Does anyone know of R&D regarding voting machine technology and the=20
tablet PC concept?=20

It's just a thought... but I know a major proprietary machine =
manufacturer is=20
Diebold (as in ATM cash machines). Yet they cannot make voting machines=20
spew out receipts like every ATM in America??=20

For what our local auditor says is the going price for one new voting=20
machine she'd been looking at to replace outdated equipment, one could=20
buy at least two tablet PCs (at consumer RETAIL-- and they'd be really=20
reasonable in multiples of 500 at government rates).=20

What about software development? Compared to complex functionality that=20
already exists, it seems to me that a "click this box" application =
wouldn't be=20
so tough to create. Secure encryption in PDF format is already to the =
level=20
that the IRS trusts it for online tax returns, so why is voting such an=20
obstacle? (And you even get a personal receipt via e-mail if you want-- =
what=20
a concept...)=20

The voting machines at each polling place could certainly be restricted =
to a=20
local on-site network if other security was an issue. I know I'm no =
expert on=20
networking, security, encryption, etc., but this just is NOT so =
difficult a=20
challenge, in my view. Even I can make a fairly secure PDF with form =
fields=20
and radio buttons, and I'm just a self-taught graphics instructor.=20

I cannot believe that the banking and securities industries, not to =
mention=20
the DOD, don't already have protocols in place that would be more secure =

than needed for ballots.=20

A tablet PC would be IDEAL for each voting booth, I think. The screen=20
magnification and contrast could be adjusted by the user, a giant =
monitor=20
could be attached for the elderly, if needed, and the ballot could be =
READ=20
ALOUD BY THE MACHINE to anyone who needs accessibility features-- even=20
a multi-lingual option is built in. I have enough trouble with amendment =

and initiative language as a native speaker of English-- what about =
those=20
who are not?=20

Thanks for listening!! Anybody know anything on this?

--romy

Don't know a think about using Tablet PCs as voting machines, Romy, but it
does sound like an interesting concept. Perhaps someone who reads this
newsgroup is involved with voting machines, and could supply some
information.

I did note on Tuesday's election night reporting among the various
television station reporters/anchor desk people, etc., a definite movement
to Tablets for everything from map displays and charts to using them as
whiteboards with various tally totals. 8-)
--
Chris H.
Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC
Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/
Associate Expert
Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone


"romy" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:498701c4c411$f3fa45d0$a301280a@phx.gbl...
Does anyone know of R&D regarding voting machine technology and the
tablet PC concept?

It's just a thought... but I know a major proprietary machine manufacturer
is
Diebold (as in ATM cash machines). Yet they cannot make voting machines
spew out receipts like every ATM in America??

For what our local auditor says is the going price for one new voting
machine she'd been looking at to replace outdated equipment, one could
buy at least two tablet PCs (at consumer RETAIL-- and they'd be really
reasonable in multiples of 500 at government rates).

What about software development? Compared to complex functionality that
already exists, it seems to me that a "click this box" application wouldn't
be
so tough to create. Secure encryption in PDF format is already to the level
that the IRS trusts it for online tax returns, so why is voting such an
obstacle? (And you even get a personal receipt via e-mail if you want-- what
a concept...)

The voting machines at each polling place could certainly be restricted to a
local on-site network if other security was an issue. I know I'm no expert
on
networking, security, encryption, etc., but this just is NOT so difficult a
challenge, in my view. Even I can make a fairly secure PDF with form fields
and radio buttons, and I'm just a self-taught graphics instructor.

I cannot believe that the banking and securities industries, not to mention
the DOD, don't already have protocols in place that would be more secure
than needed for ballots.

A tablet PC would be IDEAL for each voting booth, I think. The screen
magnification and contrast could be adjusted by the user, a giant monitor
could be attached for the elderly, if needed, and the ballot could be READ
ALOUD BY THE MACHINE to anyone who needs accessibility features-- even
a multi-lingual option is built in. I have enough trouble with amendment
and initiative language as a native speaker of English-- what about those
who are not?

Thanks for listening!! Anybody know anything on this?

--romy

romy wrote:

> A tablet PC would be IDEAL for each voting booth, I think. The screen
> magnification and contrast could be adjusted by the user, a giant monitor
> could be attached for the elderly, if needed, and the ballot could be READ
> ALOUD BY THE MACHINE to anyone who needs accessibility features-- even
> a multi-lingual option is built in. I have enough trouble with amendment
> and initiative language as a native speaker of English-- what about those
> who are not?

Personally I'd say a Tablet is overkill compared to a regular
touch-sensitive display found in ATMs and other public places around the
world. Adding a pen in a high-demand context like this simply adds
another failure-point.

>Personally I'd say a Tablet is overkill compared to a regular=20
>touch-sensitive display found in ATMs and other public places around =
the=20
>world. Adding a pen in a high-demand context like this simply adds=20
>another failure-point.

You are absolutely right that a tablet has much more functionality than =
is=20
needed for this purpose, an oversized PDA would be plenty-- but I still =
have=20
two significant concerns:=20
(1) We're told that voting machines cost around $3,000 to $3,500 in US=20
dollars, some more. And that's without extended warrantly and service=20
agreements. And batteries which have next-to-no shelf life, it sounds =
like,=20
unless the machines are regularly plugged in to recharge between=20
elections. A basic tablet is less than half that cost, even at retail; =
in bulk the=20
price would be a lot better, easily three and maybe four units for the =
same=20
tax dollars.=20
(2) It bothers me that the hardware and software are proprietary, =
thereby=20
holding us in the grip of very few viable suppliers, expensive repairs, =
and=20
expensive tech support. Not to mention few experts who know how they=20
really work at the programming level.
If the stylus did prove unreliable in testing, as you suggest, I still =
think we'd=20
be better off with low-end laptops and mice. Not that I'm keen on =
Microsoft=20
getting another inroad-- but I believe that's better than the =
proprietary=20
route, with the whole country gradually migrating to high-tech voting. =
We=20
shall see, I guess.

"romy" <anonymous@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:4a2e01c4c45c$e814f760$a301280a@phx.gbl
>> Personally I'd say a Tablet is overkill compared to a regular
>> touch-sensitive display found in ATMs and other public places around
>> the world. Adding a pen in a high-demand context like this simply
>> adds another failure-point.
>
> You are absolutely right that a tablet has much more functionality
> than is
> needed for this purpose, an oversized PDA would be plenty-- but I
> still have
> two significant concerns:
> (1) We're told that voting machines cost around $3,000 to $3,500 in US
> dollars, some more. And that's without extended warrantly and service
> agreements. And batteries which have next-to-no shelf life, it sounds
> like,
> unless the machines are regularly plugged in to recharge between
> elections. A basic tablet is less than half that cost, even at
> retail; in bulk the
> price would be a lot better, easily three and maybe four units for
> the same
> tax dollars.
> (2) It bothers me that the hardware and software are proprietary,
> thereby
> holding us in the grip of very few viable suppliers, expensive
> repairs, and
> expensive tech support. Not to mention few experts who know how they
> really work at the programming level.
> If the stylus did prove unreliable in testing, as you suggest, I
> still think we'd
> be better off with low-end laptops and mice. Not that I'm keen on
> Microsoft
> getting another inroad-- but I believe that's better than the
> proprietary
> route, with the whole country gradually migrating to high-tech
> voting. We
> shall see, I guess.

That $3K to $3.5K includes the (expensive) program.

--
Frank Saunders, MS-MVP, IE/OE
Please respond in Newsgroup only. Do not send email
http://www.fjsmjs.com
Protect your PC
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

romy wrote:
>>Personally I'd say a Tablet is overkill compared to a regular
>>touch-sensitive display found in ATMs and other public places around the
>>world. Adding a pen in a high-demand context like this simply adds
>>another failure-point.
>
>
> You are absolutely right that a tablet has much more functionality than is
> needed for this purpose, an oversized PDA would be plenty-- but I still have
> two significant concerns:
> (1) We're told that voting machines cost around $3,000 to $3,500 in US
> dollars, some more. And that's without extended warrantly and service
> agreements. And batteries which have next-to-no shelf life, it sounds like,
> unless the machines are regularly plugged in to recharge between
> elections. A basic tablet is less than half that cost, even at retail; in bulk the
> price would be a lot better, easily three and maybe four units for the same
> tax dollars.

There's a world of custom devices out there. Someone told me that those
hand-held check-in devices used by car-rental firms are similarly
expensive. But while some of the folks in the political process have
shares in the companies doing things the old way...

> (2) It bothers me that the hardware and software are proprietary, thereby
> holding us in the grip of very few viable suppliers, expensive repairs, and
> expensive tech support. Not to mention few experts who know how they
> really work at the programming level.

My observation of living in the US for 5yrs is that there's a lot of
overly high-tech devices applied to not getting things done very
efficiently. A lot of processing tasks in banking, medicine, insurance
etc seem to have been mapped out in a Charles Dickens novel compared to
what I see in the rest of the developed world. Bill-paying seems to be
about 15yrs behind. I found I could manage my financial affairs in
Australia from the US with greater ease and speed than I could local
ones in the US.

> If the stylus did prove unreliable in testing, as you suggest, I still think we'd
> be better off with low-end laptops and mice. Not that I'm keen on Microsoft
> getting another inroad-- but I believe that's better than the proprietary
> route, with the whole country gradually migrating to high-tech voting. We
> shall see, I guess.

Old 486s with touch-screens would suffice. No pens, no mice. We're not
talking about a high-overhead task here! Plus you don't want folks being
able to walk off with pens or yank mice out of sockets.

Actually a better preparation for any political term would be to have a
voting booth with a brick wall and two impact-sensitive areas to
head-butt...

>Old 486s with touch-screens would suffice. No pens, no mice. We're not=20
>talking about a high-overhead task here! Plus you don't want folks =
being=20
>able to walk off with pens or yank mice out of sockets.
---
....now THAT would bring the electoral house of cards crashing down,=20
wouldn't it?
---
>Actually a better preparation for any political term would be to have a =

>voting booth with a brick wall and two impact-sensitive areas to=20
>head-butt...
---
Indeed! Actually the tablet PC was my second-best idea-- the first one =
was=20
my ever-resiliant 16-year-old MacClassic (the Volkswagen of computers)=20
running cheery and easy-to-program HyperCard stacks on a mere 40-meg=20
hard drive. Can you picture anything more user-friendly than software =
that=20
smiles at the voter?