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If you need to use a computer for Internet access without accessing the computer, you'll first need to create an AutoHotKey script on a Windows XP machine. However, users may encounter slow startup and device performance issues.
To address this, you can explore alternative options to Windows, such as Ubuntu with the Chromium browser. Users can now set up Ubuntu as a Web Kiosk application, booting up in 20 seconds or less, with just a few clicks.
Follow the steps below to set up Ubuntu and Chromium if you haven't already.
Here are some potential applications for this type of system:
- Web Kiosk
- Information Booth
- SubsonicGuest Interface
- X10 House Control
Setting up Ubuntu as a Web Kiosk Application
Step 1: Add XScreensaver and Ubuntu Restricted Extras
LCD screens are not suitable for this purpose; instead, you should find and use a better screensaver.
Alternatively, the best option is to install the xscreensaver package. To install the xscreensaver package from the command-line utility, click Applications =>Accessories =>Terminal.
In the Terminal window, type the command sudo apt-get install xscreensav* -y. The asterisk at the end allows aptitude to install all packages starting with xscreensav, then install additional available screensaver programs.
If you're using flash, you'll need to install a plugin for it. The best way to install the plugin is to follow similar steps to adding xscreensaver. In the Terminal window, enter the command below:
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-restricted-extras -y
After the command execution completes, close the Terminal window.
Step 2: Create a Basic User
To set up restricted users for end-users without sudo access and the ability to change system settings, Kiosk Web becomes less vulnerable this way. To establish restricted users, first click on System =>Administration =>Users and Groups.
After clicking Add, enter the password to bypass the authentication window and input a common username.
To configure the account with basic password settings, click the Advanced Settings button at the bottom right corner of the window and select the User Privileges tab. Uncheck all boxes next to options you don't want users to access. Then close the Users Settings window.
Step 3: Configure XScreensaver
After creating the new user, log out of the regular user and log in to the restricted user account. Next, the Xscreensaver configuration window will appear to create necessary configuration files. You can find this configuration window by clicking System =>Preferences, and finally selecting the Screensaver option.
Xscreensaver will ask you a few questions related to disabling the Gnome Screensaver and starting its own daemon; simply click OK for all these questions. You can set up your own screensaver by checking the box next to the screensaver name on the left. The option just below indicates how long it takes to switch from the screensaver screen to the next screen.
Step 4: Set up Chromium
Log in to the restricted account you created in the previous step and begin opening the Chrome browser. Click the wrench icon in the top right corner of the Chrome window, then select Options.
In the first tab, enter the homepage you want to display. Then click on the Personal Stuff tab and select Never save passwords and disable Autofill.
After clicking on the Under the Hood tab and selecting Clear Browsing Data. Then check all boxes and choose Everything in the Clear data from this period menu. Click Clear Browsing data, and once the process is complete, close all Chromium windows.
Step 5: Never Save History
After closing Chromium, click on Places and then select Home Folder from the top bar. In the resulting window, click on View =>Show Hidden Files.
Now you'll see a folder named '.config'; open this folder, locate chromium, and open the Default folder. Right-click on the file named Preferences and select Open with gedit.
Then scroll down to the bottom and find the option 'exited_cleanly' and set it to True if it's not already set. Save and close the file in gedit. Access the folder by clicking on the Chromium button near the top corner of the blank file. Right-click on the file named Local State and ensure that lines starting with 'top': and 'left':, followed by the number 0 and a comma. Then right-click on the Default folder, select Properties, and click on the Permissions tab.
Select Access files from the Folder Access menu at the top corner of the Properties window, then choose Read-Only from the File Access menu at the top. Click Close after setting these options, then close the File Browser. Open Chromium again and ensure all settings are correct and history isn't displayed for newly accessed websites.
Step 6: Set up Kiosk Desktop Mode in Xsessions
Next, you need to switch back to the regular user to be able to use sudo again. Once back to the regular user account, click on Applications =>Accessories =>Terminal.
In the Terminal window, enter the command below:
sudo gedit /usr/share/xsessions/kiosk.desktop
Then in the resulting window, insert the following code snippet:
[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=Kiosk Mode
Comment=Chromium Kiosk Mode
Exec=/usr/share/xsessions/chromeKiosk.sh
Type=Application
Save and close this document, then enter the command below into the Terminal window:
sudo gedit /usr/share/xsessions/chromeKiosk.sh
The command above will open another gedit window to insert the following code snippet:
#!/bin/bash
xscreensaver -nosplash &
cat -/.config/chromium/Local\ State | perl -pe 's/\'bottom.*/\'bottom\': $(xrandr | grep \* | cut -d' ' -f4 | cut -d'x' -f2),/' > -/.config/chromium/Local\ State
cat -/.config/chromium/Local\ State | perl -pe 's/\'right.*/\'right\': $(xrandr | grep \* | cut -d' ' -f4 | cut -d'x' -f1),/' > -/.config/chromium/Local\ State
while true; do chromium-browser %u --start-maximized; sleep 5s; done
If you don't want to allow access to the URL bar, simply insert '--kiosk' between %u and --start-maximized as shown above.
Some users share that adding '--incognito' instead of '--kiosk' will no longer worry about other users using the read-only Chromium user profile.
Once you've created the two files, run the command sudo chmod 755 /usr/share/xsessions/chromeKiosk.sh to execute this script.
Step 7: Automatic User Login in Kiosk Mode
The next step is to allow anyone to log in to the shared account and set up the computer to load this account upon startup. First, click on System =>Administration and select Users and Groups. This opens a window displaying both accounts available on the system. Ensure your regular account has a required login password to prevent unauthorized system access by other users.
Select the shared user account, then click on the Change button next to the Password field. In the next window displayed on the screen, choose Generate random password and check the box to allow passwordless login. Once done, close the user setup window.
Next, click on System, then select Administration => Login System. At the bottom right corner of the Login Screen Settings window, there's an Unlock button.
Click on this button and enter your password. After clicking Authenticate, a window will appear allowing you to select various options. Choose to log in as the restricted user, allowing the user to log in after 2 - 5 seconds. This allows you to make any desired changes. Additionally, select Kiosk Mode as the default session and click Close. This completes the setup of Ubuntu as a Kiosk Web application.
Step 8: Testing
After completing all the steps, restart your computer and automatically log in to the restricted user and display Chromium in full screen. If you have activated the --kiosk switch in chromeKiosk.sh, only the homepage should be displayed in full screen.
If Chromium fails to extend the edges after --kiosk is activated, there's a simple way to fix this. To expand Chromium, simply log in as a regular user and edit chromeKiosk.sh to remove the --kiosk switch.
Then log in as the restricted user, click the gear icon and select Options. Then in the Personal Stuff tab, choose Hide system title bar and use compact borders. Close the options window and resize Chromium to fit the screen. Then go back to the Options window and set it to Use system title bar and borders.
After completing the process, log out of the restricted user, simply reboot, and log in as a regular user. Edit chromeKiosk.sh back to include the --kiosk switch and Chromium will be in full-screen mode when you log in as the restricted user.
This article on Mytour has just guided you on setting up Ubuntu as a Kiosk Web application. Besides, you can also refer to some other articles, tutorials on the Ubuntu operating system such as file and folder encryption on Ubuntu to ensure the security of your data,...and many other articles. Wish you success!
