[Publib] "Serious" internet users versus "entertainment"users

[K.G. Schneider]

Bob Sullivan's solution-to provide computers dedicated to word processing
and make the limits longer on these machines-makes a lot of sense. People
who want to do word processing, such as for a resume, need a long siege at a
computer-but there are probably fewer of these folks to begin with. The
fought-over machines that need the shorter timetables are those that allow
Web services. Segregating word-processing capability from Web access is
simply a nice way to serve the public. (I bet Bob even has things set up so
that if service needs demanded it he could reconfigure the machines very
quickly by logging in to different profiles.) 

In the same vein, I've seen libraries offer express Internet terminals for
15 minute usage-enough time to print a boarding pass or check in with a
parent. The user who needs a boarding pass is in a different reality than
the teen settling down for a session of Second Life. 

Karen G. Schneider
kgs at bluehighways.com