Kiosks/TouchScreens/Interactive


What’s in the Future for the Kiosk Industry?

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by Sam Pryor, Protouch

In today's fast-paced technological world, Protouch takes a look at what lies ahead in the future of the kiosk industry...

Olympian

Food and Beverage Kiosks

The high tech future of vending machines sees technology redefining the customer vending experience; with machines at its recent I/O conference, vending kiosks could soon see similar technologies being rolled out. that deliver fun and engaging vending. With Google recently showcasing a cocktail mixing robot called 'Makr Shakr' 

As vending machines become less about being a device that solely dispenses things, and more about an interface that interacts with the consumer, the future possibilities for vending kiosks are limitless.

Eye Control

Technology is constantly evolving and even though touch screen is still a relatively new concept, it may not be long before we see another one of our senses taking control. Just like the touch of a fingertip, devices will employ intelligence that can track pupil movement, allowing users to control devices through gaze interaction.  

With Samsung’s SIV already using eye control to aid the reading of webpages, watching of movies and viewing of images, we may soon see such technologies being used in kiosks too.

Contactless

With convenience at the forefront of consumers desires, contactless payment options are set to take over the conventional chip and pin system.

Anderson AdjustIt's long been rumoured that Apple will release the iPhone 5s which will showcase features, such as an embedded fingerprint sensor in the home button, and a contactless function enabled by NFC. Apple isn't offering these features just yet but it's definitely still on the cards, meaning that the future of kiosks payments lies in hassle free, quick tap or finger scan payments.

OLED

Moving forwards it's likely that we'll see OLED screens replacing our LED and plasma displays. OLED screens come with a range of benefits including; being more efficient, being better for the environment, using flexible and unbreakable plastic, and offering better quality resolutions. Samsung, who are leading the way in OLED adoption, predict that by 2014 50% of all mobile phones AMOLED displays , and by 2015 it could become the main TV panel technology.

3D Printing Kiosks

Probably one of the most exciting advances set to transform the retail world is the 3D printer. Customers will not only be able to print out their own toys, clothes, spare parts, and so on, but will also be able to design and digitally print their own items. Said to be the natural progression from photo printing kiosks, 3D printing could revolutionise the way we view stores and what we get from them. Reports also suggest that by 2050 we'll see 3D printers moving from the high street into our living rooms.

Sam Pryor, Protouch

With intelligent technologies, such as the ones mentioned, there's huge opportunity in the future of kiosks to add value for both brands and consumers.

Sam Pryor has been in active in the kiosk industry for more than eight years, working in Technical Sales for Protouch, a leading supplier of touch screen equipment in Europe.

Go ProTouch



KioScreen: The Through Glass TouchScreen

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LifeSize Touch says its KioScreen is the only touchscreen product on the market that works through glass using a zero bezel touchscreen panel.

The touch layer is safely housed in a robust panel enclosure, making it easy to move or install without damage (and without needing adhesive touchfilms).

KioScreen, touch through glass

LifeSize Touch will also be providing a complete bundled solution for businesses.

There is the option to buy complementary accessories and a monthly rental of kiosk software, KioApp for updating touchscreen content.  

KioApp is available for Property, Retail and Hospitality.

KioScreen will initially be available in three variations and prices:

  • 15” KioScreen standard brightness
  • 15” KioScreen high brightness version for shop windows
  • 19” KioScreen for interactive surfaces, e.g. counters, tabletops, etc

Go  KioScreen

Go You’ll Like Their KioScreen vs iPad Comparison

Product Selection Triggers Digital Signage

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by Matt Deaton, Marketing Director, Codigo

Have you ever had to take a product out of the box, while still in the store, to better know what it looks like? 100 to 1 odds says that we all have at least once.

Retail stores have looked to digital signage displays to promote their products and help to educate their customers on how something looks, works, or even compares to other like-products. But, non-integrated digital signage basically runs a loop of content which can only be manually tailored to target audiences. This means that content must be pre-selected and may not always be as targeted as marketers may need. On the other hand, digital signage integrated with a POS system can automatically decide what’s the best content to display based on the individual customer.

D-Lab Hook

A new device called the D-Lab Hook uses a trigger mechanism to display content based on the product selected. This device allows marketers to really hone their messages by displaying relevant product information to the right person, at the right time. 

What a great tool for marketers, but I think it’s just the beginning of something amazing. The capabilities to send targeted messages and count the number of times a customer interacts with a product are priceless. But, the possibilities are what really excite me. The D-Lab Hook is exactly that, a hook. So, what if a customer picks up a product then places it on a different hook?

The next time a customer picks up that product, the content displayed on the screen would be incorrect and the data collected would be flawed. So, I think it’s a great technology but it’s only the beginning. Let’s take a look at possibilities the D-Lab Hook presents to future retail marketers.

The hook causes limitations. A wireless transmitter would produce the same results but with a lot more flexibility. Customers could pick up a product from anywhere in the store and, with Near Field Communication, the closest screen could display the targeted message. Since the wireless transmitter would be synced by bar code, there would be no more skewed data due to products placed in the wrong places. Next, enhance the digital signage. Digital signage is a great way for a marketer to get their message across, but today it takes more than a simple message. Retailers must engage their customers in a two-way conversation. Therefore, why not enhance the digital signage with a kiosk solution allowing customers that pick up products to interact with them. The kiosks could ask if the customer would prefer to see other similar products, post it to social media sites (get their friend’s advice), use a QR code to alert the customer of any sales promotions, or simply place an order online.

What’s your opinion on the D-Lab Hook? Will it be a popular tool for retail marketers? Does it add to the customer experience? How do you see this technology How do you see this technology evolving? Please share your thoughts with us.


Matt Deaton, Marketing Director, Codigo: In his role as Marketing Director, he oversees all marketing aspects of the company such as content development, advertising placement, strategy implementation, and process management. Mr. Deaton started with the company in 2008 and since has had his hand in Client Relations, Sales, and Marketing. He holds a Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from the University of Louisville with a concentration on Marketing and Sales. In addition to his work at Codigo, Matt also does some work for the GCS Ideas Corporation and his own venture, Sky Marketing. 

Codigo is about bringing innovative media solutions to market so theiir customers can make a positive impact on the retail behavior of consumers in their stores. Though their history is based in the financial industry, specifically community banks and credit unions, they’ve also been involved in projects for major hotel chains, nationwide quick-service restaurants, colleges campuses, and healthcare facilities. 

Watch The D-Lab Hook Video


Zoomkube Adds ZK100 Mobile Touch Display Kiosk

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Zoomkube’s newly launched ZK100 is a sleek stand-alone mobile touch display kiosk that encourages brands and marketers to engage consumers through interactive experiences-- and capture critical CRM and behavioral data. 

Zoomkube ZK100

Zoomkube units are designed to be moved from location to location based upon the client’s events and target audiences.

The new ZK100 includes a 55” touch display screen, a built-in camera for apps that involve image sharing, capabilities for badge scans, and a heater/air conditioning system for outdoor usage. It can be connected via ethernet, Wi-Fi, or cellular allowing a brand’s potential consumers the ability to post (pre-set) messages to Facebook and Twitter about the experience for which they are engaging.

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Turn a Wall Into Interactive Multi-Touch Display

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MindBoard Magic

MindBoard Magic is a surface-independent device which turns a wall or any hard or soft surface into an interactive area, especially for large audiences with interactive multi-touch and multi-write.

MindBoard Magic works with any type of projector, short or long range. It features easy and intuitive calibration that takes less than two minutes to be fully operational.

As a portable solution, MindBoard Magic can be placed on any projector or anywhere, since you have a good frame for the interactive space. This solution hopes to eliminate the need for large, complicated and expensive devices.

It weighs, as a complete solution, around 0.3 kg and comes with USB key, carrying case, 2 infrared pens, and 2 years warranty.

Go MindBoard Magic