is relatively simple, and it might be cheaper to outsource it to a third party.
 
I suspect you have not had any replies because it's very difficult to do. I'm sure there is specialist hardware or software available but I don't know any since I've never had the need.

If I had to do it with my knowledge, I would run a macro in the background looking at window names (or lack with the desktop). It would also make the current window or a background window fullscreen every few seconds to prevent access to the desktop. Alternatively make the window fullscreen and "Always on Top". If the machine went to any window other than those allowed or rebooted I would alarm or shut down the PC. What other rules would depend on the video and what else is on the machine.

A script or macro would be quite easy to write but would need some programming knowledge. Most decent macro progs such as AutoIt, Autohotkey, Macro Express etc can do this. Macro Express or the Pro version would be the most user-friendly to get something running quickly. It's payware though, the others mentioned are free.

A further precaution if the machine has LAN or Internet access is to use a Remote Desktop setup so that the presentation machine display can be monitored from another location/PC.
 
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Out of interest I wrote a macro with Macro Express Pro for use with PowerDVD. Took about 10 minutes to write and debug. There are numerous options if there is a problem; this version gives an audible and shuts the PC down. I assumed touchscreen control only available to user. This is the summary listing - there is more detail behind the scenes.

// After DVD is set running, macro is started by operator
// Macro checks window state every second
// If not fullscreen, forces player to fullscreen
// If the player is not focused, the PC gives an audible and shuts down
// Macro can only be stopped from keyboard - Pause button
//
Window Activate: PowerDVD
Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): z // Fullscreen
Variable Set Integer %screenwidth%: Set to the Screen Width
Variable Set Integer %screenheight%: Set to the Screen Height
// Start of Continuous Repeat
Repeat Until %DVDTimer% Equals "Never"
Variable Set Integer %windowwidth%: Set to the Current Window's Width
Variable Set Integer %windowheight%: Set to the Current Window's Height
If Variable %windowwidth% Does not Equal "%screenwidth%"
Or
If Variable %windowheight% Does not Equal "%screenheight%"
Text Type (Simulate Keystrokes): z // Force to Fullscreen
End If
If Not Window "PowerDVD" is focused
Sound File: Fog horn.wav // Alarm
Macro Stop // For test purposes
Shutdown // Shut PC down
End If
Wait for Time to Elapse // 1 second
End Repeat
 
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apj101 said:
you left the macro stop code in there ;)
Click to expand...
Yeah, I was only testing as it said. If I was actually using it I would toggle the macro stop and shutdown. The shutdown was actually disabled but I did not bother to format in this post with strikethrough per ME Pro. Full marks to you though, I did not expect anyone to actually read it!
 
Nanobyte said:
Yeah, I was only testing as it said. If I was actually using it I would toggle the macro stop and shutdown. The shutdown was actually disabled but I did not bother to format in this post with strikethrough per ME Pro. Full marks to you though, I did not expect anyone to actually read it!
Click to expand...

mwa ha ha ha I SEE EVERYTHINGGGGG :D
 
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