I think they like it...

[cormac]

My co-conspirator, fosnevy wrote the following email to the SCA Heralds' list.

Greetings, all,

...in the middle of a project, and we want to see how much interest
there is before any money is spent. I am not speaking as Wreath, this
me being a guy who does SCA heraldry and knows computers, among other
co-conspirators.

Cormac Mor came up with the idea of a USB memory stick that boots on
any ("Windows") computer and has a usable copy of the O&A locally,
with no network access required. It may also work with newer,
intel-core Macs, though that is entirely untested. He mentioned it to
me and we ran with it.

We would like to know is how many people would be interested, and how
many copies we should plan on producing if there is interest. They
will be available at cost - nobody will be making a profit.

The system currently includes:

1. The online O&A - the same one you find at http://oanda.sca.org
2. http://heraldry.sca.org
3. The Pennsic Traceable Art project.
4. An update script which will make fresh copies of the above sites
and do everything necessary to update the local functionality so that
no

All of these work locally, no network access required. This is
intended for use at consult tables, major wars, and other remote
locations where network access is either unavailable, expensive, or
slow. We're hoping to include the MNA/MHA collection, and the Academy
of Saint Gabriel letters, if the Academy and the authors give their
permission. If anyone has suggestions/offers of other things to
include, please feel free to contact Cormac or me directly.

At this point, it's not done - permissions need to be secured, we're
still finalizing details, etc - but it works just fine.

- Istvan

The response has been phenomenal. I think we found an idea whose time had come. We'll never completely replace the old paper O&A, of course (there will always be consultation tables in places with no power), but I think we'll see fewer and fewer of them as time goes by.

My new task is to come up with a suitably-themed desktop background. *fires up Photoshop*

Comments

[dr-zrfq.livejournal.com]

*grin*

Unfortunately, I still cannot use one.

[cormac.livejournal.com]

Why not?

[dr-zrfq.livejournal.com]

I would need a stick that runs on Linux. Also, since the idea is for use on portable computers, I would need a portable computer with a working USB port.

[cormac.livejournal.com]

[b] is what we're developing. What you'd need was a portable computer that can boot from USB. The "Big White Stick" (working name) is a fully-contained OS, so it could take the rest. And right now, the Acer EEE netbooks are going for around $300, and will continue to fall as time goes on, so you're getting close.

[dieppe.livejournal.com]

I have a 64mb memory stick with "Damn Small Linux" on it, and it boots up just fine. If ya put things on it that are available and clickable, there's no reason (Mac not withstanding) this shouldn't work.

[aliskye.livejournal.com]

I'll take 2! :)

The College of Scribes of Caid would love this (and possibly the scribes of a few other kingdoms as well.)

[cormac.livejournal.com]

Most likely. We're mostly looking at consultation applications, but if you can think of anything that would be useful to the scribes, please let me know!

[the-celestia.livejournal.com]

I may be interested in one, not for consultation (I do not have time nor the patience for that) but for the Traceable Project aspect, as it would make doing heraldic sewing projects a WHOLE lot easier.

[cormac.livejournal.com]

http://www.aeheralds.net/Links/AE_Traceable_Art/TraceableArt.html

[the-celestia.livejournal.com]

Thank you! That will be quite helpful (never fear, I'll still be plagueing you with questions, I am sure).

[ermine-rat.livejournal.com]

it sounds like a worthwhile idea