Navy eReader Device (NeRD)

[ApK]

Originally Posted by IcecreamLtDan

USB devices are not allowed on government computers.

Pretty sure the CAC readers are still USB.
But as for storage devices, here's a fairly recent article:
http://www.luke.af.mil/news/story_pr...p?id=123360066
It's about the Air Force, but I'm sure Navy rules are similar.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by ApK

Pretty sure the CAC readers are still USB.
But as for storage devices, here's a fairly recent article:
http://www.luke.af.mil/news/story_pr...p?id=123360066
It's about the Air Force, but I'm sure Navy rules are similar.

Seems like they're doing it the hard way, in taking action against people who actually try and use USB devices. Why not simply have security software running on the computers in the first place, which disables the USB ports? That's what the company I work for does.

[ApK]

If I had to guess, assuming the bureaucracy and processes are no more streamlined than when I was a Navy IT working with the Navy/Marine Corps Intranet at the turn of the century, it may have to do with the fact that some approved devices are allowed, so there would need to be a management and administration infrastructure, including both software, databases and people, for handling every mil computer world-wide. It was probably much easier, faster and cheaper to just put in the info pop up at login and let each local facility handle the enforcement.

ApK

[gabby98]

I wonder if they'll eventually have it so that family members can order/send one directly instead of just having to share ship wide.

Would also have the added benefit for others, if when that person leaves the service, they can then give it to a friend/newbie or donate it to the library for them to distribute.

[kacir]

Originally Posted by HarryT

The whole point of it is to minimise radio emissions, for use on submarines. Sticking a radio transmitter (ie WiFi) on the thing would rather defeat the purpose.

Originally Posted by speakingtohe

Are all other ereaders prohibited on submarines? I would think a non-wifi device would be allowed?

Originally Posted by pdurrant

For security reasons there may be a prohibition on any USB storage devices, which would include all ordinary ebook reading devices.

There are some posts under the article on the Verge from sailors. They say that they usually take with them a notebook, iPod and a Kindle on a submarine.
So why does the official reader has to be crippled?
Perhaps to prevent anybody from stealing the books from the reader?

[WillAdams]

The devices are likely intended for standing watch in secure areas where all electronics must be Tempest approved.

[Barty]

Originally Posted by IcecreamLtDan

USB devices are not allowed on government computers. I'm civil sevice and deal with that everyday so I can only imagine being on a ship or submarine it's even more strict. The multi function machies I deal with, and part of my job is repairing them, have their USB ports and fax capabilities disabled if they are on a government network that has internet access.

The Iranians learned about the dangers of USB the hard way.

[IcecreamLtDan]

Originally Posted by ApK

Pretty sure the CAC readers are still USB.
But as for storage devices, here's a fairly recent article:
http://www.luke.af.mil/news/story_pr...p?id=123360066
It's about the Air Force, but I'm sure Navy rules are similar.

All of our CAC readers are built into the keyboards these days. My comment would probably have been more correct in saying that no USB storage devices are allowed in government computers that can connect to the government network. We have our own internal network and use USB storage devices there all the time, we just can't use them on the internet enabled networks.

[GA Russell]

I love the idea. If I were the president, I'd have one issued to every member of the armed forces, and order them to read all the books!

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by JAcheson

Engadget has a story about the US Navy's new eReader device, which is a locked-down eInk device containing a static library of books:

http://www.engadget.com/2014/05/07/navy-e-reader/

It's hardly attractive to me, but if I were serving on a ship with no other source of reading material, it would be a lot better than nothing. I wonder if it is waterproofed?

My library has something similar. You can check out an e-reader or ipad, but they are locked down such that the books on there and apps are pre-loaded. You can see what books are on each reader before checking out the device (they have several kindles and an ipad). There are two kindles dedicated to YA, one for mystery, one for general reading and I think the other is sci/fi/fantasy. They buy the books from Amazon for the library but can swap them out. So there is only 20 or so loaded at a given time, but they aren't necessarily the same 20 all the time.

I don't dare check any of the devices out because if something happens to the device, you have to pay for it, along with a recovery fee. My library has a recovery fee of 7 dollars per lost/destroyed book (on top of the price of the book itself). I don't even want to know what their idea of a recovery fee is for something electronic!

[QuantumIguana]

So, no one can add books to these devices and when they want new books they have to purchase a new e-reader? Or is there some other way to communicate with it?

[mrmikel]

I think that a touchscreen will fail long before push buttons. It is unnecessary for a basic book and probably makes the screen a little easier to seal, if that was done to keep out contaminants in the confined atmosphere of a submarine.

[eschwartz]

Originally Posted by BearMountainBooks

My library has something similar. You can check out an e-reader or ipad, but they are locked down such that the books on there and apps are pre-loaded. You can see what books are on each reader before checking out the device (they have several kindles and an ipad). There are two kindles dedicated to YA, one for mystery, one for general reading and I think the other is sci/fi/fantasy. They buy the books from Amazon for the library but can swap them out. So there is only 20 or so loaded at a given time, but they aren't necessarily the same 20 all the time.

I don't dare check any of the devices out because if something happens to the device, you have to pay for it, along with a recovery fee. My library has a recovery fee of 7 dollars per lost/destroyed book (on top of the price of the book itself). I don't even want to know what their idea of a recovery fee is for something electronic!

By locked down, you mean they have disabled the USB connection as well? Or merely locked the appstore/bookstore to prevent you from spending the library's money on whatever stuff you want?

My library has a processing fee of $28 but (unofficially?) they are grateful I bought replacement copies on the rare occasion my books go "missing" in the dorm. Instead of sending the money to city hall and MAYBE getting it back as part of their budget, they just re-label the book and the library is just as full as before.

[BearMountainBooks]

Originally Posted by eschwartz

By locked down, you mean they have disabled the USB connection as well? Or merely locked the appstore/bookstore to prevent you from spending the library's money on whatever stuff you want?

My library has a processing fee of $28 but (unofficially?) they are grateful I bought replacement copies on the rare occasion my books go "missing" in the dorm. Instead of sending the money to city hall and MAYBE getting it back as part of their budget, they just re-label the book and the library is just as full as before.

Our library prefers the money. You get caught trying to replace the book and they go all gestapo on you as if you are actually guilty of a heinous crime. I kid you not. If you get caught twice, they revoke your card, although once people figure out you can't really replace it just by writing hte library name on the book, they don't try. More people get caught making a copy of a movie because they put the wrong cd back in the case (the copy rather than the original), or they make a copy of an audio book and put one of their CDs in there by mistake. That one will get you a trip to the library director's office--and same thing. Do it again and your card will be revoked. There be some scary people that work at my library.

Not entirely sure, but I think they disable the USB port. They are basically dead objects that you can read on. The iPad has a few apps on it, but I have never looked to see what they are--I want to say they are learning tools, but my memory from looking at the descriptions isn't all that good. Essentially they do not want anyone to be able to USE the device for other than reading. When talking to the librarian she said nothing can be ported on or off the thing, but not having checked them out I don't know for certain how it all works.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by IcecreamLtDan

All of our CAC readers are built into the keyboards these days.

And the keyboards are connected how? Just messing with you...I knew what you meant.