Laserfiche WebLink
132 <br />133 In selecting an electronic device the following considerations should be taken into account. <br />134 <br />135 a) iPads and Android devices are personal in nature. These devices are not readily shared <br />136 amongst several users. These tablets are considered personal in that each requires a valid <br />137 email address and single password to access the application stores and to apply updates. The <br />138 Apple iPad requires an iTunes account be created and the device assigned to that account. <br />139 This is the same for all Apple products including the iPhone and iPod. For Android, the user <br />140 is required to establish a Google mail (Gmail) account to have access to applications (free or <br />141 paid) through Google Play (formerly called Google MarketPlace). It is difficult, if not <br />142 impossible, to effectively manage these personal devices within a corporate or city network. <br />143 It therefore must be understood that Apple and Android devices must be managed and <br />144 maintained by the assigned user. Additionally these devices cannot used to access any city <br />145 network resources managed through Windows based servers including direct file and print <br />146 sharing. Access to the Metro -INET secured wireless network is not possible or permitted. <br />147 However there are available a number of city applications like Laserfiche Public Web, <br />148 SharePoint, and Exchange Outlook Web Access that are Internet published applications and <br />149 can be accessed from any Internet connection using city assigned user credentials. <br />150 b) While most developers create applications ( "apps ") for both the iPad and Android platforms, <br />151 the consistency in programming can vary. An application that is stable on the Android might <br />152 be flaky on the iPad, or vice versa.. Apple iPad was the first usable tablet on the market and <br />153 is the most popular so software developers spend more time creating iPad apps. But for the <br />154 purposes of accessing PDF documents and making notes, both the iPad and Android have an <br />155 equal amount of applications available that are suited for the intended purpose of electronic <br />156 packets. <br />157 c) Windows tablets and notebooks can be fully managed through the existing server and <br />158 network infrastructure in the same manner as all other city computers and notebooks. These <br />159 devices can be secured with city issued security certificates. All updates can be centrally <br />160 managed and distributed from the internal network. Domain managed Windows devices <br />161 have access to the protected Metro -INET Wi -Fi network and additionally can be granted <br />162 access to file and print services permitted by the city based on the assigned user account. It <br />163 is therefore strongly suggested and recommended that for city staff, only Windows based <br />164 tablets and notebooks be use. Aple and Android must again be considered personal with the <br />165 user responsible for managing and maintaining the device. <br />166 <br />167 5 Supporting and managing devices. <br />168 Given that most agencies within our IT services group are considering the use of tablet computers and <br />169 paperless packets it is conceivable that we could find another 100+ devices within the city network. It is not <br />170 possible given the current computer support load and staffing levels to absorb the responsibility for <br />171 managing these additional devices. The additional support demand that these devices could create is <br />172 dependent on the type of device. As already presented, Apple and Android devices need to be considered <br />173 personal devices. As such each user would be responsible for managing updates that are pushed out to these <br />174 devices on a monthly (in some cases, weekly) basis. Much of this is automated by the software developer. <br />175 The user only needs to accept the updates. Each user would need to insure that their assigned device is <br />176 secured and maintained properly. The city needs to only develop a plan or process for replacing or <br />177 temporarily providing a council member with another device in the event the assigned device is lost, <br />178 damaged, or otherwise unavailable at a meeting. <br />179 <br />Page 4 of 5 <br />8 <br />