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University of Waterloo Internet Kiosk

Frequently Asked Questions

This section contains answers to the most frequently asked questions about the University of Waterloo Internet Kiosk. For questions not covered here, please visit the Contact Us section.

How do I log out?

Simply exiting the web browser terminates the current user's session. All cached information is erased and the system is restarted, returning to the initial login screen. An inactivity monitor is also in effect which will terminate a user's session after one minute of inactivity.

How do I print? Printing currently unavailable

The printer is located at the SLC Turnkey Desk.

Printing from the web browser is a simple matter of clicking the Print button. A print preview is also available by clicking the Preview button. If viewing a PDF, however, it is necessary to use the PDF viewer's print button, found along the lower edge of the PDF viewing window, symbolized by a printer icon. Using the web browser's Print button will not print the PDF's content.

Printing from the Kiosk also requires funds on the user's printing account. To view account information, visit the eXtensible Accounting System (XAS) web page. Funds can be added to a XAS printing account from your Watcard at the SLC Turnkey Desk.

Why can't I run any programs?

Only one program is accessible to the end-user: the Opera web browser. It is started automatically after logging in, and the user's session ends upon its termination.

Why can't I download any files?

For security reasons, downloading is disabled on UWIK systems.

Why won't certain sites load?

Only HTTP and HTTPS protocols are permitted; if a site uses other protocols, it may not load properly. Furthermore, only Java, PDF, and Flash plugins are installed; if a site requires additional plugins, it may not load properly.

Why won't certain pages print properly?

Certain web pages use complicated or advanced formatting techniques which are not handled well by the printing system employed on UWIK systems. In these cases, it may be necessary to use a general-purpose workstation where the printer settings are more customizable, or where the web page content can be copied to a word processor for editing and reformatting.

What personal information is saved?

Absolutely nothing. Upon exiting the web browser, the current user is logged out and any information cached during their session is erased.