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Lock Down Internet Explorer on Microsoft Surface Tablet

Experts,
I have a web based assessment on a Microsoft Surface Tablet. It's being accessed through Internet Explorer 11.

In my workflow, I'll be handing the Surface tablet to my users. The problem I'm encountering in IE, is that as the patient uses my website, the address bar constantly appears (with the back button). I would love to disable these so my users will not accidentally navigate to a different page or click the back button.

Is there a way to do this? Or is there some type of program (or even a different browser) that will force my users to stay inside of the web based app that I'm giving them? I just want to prevent as much user error as I can.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.
-Dan

Steven Harris

The problem I'm encountering in IE, is that as the patient uses my website, the address bar constantly appears (with the back button). I would love to disable these so my users will not accidentally navigate to a different page or click the back button.

Keep in mind that this is the GUI interface of a browser and not your website. While it may be possible to bypass some of the functions of the browser, this is an overall bad idea in my opinion. You may add more confusion to users who are unable to use a browser in the way they are used to, detracting from the general usability of your site, etc. Also, as far as I am aware, there is no way to fully disable the back button in all cases. I.e. there will be ways around it or cases where it never works at all.

What type of information are you currently working with in which you want to modify this type of interface? There may be a better solution fr your type of intended usage or purpose.

Merete

Why not reprogram your web page to show links that point to only what is accessible.
Hide anything else on your page.
It is doable in Chrome and FF with a small apps known as backstop,
Download BackStop from the Chrome store
How to Disable Backspace as Back Button in Chrome and Firefox
It is not doable with internet explorer without tinkering with the registry of each user since windows 7 internet explorer is integrated into windows.
Chrome is superior to internet explorer and safer. IE now looks like Chrome.

David Johnson, CD

or even better create a windows application that simply has a web browser control in it that points to your website.

dsg138

ASKER

Thanks everyone for the comments.

I've attached a screenshot to better explain.
The user can do everything they need to from within my web app.
The problem is that as they navigate anywhere throughout my app, the IE address bar rises up from the bottom of the page. So even clicking a link or button will cause that bar to rise up from the bottom. I've attached a screenshot of how it looks when navigating the Experts-Exchange website. I would love for that not to happen.

I looked into other browsers like Chrome or Firefox but I don't believe they have versions that work on Windows RT (for the Surface OS).

Creating a windows app could be a possibility I suppose, but that is way above my expertise.
IE-Screenshot.jpg

SOLUTION

Merete

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David Johnson, CD

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dsg138

ASKER

Thanks Merete, I have "Always Show" as OFF already. I wish there was a property called "Never Show".

David, I think Kiosk Mode is the way to go. It expands IE to the whole screen, not showing the address bars.

I think this will work.

Thanks all for the help!
-Dan

Merete

A picture paints a thousand words.
Good to see it solved
thanks..