Titan (Computer)

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Titan is a GNU+Linux workstation at the Southeast Steuben County Library in Corning. It was built with the intention of introducing people to GNU+Linux, a computer operating system built by millions of people around the world. It was also built for letting GNU+Linux users have a computer to use at the library as well as for teaching computer programming. It is also the most powerful and secure public workstation at the library and runs the GNU+Linux Mint operating system. The name was coined by it's builder and library tech volunteer, Brandon "Theatre X" Smith, because of it's computing power and technical specifications, "It's such a powerful machine for it's time and I'm Greek and interested in my heritage's mythology. So it just sort of fit. I was going to name it Zeus, but that didn't feel right.".

= History =

Brandon "Theatre X" Smith spoke with library assistant director Brad Turner on the possibility of introducing a GNU+Linux workstation to the library as well as to address security concerns he had for patrons of the library. Turner liked the idea and was interested in it's implementation. Through the exchange of some emails, Turner mentioned he had a multimedia laptop that he felt would serve as a good computer of the project. Smith went to the library the next day, collected the laptop, and immediately headed home to work on it. GNU+Linux Mint was installed because Smith felt that the easiness of learning how to navigate and work Mint that he experienced, and saw others experience, would prove to be less of a turn off to new users of the system.

During it's development, as Smith was testing the multimedia programs of the system with the music video for "In the summertime" by Mungo Jerry, the screen went black and a burning smell emitted from the laptop and the screen was rendered useless. This is why the machine has an external monitor.

Titan is also the only patron workstation that has a Blu-Ray disc drive.

= Uses and software =

Titan was built with the following in mind:

Titan uses the GNU+Linux Mint operating system with the graphical user interface "Cinnamon". All of the web browsers installed on Titan have been modified so as to improve an individual's personal security and privacy while on-line. Titan uses, but not only uses, the following software: Titan also gives a user access to the Tor and Freenet networks with the warning that you are responsible for your own actions. It's version of Pidgin has Off-the-Record which allows for encrypted chatting between two or more users.
 * Security
 * Privacy
 * Freedom from heavy non-free license usage
 * Media editing
 * Gaming
 * Social networking
 * Personal work
 * HTTPS Everywhere
 * Mozilla Firefox
 * NoScript
 * Kdenlive
 * Audacity
 * Libreoffice
 * Pidgin
 * VLC
 * Gimp

-- = References =

1. Brandon "Theatre X" Smith wrote this article