http://www.tuaw.com/2012/06/07/several-airports-installing-ipads-for-public-use/ OTG Management is a company primarily known for running those expensive shops and restaurants in airports, but they're about to do something new and very cool -- installing iPads that are available for use by anyone waiting for a flight. The first airports to see these new devices are New York's LaGuardia, Toronto Pearson International, and Minneapolis-St.Paul International. You won't be able to just pick up a free iPad and wander around the terminal with it, however. The iPads are locked to a table and running apps for doing those important things -- browsing, looking at Facebook updates, playing some games, or shopping online. There's a method to OTG's madness of providing free iPad use. The iPads are used to point customers to their other properties as kind of a concierge for airline passengers. Enter your flight number and you can see if it's been delayed or if the gate has changed. If you have a while to wait, the iPad suggests that you go find a restaurant to relax in. The virtual concierge also recommends items for purchase in OTG Management stores -- you can browse and buy items, and then have them delivered to your gate for pickup. The iPad stations can also be used to plug in your phone or laptop for charging. Read More: http://www.tuaw.com/2012/06/07/several-airports-installing-ipads-for-public-use/
neat idea but there is something icky about touching an ipad after all those dirty fingers have touch it too.
You mean after the guy who was eating a whopper with fries while looking at their facebook MySpace page?
As opposed to the arm rest, seat belt or overhead bin door of the airplane? At least the glass surfaces can be wiped down and disinfected easily. I actually saw them at the DL terminal in LGA a couple times last month. The real issue I have with them is that they take up too much space, making the boarding area even more crowded than it already was. Not a problem in some airports where there is plenty of room at the gates, but at LGA it is most definitely an issue.
I would not be entering passwords to access accounts into a device I do not know or control. Sounds like it could be a treasure trove for a good hacker.
Me either, but many do, and are often quite careless about their information. It's always surprising when you use a public computer and find that someone has left their mail account, etc. logged in.
I have seen that in hotel business centers. I tend to send them an email from their own account advising them that it is a really bad idea and then log them out, clear cookies, ...
