Floor Plan

In our intitial floor plan, we thought it would be useful to utilize the two shapes of tables available at New Macedonia – rectangle and trapezoid. We would set two computers at each rectangular table for the adults’ computers, and set three computer at each trapezoid. However, we realized that the trapezoid shape tables would not comfotably seat three patrons, and they would take up more space than the rectangular tables. In the end, we chose to use only the rectangular tables pushed against the walls with two computers on each. This gave the computer lab a more functional layout, took up less space, and provided a better view for the monitor who’s computer sat on the other side of the room.

Internet

The group originally suggested DSL for internet access. Ron investigated this option and found that DSL was not available to the church. When this was discovered, we suggested the possibility of cable internet access. While Ron was inquiring about cable internet, we also looked into using a Phoebus and Verizon wireless internet access. In the end, cable intenet was available, although it had not been installed at the time of our second visit.

Plan of Attack

• Computers
  • Repair hardware if necessary
  • Boot and Nuke
  • Install OS
  • Install updates
  • Install software

• Connections
  • Help New Macedonia navigate internet options
  • Create cables
  • Test cables
  • Ping

• Software
  • Investigate religious software
  • Explore monitoring/parental control options
  • Procure child educational and entertainment software

• Accessories
  • Recommend printer
  • Network printer
  • Install scanner

• Prepare for installation
  • Gather mice, cables, keyboards
  • Bring extra CD update and software CD’s

Software Plan

Ron and Alma gave our team an extensive list of software wishes. Although we were not able to provide New Macedonia with every item on their list due to license agreements and costs, we were able to find many free programs that met the needs of the church. For those programs that were not free or required the end user to agree to the terms of a license, a packet was provide to the church which described the software available in each category and gave instructions on where to download or purchase the software. Additionally, a large number of the educational and entertainment programs we had selected were available through the internet. We had originally planned on loading bookmarks on each computer in the lab once we had them networked at the site. Since the Internet access had not been installed due to the winter storm, we used the Phoebus to access the internet and loaded the bookmarks for the programs on each computer.