Photographic Kiosk

[DarrenToogood]

Hello all,

During the month of December, BWI are attending, as official photographers, a large event on the South Coast. As part of the event, it is our duty to take photographs and display them to the members of the public to buy - very much like a theme park. We are needing an effective system as we are going to be there for around 4 weekends with a total selling time of around 72 hours.

Throughout this event we will have our own kiosk area to display these photographs. For the setup I am thinking of the following;

- Laptop with a program on to display all the photographs on the CF card
- Once the member of the public gives us their number, we search it
- We bring up their photograh on our laptop, full size
- We show the member of the public the image

This is where I wish to expand, however not sure if I can. I would like to connect a VGA monitor to the laptop to display the full image to them, however how do I make it so it only comes on when the full screen image is up - I basiclly don't want them to see us finding the picture etc. At busy times we will have two laptops running to reduce the waiting time, so could I connect two laptops to one monitor?

Is there anyway to do this, and do you have any other suggestions to a setup we could have?

[darkchicken101]

Just connect the monitor in extended desktop mode. Then, you can drag the opened picture across to it once you've found it.

[DarrenToogood]

I like the idea. Have the monitor with a BWI background and hide the start menu, and then drag the window over to that monitor once it is open.

This would work the best.

[Recursion]

You dont need to hide the start menu, it will stay on the laptop screen. The display will just show a background and any windows dragged over to it.

[DarrenToogood]

Brilliant - This sounds like the ideal plan.

Now the problem is trying to get a printer, 2 laptops, a monitor, 5 cartridges of ink and 800 pieces of paper down there! Plus all our photographic equipment, clothes and paperwork.

[N!ck]

Do as George said with the extended desktop thing, but with two laptops incorporate a VGA switch like http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SVGA-VGA-Switch-Box-use-TFT-Monitor-with-XBox-PC_W0QQitemZ300261901931QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item30 0261901931&_trkparms=72%3A1301|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A13 18&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 or http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/VGA-Data-Switchbox-2-Way-Splitter-Monitor-PC-Switch-Box_W0QQitemZ290266592951QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item2 90266592951&_trkparms=72%3A1301|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A13 18&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14 but set it up opposite to how it tells you, so connect the monitor to the I/O port and each laptop to an A/B port. Then use something like Ultramon http://realtimesoft.com/ultramon/ to click a button and swap the image to the other screen.

[DarrenToogood]

Thanks for the links. Might be worth investing in one of those.

I have done a sketch of how the desktop could look..

http://www.tehupload.com/uploads/01131a51db7fdc2displaykiosktest.jpg

[N!ck]

Yes, but don't have anything on the desktop of the second screen.

[timROGERS]

You could make quite a good PHP script for the gallery and cataloging of pictures. If you're interested, ask someone or PM me (won't be around until next Sunday though).

[DarrenToogood]

We don't really need that. I will have a manner kiosk and when the number if given to us, we search the number.

A script system won't really work, as we only need to display one image at a time over a number of CF cards - A script wouldn't be suitable, plus we can just enter 4 numbers and click 'slide show' - Does the same job.

[Andys]

I think that DarkChicken's idea is good.
But the desktop bg is ugly :P

[DarrenToogood]

Any suggestions for a desktop background :)?

[Dentafrice]

You can use a program called Ultramon.. which puts two buttons on every window.. and allows you to instantly switch a window to another screen.. without having to drag it.

[DarrenToogood]

I will install that also then. Overall I am looking to have this:

- Laptop linked up to a VGA monitor with extended desktop
- Ultramon to switch the image to the external monitor
- During busier times, have two laptops linked to one monitor
OR
- Take two monitors

[Recursion]

I say the two monitors would be a better idea.

[DarrenToogood]

It's just getting them into the suitcase and taking them down to the event on the train. Have to think about weight, safety and how many suitcases I will need for printer, monitors, photographic kit, paper, ink, paperwork and clothes...

I think I will end up taking two suitcases down plus Alex and Rob taking one each - 4 suitcases on a train isn't the most easist thing to monuver.