As a data point, has anyone asked Parks if they’ve had any shrinkage since they took over? The cameras & kiosk has to have made a difference.
Excellent approach, at least on the full spectrum since its a printer driver could laser use the exact same idea?
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Absolutely! The software is designed for use on non-virtual printers, but you can easily enable it to track virtual printers as well.
Just a note that usernames and passwords are not secure and do not identify individuals reliably.
Further one of the synonyms for makerspace is hackaspace, and we have a fair number of hackers as members.
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It’s easy enough to claim ignorance, or forgetfulness about paying for a print. Subverting a payment or security system is a very different matter, with a different set of consequences imho.
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If anyone hacks into someone else’s account without the account holder’s permission, they will most likely be banned from DMS.
Related, all of the admin accounts for DMS have stronger password requirements and expire regularly.
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If they get caught.
But in addition to hacking there is password sharing, forgetting to log out, and sundry other problems with relying on usernames/passwords to control access and more specifically punish individuals.
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But this is a valid tool on the utility belt and, as pointed out by Adam, can help establish intent, which is one of the hardest things to know about a “happening”.
Yes it is a tool, I just wanted to point out that it is just a poor tool. Intent is only an issue with marginal cases. If someone has spent an hour of laser cutter time or printed 6 24x36" photos on the large format printers without paying there intent is clear. What is needed is identifying the culprret, and our video system is the only really decent option for that. At best this logging system can identify the time we need to be using the video to search for.
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I’ve asked them a few times, and Chris (the driver/stocker) has said that our shrinkage is the lowest on his route.
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This progressive set of rules is appealing. We are a litigious society as
it is, let’s institute internal rules, make sure everyone is informed, and
avoid legal hassles. Remember, this kind of theft is stealing from all of
us.
Sincerely,
Tim Nielsen
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