WebProNews

A developer wants to organize a public "web station" effort to assist and connect Hurricane Katrina victims.

DesktopLinux.com outlines a plan by Steve Hargadon to establish a number of Linux-based web stations to help people on the ground have access to disaster relief info and news via the Internet.

Mr. Hargadon posts more about the plan on a web site dedicated to the volunteer effort:

Ultimately, the goal is to create the tools for immediate volunteer efforts to place public web stations in accessible areas after any major disaster, anywhere in the world. Rather than needing to be coordinated centrally, this effort can be undertaken at the grass-roots level by individuals in affected areas.

Older computers, Pentium 2 level or above, can run as a Firefox web station (or kiosk), requiring only 128mb or ram, a CD-ROM drive, a network card, and access to an Internet-connected network. Schools, libraries, agencies, and businesses could easily and quickly provide free public web stations to assist those displaced by the hurricane.

The computers needed are available in abundance for free or minimal cost, and many organizations have an excess of these older computers with no use for them.
The idea is a work in progress, and interested contributors should follow the site for more updates.

David Utter is a staff writer for WebProNews covering technology and business. Email him here.