Navy eReader Device (NeRD)

[AnemicOak]

Originally Posted by QuantumIguana

So, no one can add books to these devices and when they want new books they have to purchase a new e-reader? Or is there some other way to communicate with it?

Perhaps the device can be opened and hooked into a computer in some way or there is an internal SD card that can be changed out by the Navy library folks from time to time.

[adbosch]

Creepy. Manipulation. Propaganda only. Misinformation. Brainwashing. Creepy.

[Quelthan]

As a former submariner, I can tell you that the USN does allow personnel electronic devices (ereaders, MP3 players, laptops, etc.) on board. However, we also have a small area (about the size of a kitchen cabinet on attack submarines and holds about 50 books) to store physical books. I suspect that the NeRD will replace the physical books. This will free up another area to store items (critical parts, dry goods, etc.) Space is always at a premium on board.

Several of the sailors I worked with only read underway, and only read what was in the ship's library. This way, several more books (300 in place of 50) would be available. As far as loading new books, the device may have an internal microXD chip that could be replaced on shore at a facility with special tools.

Creepy. Manipulation. Propaganda only. Misinformation. Brainwashing. Creepy

I disagree with this. The concept of preloading the books is no different than being limited by which books a library chooses to offer. Since these ereaders are not and will not be the only method sailors can read, the choice of what to read is still in the hands of the individuals.

[ApK]

Originally Posted by adbosch

[blah blah blah.]

If you would like to try to justify your, uh, opinion as something other than either gross ignorance or your own propagandizing, please take it to the P&R forum where someone might care.

[speakingtohe]

Originally Posted by mrmikel

I think that a touchscreen will fail long before push buttons. It is unnecessary for a basic book and probably makes the screen a little easier to seal, if that was done to keep out contaminants in the confined atmosphere of a submarine.

Not been my experience. No moving parts on the touchscreen. Less additional cracks and crevices for stuff to get into. Many touchscreen control devices have been used in industrial control for 30+years and the majority are still working. And then you have your phones, iPods and tablets etc.

Of course the screen itself can break but what good are the buttons then.

Helen

[Glorfindel]

^e-ink in perticular.

[Tarana]

I wonder if that means they will make the current deployed Navy folks give up their kindles and nooks? My sister's nephew has been using his Nook on board his ship since last Christmas. That would suck because he's a fantasy-only guy and could care less about spy thrillers or mysteries.

edited to add: I missed your post Quelthan. That's good that the Kindles and Nooks will be able to stay with the deployed. It is a HUGE spacesaver and gives a lot of variety since either unit manages well over 700 ebooks without any issue.

[frahse]

Simple electromagnetic induction could be used to either charge a battery or to provide new data to a sealed device.

I would expect it more probable that new data (books) would be introduced into these devices by putting the device into a press of some sort and "separating" the outer shell which would allow faster more sure means of changing data.

Please note that I say this without having seen or held one of the devices and I have never seen a schematic of one.

[Lutraa]

Originally Posted by IcecreamLtDan

USB devices are not allowed on government computers. I'm civil sevice and deal with that everyday so I can only imagine being on a ship or submarine it's even more strict. The multi function machies I deal with, and part of my job is repairing them, have their USB ports and fax capabilities disabled if they are on a government network that has internet access.

Interesting. I, too, work for the federal government, but my government smart phone is currently charging via one of the USB ports on my government laptop, my external backup drive is plugged into another port, and I use thumb drives all the time when sharing documents or PPTs at workshops etc. My new gov't computer has a built-in smartcard reader but my old one didn't, so I also used to use a government-issued USB smartcard reader. I.e., I have a feeling the USB ban is not universal (I work for the Dept. of the Interior).

[IcecreamLtDan]

Must be, I can say for certain that what you're doing would not be allowed in the DoD. We have classes every year, I'm sure you do as well, about the stuff and charging cell phones, government or not and thumb drives on government computers are definite no-no's. USB backup drives are only allowed during a backup and only by use of the IT department, and even then, only certain people as I am in the IT department and I can't use them. I fix computers, printers, copiers, scanners and faxes, among other things. Heck, I'm not even allowed administrative rights on a lot of the things I work on, and issue I fight constantly.

[IcecreamLtDan]

I was actually going to send myself an email to my home address to post on here showing what I mean, but I forgot about it until almost the end of the day. I did find an email at work that was sent to us a while back with the following blurb to illustrate what I'm refering to.

"The following devices, including plugging in USB connectors for battery charging are banned from connecting to network computers:

Thumb drives, USB flash drives, memory sticks and other flash storage devices. Here is a list of examples.

- iPods and Sony PSPs
- Kindle and eBook readers
- Personal and Government-issued cell phones
- Camera and camcorders
- Flash media card readers"

Things like card readers, mice, keyboards, etc, that are USB powered are allowed on network computers, but things that can be considered a storage device are not. Ironically enough, there's no problem with us using CDR's or CDRW's though as I use them quite often to update drivers or download and transfer service or parts manuals so I don't see the difference but, ehh, whatever.

[Indio777]

Originally Posted by Lutraa

Interesting. I, too, work for the federal government, but my government smart phone is currently charging via one of the USB ports on my government laptop, my external backup drive is plugged into another port, and I use thumb drives all the time when sharing documents or PPTs at workshops etc. My new gov't computer has a built-in smartcard reader but my old one didn't, so I also used to use a government-issued USB smartcard reader. I.e., I have a feeling the USB ban is not universal (I work for the Dept. of the Interior).

No, it's not universal. It all depends on what part of the government you work for. I work in the Congressional branch and we can use thumb drives, external hard drives, etc.

[rollei]

Must have free up some space in the submarine with a e-reader.