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News Archive |
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Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Video Business: Redbox will start stocking some of its machines at Wal-Mart stores and other retail outlets with Blu-ray Disc titles, following smaller competitor DVDPlay's decision to do the same last June. Redbox, the largest U.S. movie-rental kiosk operator, will include Blu-ray titles in machines at "select locations in a limited number of markets nationwide," said Gary Lancina, vice president of marketing at redbox, who declined to specify how many machines will have Blu-ray discs or the size redbox's Blu-ray inventory. Redbox will charge $1 for a daily rental fee, the same price as standard-definition disc rentals.
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Wednesday, 26 November 2008
Tulsa (Okla.) World: Although Thanksgiving travelers will want to be far from the maddening crowd as airline seating cutbacks intensify airport congestion, there are shortcuts through the maze. Instead of waiting in long lines at the ticket counter, travelers with home computers can make reservations and print out boarding passes before arriving at the airport. Another time-saver: self-service ticketing kiosks.
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Wednesday, 26 November 2008
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Sagem Denmark, an Ingenico Group company and a provider of payment solutions has announced the launch of Remote Key Load (RKL), a fully automatic exchange of Triple DES master keys for use in maintaining a high level of security of ATMs.
According to a news release, the continuous effort of keeping ATMs secure is growing increasingly expensive and regulated. Ensuring that ATMs are locked down and protected has become more complicated since the advent of Triple DES and the requirement that ATMs use encrypting PIN pads.
Those additional requirements have added to the cost and complexity of key management by necessitating longer keys and more hands-on interaction. Manual, more traditional key loading requires two different employees or technicians to visit each individual ATM to enter only parts of the master key. In addition to increased personnel costs, this method doubles the potential for error.
RKL eliminates human-error concerns and improves key-loading efficiency.
"As long as a system meets some basic requirements, installing the first 3DES master key is a matter of connecting the ATM to the host via regular channels and running the Remote Key Load protocol," said Lars Clausen, vice president of Sagem Denmark. "The installation takes place in about 10 seconds — without the need for human involvement."
According to Sagem Denmark, these basic requirements include: the ATM and the host-ATM protocol. The ATM's EPP and the host's HSM must all support RKL. The host must have a host key pair and a suitable certificate on the public key, and the EPP must have two key pairs with corresponding certificates. Sagem Denmark will assist and support the customer with a correct and efficient implementation of the RKL solution.
Beyond cutting costs and simplifying key management, RKL incorporates several security features, such as mutual authentication, meaning the host and the EPP can verify each other in a single operation. Other advantages include protection from inadvertently reinstalling old key values, an encrypted transport of the master key and a cryptographically signed message after a successful key transfer.
Wednesday, 26 November 2008
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Tuesday, 25 November 2008
PADERBORN, Germany — Some 100,000 ATMs and other self-service devices on five continents are now monitored by Wincor Nixdorf AG's ProView software solution, the company announced in a news release.
ProView is used to control and remotely monitor self-service systems. To date, the solution has been installed on devices in more than 40 countries. The machines range from ATMs, transaction terminals, account statement printers, postage stamp and transportation ticket terminals, as well as cash-deposit systems and kiosks.
Financial institutions using ProView include Raiffeisen Bank Group in Austria, Halkbank in Turkey, CIMB Bank in Malaysia, and Susquehanna Bancshares in the United States. The software has even taken a lead in Eastern Europe, where leading retail banks Privatbank and Nadra Bank have signed for the service.
ProView has been adapted to address the particular requirements of self-service equipment. All transaction-data is analyzed by the ProView agent on the terminal level and is transferred to the ProView server for processing and output.
ProView ensures system availability: detailed information about the operating state of each terminal enables fast, targeted resolution, Wincor says. Remote service means repairs can be carried out via electronic access from a central location, ensuring that device downtimes and site visits by technicians can be minimized. As a result, this solution leads to highly relevant cost savings and increases the overall profitability of the institution's self-service network.
ProView also protects ATMs from manipulation. Wincor Nixdorf's antiskimming module monitors the entire area around the card input slot. If a foreign device is detected, the ATM sends a message — known as an "event" — to ProView. This message brings an immediate initiation of a variety of defensive measures, including an alert to the customer.
And ProView has been expanded to incorporate a new function for incident management called, simply, Incident Manager. When an error occurs, a ticket is opened that documents every individual step, stores information and displays the current status of the repair work.
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
NEW YORK - Parabit Systems has announced that, after months of work, it has installed its first welcome center at the John F. Kennedy Airport, according to a news release.
The welcome center is the first of 27 that will focus on creating an easy transition as travelers are provided with information on ground transportation services, hotels, attractions and airport services. ATMs will also be provided for travelers who need cash. The welcome centers will be positioned in highly visible areas, either in Customs or next to the baggage claim area.
The JFK welcome center is designed so that passengers can obtain information they need from an array of self-service technologies, including digital signage, kiosks, restricted dial telephons and ATMs, as well as many brochure displays, graphic displays and manned customer service counters. Additional self-service technology to further enhance the center is under evaluation.
"Within the first few weeks of operation at JetBlue T5, thousands of customers have been assisted as well as assisted themselves via the self-service elements of the center," said Rob Leiponis, president of Parabit. "The feedback we are getting from the comments on its design, the services and information it provides and its highly identifiable presence from a distance, supports that our design and technology concept has had a very positive impact on the passenger experience."
Once all 27 welcome centers have been completed, the port authorities in New York and New Jersey will have a standard impressionable design in all terminals for customers to remember for future travel through their four airports.
Tuesday, 25 November 2008
A battle is brewing between the studios that develop motion pictures and the operators of DVD rental kiosks that dispense them.
For redbox, the first mortar shell landed on the afternoon of August 26.
That's when, according to litigation filed by the DVD kiosk operator, representatives of Universal Studios Home Entertainment showed up unexpectedly at redbox headquarters in Oakbrook Terrace, Ill., with an ultimatum: Sign a revenue sharing agreement or lose the right to buy Universal DVDs from their commercial distributors.
An operator of roughly 10,000 DVD rental kiosks at a variety of retail and fast food locations, redbox has gained notoriety in recent years for its ability to offer DVD rentals for $1 a day.
Representatives of redbox won't comment on the tenor of the meeting, but court documents reveal that redbox "had no prior notice as to the nature of this proposal, which would materially and adversely alter the conditions under which consumers are able to rent and buy DVDs from kiosk outlets."
Universal's proposed agreement would effectively control the types of DVDs that could be stocked in redbox kiosks, as well as the price redbox could charge for them. Specifically, the agreement would:
- Prohibit redbox from stocking its kiosks with Universal's new releases until 45 days after the "street date" when they hit the market.
- Limit the number of Universal DVDs of a particular motion picture that can be offered at the kiosk, based on that motion picture’s Box Office revenues.
- Ban redbox from selling previously-viewed Universal DVDs at a discount, requiring the company to destroy any DVDs no longer used for rental.
According to court documents, Universal gave redbox until the end of the next business day to sign the agreement and threatened to bar commercial resellers Ingram Entertainment Inc. and Video Products Distributors Inc. (VPD) · redbox's sole vendors for Universal DVDs · from selling to redbox if the kiosk operator refused, beginning December 1.
A representative of Universal Studios was reached by phone, but she declined to comment, citing pending litigation.
Gary Lancina, vice president of marketing for redbox, says the chances of redbox signing the agreement are nil.
"The fact is, redbox has no intention of signing the revenue sharing agreement," Lancina wrote in an e-mail. "Redbox is committed to providing our customers the same level of service, convenience and value they've come to expect from us."
On Oct. 10, redbox filed a lawsuit against Universal at the U.S. District Court in Delaware, seeking an injunction against Universal's actions. The lawsuit accuses Universal of attempting to infringe upon redbox's right to freely use the DVDs it has purchased; violating the Sherman Antitrust Act, which safeguards the right to free trade; and wrongfully interfering with redbox's relationship with Ingram and VPD.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE TEXT OF THE LAWSUIT.
Mum's the word
Lancina says that, thus far, Universal is the only studio to approach redbox in an attempt to limit its movie offerings. Other motion picture studios have remained silent on the issue. SelfService.org contacted Warner Brothers Entertainment Inc. and Paramount Pictures, but both declined to comment.
The Motion Picture Association of America – an advocacy group that represents the interests of the motion picture industry – also was contacted, but an MPAA representative referred all inquiries back to Universal Studios.
Lancina says he suspects Universal has approached other DVD kiosk operators in an attempt to persuade them to sign similar agreements, but he would not provide details.
DVDPlay reacts
Charlie Piper, president and chief operating officer of DVDPlay Inc., says his company is among those contacted by Universal. Shortly after redbox failed to comply with Universal's terms, Piper says DVDPlay received a call from VPD in which the distributor indicated that it could no longer supply them with Universal DVDs.
At that point, Piper says Universal was unwilling to compromise with any of the kiosk operators unless they were willing to sign the agreement.
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"We will not sign the revenue sharing agreement. It doesn't work for us. We still plan on having the titles available in our kiosks and we have alternative plans to make sure that we have those available."
- Charlie Piper
DVDPlay
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"It was clearly laid out to freeze out the kiosk business," Piper said.
Piper says that, like redbox, DVDPlay will not bow to Universal's demands.
"We will not. We will not sign the revenue sharing agreement," Piper said. "It doesn't work for us. We still plan on having the titles available in our kiosks and we have alternative plans to make sure that we have those available."
Piper says that his company will purchase the Universal DVDs from retailers like Wal-Mart, if necessary. He also said that, although DVDPlay is steering clear of a legal battle right now, his company is willing to take it to the courts if necessary.
CLICK BELOW TO LISTEN TO PIPER DISCUSS DVDPLAY'S OPTIONS.
"There are movies there that our customers want to see," he said.
Losing ground
Some self-service advocates argue that Universal is using strong-arm tactics in an effort to keep its foothold in an industry that's drastically changing with the times. Davis Freeburg, a blogger who regularly covers the digital entertainment industry, says Universal's actions betray a hint of desperation.
"Universal is losing on the pricing front," Freeburg said. "They're basically having somebody sell things for $1 that, in the past, they've been able to get away with charging $3 or $5 for. No one is going to pay $10 for a DVD if you can go and just rent the movie from redbox for 99 cents for one night."
The relatively cheap prices offered by DVD kiosks, Freeburg says, is causing some potential DVD purchasers to rent instead, which means less revenue for companies like Universal.
CLICK BELOW TO HEAR FREEBURG EXPLAIN WHY REDBOX RENTALS ARE SO CHEAP.
Freeburg says it's unfair for Universal to place limitations on self-service kiosks that don't exist for brick-and-mortar retailers like Blockbuster, arguing that what redbox does with the DVDs it purchases is its business.
"It's very clear that, if you buy a DVD, you can do what you want with it," Freeburg said. "You're allowed to go and rent it to other people. You're allowed to sell it to your friends. You can give it to your friends and they can give it to their friends and 100 people could watch it. It's all legal because we have fair-use rights when it comes to DVDs."
The licensing factor
But not everyone in the self-service space is lining up to support companies like redbox.
Todd Rosenbaum, chief executive of Polar Frog Digital, an operator of DVD burn-on-demand kiosks and a competitor of redbox, says the company doesn't have a leg to stand on. He says, unlike brick-and-mortar retailers, redbox doesn't pay licensing fees to the studios.
"Redbox just goes and buys closeouts of products and turns around and rents them and doesn't give the studios revenue share," Rosenbaum said. "That isn't how Netflix works. That isn't how Blockbuster works. They [Redbox] tried to circumvent the system."
CLICK BELOW TO HEAR ROSENBAUM DISCUSS LICENSING FEES.
Monday, 24 November 2008
MT. PLEASANT, Pa. -- ITSEnclosures, a provider of electronic display and computer protection equipment and a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, has introduced the ViewStation Array digital signage hardware enclosure.
A combination of hardware, LCD, thermal and enclosure protection, the ViewStation Array includes CAT-5 cable technology for video distribution and up to six 46-inch LCD displays within the same "billboard-sized" (12-inch x14-inch) enclosure.
According to a news release, the six-screen design provides the versatility to present one "giant" message or up to six individual messages within the same product. All the deployer has to do is "add content and go." The Array is a perfect solution for public venues such as: airports, hospitals, hotels, stadiums, arenas, convention centers, universities, and car dealerships, just to name a few.
"Our customers demanded media-rich content in large scale environmen," said ITSEnclosures president John Spangler. "The ViewStation Array fills this long overdue need by allowing digital service providers a large format that's safe from public vandalism and the outside environment."
The ViewStation Array is part of the larger ViewStation family of products. Each product focuses on providing serviceability and enclosure protection in a variety of possible applications.
Monday, 24 November 2008
MUNICH, Germany -- The government of Botswana has awarded a contract to Giesecke & Devrient for the manufacture and delivery of 150,000 electronic passports, according to a news release. G&D also will supply the data acquisition and personalization systems for travel documents.
In addition, the Munich-based technology company will be delivering Botswana's border control system with card readers. The contract was signed in Gaborone, the country's capital. It will take two years to implement the system, with passports scheduled for issue to the citizens of Botswana from 2010. The contract is worth roughly 15 million euros (U.S. $19.3 million).
Botswana is the first South African country to introduce the electronic passport.
"We are proud that the Ministry of Labour and Home Affairs has entrusted us with this demanding project," said Hans Wolfgang Kunz, head of G&D's government solutions business. "The new electronic passport will fulfill the extensive ICAO and EU specifications and achieve international recognition and validity. In conjunction with an efficient border-control system, it will ensure Botswana is well prepared to meet the increasing security requirements of international travel."
As prime contractor, G&D will handle all system integration activities. The new passport system will be among the fastest of its kind anywhere in the world. At selected public offices equipped to personalize the documents, passports can even be issued immediately in particularly urgent cases. The entire process, from data registration to complete optical and digital personalization, will take no more than 20 minutes.
Besides personal information, the data page of the ID document also features a color photograph for simple visual checking. To achieve maximum security against forgery and prevent misuse of identity, the new e-passport also contains the holder's details and photograph in digital form, stored on a chip. The electronic reading systems at border-control points then compare the data to verify whether the person presenting the document and wishing to enter or leave the country is indeed the passport's rightful owner.
The data will be acquired and processed at 20 local registration points and other mobile stations all over the country. This allows citizens to apply for a new passport quickly and conveniently, without travel long distances.
Friday, 21 November 2008
GRAFTON, Wis. — Frank Mayer & Associates, Inc. has won five Design of the Times awards presented at the In-Store Marketing Expo in Las Vegas, according to a news release. The Design of the Times Awards Competition recognizes the in-store marketing industry's best displays and retail promotions. Frank Mayer & Associates, Inc. was honored to receive these achievement awards for the Cervélo SA Bicycle display, Magellan Triton GPS Counter unit, HELIO Interactive Demonstrator and the Ford SYNC Interactive kiosk which received awards in two categories.
Frank Mayer & Associates is one of the country's oldest and largest independently held merchandising and visual marketing companies. Founded in 1931, the company's headquarters are located in the Milwaukee area with additional sales offices in the U.S.
Friday, 21 November 2008
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Air New Zealand has integrated 111 IER 918 self-check-in kiosks as well as 84 IER 600 2D barcode and RF scanners in its innovative travel process now in operation on domestic flights to streamline check-in and boarding operations.
On November 3, Air New Zealand unveiled its new state-of-the-art check-in and boarding experience, introducing a new layout with new kiosks that enable Auckland Domestic Airport customers to print their own bag tags. The layout also includes a direct-to-conveyor-belt bag drop zone to eliminate queues, new gate scanners for straight-to-gate check-in, boarding for customers without bags as well as several new technological enablers for frequent flyers.
In this project, IER — a supplier of passenger and baggage processing solutions in the air transportation industry — has been selected to provide Air New Zealand with a total of 111 IER 918 self-service check-in kiosks, part of which have been deployed first at the country's three main airports: Auckland first, then Christchurch and Wellington. The secondary airports will be equipped at a later date.
The IER 918 kiosks chosen by Air New Zealand are equipped with a 2D barcode scanner for reading passengers' boarding passes that have previously been printed or received on their mobile phones. The kiosks are also equipped with an RF scanner for reading the ePass RF sticker provided to selected members of the Airpoints program by the airline, which is applied either to the back of their mobile phone or on their Frequent Flyer card. Travellers will check in their bags at the kiosks. The IER 918 kiosks are equipped with a bag-tag printer for delivery of their baggage tags to the passengers for self-tagging before drop-off.
Friday, 21 November 2008
VIENNA, Va. — Photo retailers offering a wide variety of creative photo products like photo books, calendars and folded cards are enjoying a strong fourth quarter despite a tough economic environment, according to a news release from Lucidiom. With more than 55,000 APM photo kiosks deployed worldwide, Lucidiom is reporting a 573 percent increase in photo book orders this year over last year, as well as a 373 percent increase in calendar orders, a 460 percent increase in folded card orders and a 172 percent increase in flat card orders.
"The entire country is prepared for a tough fourth quarter, but all the news out there is not bleak," said Lucidiom president Steve Giordano, Jr. "While your customers may not be purchasing $300 cameras for multiple people this year, Lucidiom's APM Network data shows us they are purchasing plenty of profitable personal publishing products. The key this holiday season will be to market these products as the priceless gifts they represent for so many gift recipients. After all, what grandmother doesn’t want to see her grandkids on her wall calendar throughout the New Year?"
Since 2001, Lucidiom kiosks have processed hundreds of millions of photo orders and billions of prints, creating a unique collection of digital photo data within the APM Network. The APM Network links and manages every APM, each store's Lab 50 management station and each fulfillment center to Lucidiom's central processing servers. Analysis of this data gives Lucidiom and its retail customers unparalleled and exclusive insight into how consumers capture and print their photos and create their family memories.
Friday, 21 November 2008
CINCINNATI — Electronic Art, an interactive agency specializing in custom kiosk software, kiosk hardware and integrated Web sites, will be providing services for two new clients, Adplex and Engagement Health.
According to a news release, Electronic Art is creating a kiosk for one of Adplex's retail food clients as part of its customer loyalty program that allows account management and in-store printing of rewards. Based in Houston, Adplex is a strategic marketing solutions company with a focus on customer relationships and communication that drive measurable value.
In addition, Electronic Art has signed Engagement Health, of Westchester, Ill., as a client. Electronic Art will provide kiosk software applications to be used in corporate wellness programs that reduce healthcare costs for both the employee and the corporation. The kiosks incorporate specialty hardware for measurement of blood pressure, weight and other unique data items to help employees monitor their progress towards healthy living.
Friday, 21 November 2008
BEIJING — NCR Corp. announced that its NCR SelfServ 25 ATM has been named a winner in the computer and business products category of the 2008 China's Most Successful Designs award program, jointly sponsored by FORTUNE China magazine and China Bridge International, one of China's design management consulting firms.
The award is a premier international competition honoring outstanding designs in the Chinese market, and recognizes excellence in marketing and financial performance as well as strategic and social impact. This year, of the products launched in China, more than 133 entries were received from manufacturing and design companies from around the world.
The NCR SelfServ 25 was honored for its unique design and innovative product development, and was praised by the judges for successfully creating a "wow factor" in meeting and exceeding customers' needs. NCR's next generation of ATMs, the NCR SelfServ family, was launched in China and worldwide earlier this year. The NCR SelfServ 25 is an exterior through-the-wall and vestibule ATM with a small footprint and ideally suited for both in-branch and off-premise use.
"We are excited to receive this recognition of NCR's continuous commitment to innovation in our product development, which helps our customers transform their businesses and enrich consumers' experiences," said Patrick Chou, president of NCR North Asia. "Along with the other models in our new family of ATMs, NCR SelfServ 25 helps financial institutions meet the challenges of growth, operational efficiency and corporate responsibility, by delivering high quality, fulfilling consumer experiences and projecting a strong brand image, while reducing the costs and complexity of maintaining and managing their self-service channels."
The NCR SelfServ 25 embodies a new industrial design direction for NCR's self-service terminals for banking transactions. The design raises the standards for simplicity, ease of use, accessibility, security, serviceability and reduced environmental impact for self-service terminals.
The NCR SelfServ 25 was designed by NCR's in-house design team. All NCR product developments follow the NCR User Centre Design process, an iterative process of early and frequent involvement of users in evaluating simulations, prototypes and early production units in key markets.
The design principles illustrated by the NCR SelfServ 25 apply to the NCR SelfServ family of 10 different self-service terminals, each designed to meet specific market needs, functionality and placement. The entire family benefits from commonality of design, layout and even components, with approximately 70 percent of parts used throughout the range.
The rollout of the NCR SelfServ family is progressing successfully with over 8,000 units ordered by more than 230 customers around the globe year-to-date.
Thursday, 20 November 2008
TOKYO - OKI Electric Industry Co. Ltd. has launched SUKIT, a kiosk terminal that will be offered in markets in Japan and overseas, according to a news release.
The terminal is compact with a common platform and basic devices, and it enables customers to add optional units such as 2D barcode readers and document readers. This flexibility enables customers to configure settings according to the usage, such as information search, appointment reservation, membership registration, award points management, etc. By including an A4-size printer as a standard feature, SUKIT can print high-resolution documents with a large amount of information.
By combining SUKIT with the Internet, mobile terminals or IC cards, companies can provide non-face-to-face services safely and reliably, 24/7.
"OKI's SUKIT was developed based on our know-how as the leader in the industry and our strong track records in ATMs, self-check-in terminals for airline companies and ticket reservation and issuing systems for railroad companies," said Hisao Suzuki, executive officer and general manager of the Enterprise Business Division at OKI. "We developed SUKIT with a commitment to offering a user-friendly terminal that anyone, even a first-time user, can easily use. As an example, all necessary devices for operation are placed in the front, and a blinking light on the device can guide users through successive steps."
The first SUKIT will be operated at a large-scale general hospital in a Berlin suburb in Germany.
Thursday, 20 November 2008
ATLANTA - Delta Air Lines has simplified the ticket purchase process at delta.com and introduced an improved kiosk experience at airports throughout the country, as well as curbside check-in for customers traveling internationally, according to a news release.
"Delta is committed to providing faster, more convenient self-service options for our customers," said Josh Weiss, managing director of delta.com. "Whether they are visiting delta.com or checking in at a kiosk or curbside, these enhancements save time for our customers whenever they travel with us."
Delta's improved kiosk technology, now available at more than 1,300 Delta kiosks in 195 U.S. cities, reduces the number of screens a passenger clicks through when checking in. The new system also provides easier access to flight itineraries and real-time weather conditions at their destination. In addition, customers can elect to bypass baggage-check screens if they are not checking bags, trimming the transaction to as little as one click from start to finish.
Delta anticipates more than 26 million customers will check in using kiosks in 2008 and expects the new kiosk technology will reduce already quick transaction times by as much as a minute for many customers.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
CAMPBELL, Calif. — DVDPlay Inc., a DVD rental kiosk operator and entertainment technology company, announced its expansion to Oahu, Hawaii and Maui, bringing its new release DVDs to select Safeway stores across the islands.
As consumers continue to look for value, the DVDPlay kiosk features a wide variety of movies including the latest Hollywood releases for just $1 per night, making it an entertainment destination in 1,400 other locations nationwide.
"Convenience and price are the main draws," said chief executive Chuck Berger. "A trip to the theater these days costs families a small fortune; we offer movie nights for a fraction of that cost."
The popular kiosks hold more than 500 movies and allow customers to choose from a broad selection of titles using a touchscreen monitor. Once customers select their movies, a simple credit-card swipe completes the transaction and the DVDs are dispensed within seconds.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Windows for Devices: Via announced a fanless panel PC that runs Windows XP Embedded or CE and resists both liquids and dust. The VIPRO VP7710 includes Via's Eden or C7 processors, a 10.4-inch touchscreen display, gigabit Ethernet, three serial ports and two USB 2.0 ports, the company says.
Click to continue
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
ITWeb: British Airways customers will now be able to check in using their mobile phones with the introduction of its remote check-in service. This initiative follows the introduction of the iPhone mobile check-in application, which saw more than 16,000 downloads in the U.K. within the first month. Using any mobile phone, customers will now be able to access BA's timetable in real time, select airplane seats and check in individuals, groups and families for departing and return flights.
Click to continue
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
DAYTON, Ohio — NCR Corporation and Toronto-based Autologic Innovations have partnered to offer the automotive dealership industry in Canada an innovative self-service solution to provide easier and faster tracking of vehicle inventory and free up more time for customer service.
The new self-service tool provides dealerships with on-demand vehicle location and status — whether for inventory management or for customer test driving — and helps them improve operational efficiency while simplifying the customer test-drive process.
Autologic Innovations is an independent software developer and integrator of turnkey, real-time vehicle inventory management solutions. The company's Track-A-Lot software application integrates RFID, Wi-Fi and other wired/wireless technology, and the Internet. The latest enhancement to its Track-A-Lot system leverages the NCR EasyPoint Advantage kiosk.
All vehicles on a dealership lot are equipped with semi-active RFID tags. Staffers then use the NCR kiosk to read, record and track the tags associated with each vehicle. This allows dealers to not only improve vehicle monitoring and inventory management, but also enhance their theft prevention processes and eliminate the need to have staff manually count vehicles located in on- and off-site lots.
When a customer wishes to take a test drive, the salesperson simply waves the vehicle key fob (which contains the vehicle information number) at an RFID reader on the NCR kiosk, and the information is recorded in the Track-A-Lot system. The employee then uses the kiosk touchscreen to input the customer's name and driver's license number to complete the transaction.
"Automating this process through self-service can help dealerships transform their business — improving staff efficiency and reducing paper as employees no longer need to make a hard copy record of each driver's license prior to the test drive," said Paul Gautier, national director of Retail Channels for NCR in Canada. "More importantly, employees spend less time searching for vehicles and more time with customers, which can ultimately help increase sales."
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
SEAL BEACH, Calif. — MagTek Inc., a global provider of electronic payment technology, today announced the MDX. It offers a compact check reader with a dual-sided scanner and a secure MagneSafe reader all in one sleek design.
Remote deposit allows companies to instantly and securely process checks without ever having to go to the branch, saving businesses time and money. It allows financial institutions to offer their services to companies even where they don't have branches, extending their customer base without incurring the cost of additional branches. This provides a savings they can pass on to their depositors and offer competitive services to anyone, almost anywhere.
"The MDX is the latest addition to MagTek's broad family of check readers and scanners that are currently being used by retailers and financial institutions around the world to read and image millions of checks daily," said Andy Deignan, vice president, financial business unit at MagTek. "In addition, our products offer end-to-end security needed by financial institutions to ensure safe remote deposit."
MDX has a built-in secure MSR that incorporates MagTek's MagneSafe security architecture, which mutually authenticates the MDX scanner to the financial institution's host application, ensuring the integrity and legitimacy at both points of the transaction. Furthermore, MDX offers comprehensive multi-factor authentication addressing the concerns raised by the FFIEC: "When used as the only control mechanism, single-factor authentication is considered to be inadequate for high-risk transactions involving access to customer information or the movement of funds to other parties."
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
PHILADELPHIA — GestureTek Inc., patent-holder in camera-enabled gesture control user interfaces for interactive displays, announced it will showcase its latest innovations in touch-free "edutainment" for science centers on October 18 and 19th in Booth 254 at the ASTC Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Centre.
Among the featured interactive display products is GestureTek's award-winning Illuminate Multi-Touch surface computing table, most recently installed for NASA's Marshall Space Center as part of a traveling interactive attraction.
For a NASA mobile exhibit, GestureTek and Los Angeles-based interactive agency Inhance Digital Corporation provided a multi-user game that teaches players about one of the exciting Lunar Outpost projects being developed at NASA. The multi-touch table game has four separate starting points, to accommodate multiple users. In each section, viewers have access to different parts of the Lunar Outpost, which they can rotate or zoom into to get more information. Each user has the ability to drag and drop a piece of the station into the center of the table. Together, multiple users assemble their pieces to collaboratively build the Lunar Outpost. After the users have worked together to build the Outpost, a short informative video plays that gives them more insight into the work being done at NASA.
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
PORTLAND, Ore. - TRM Copy Centers LLC, a nationwide provider of self-service retail copy centers, today announced the acquisition of Solvport LLC, a nationwide ATM and kiosk services provider based in Portland, Ore., according to a news release.
Founded in 2004 by a tenured group of ATM industry professionals, provides field technical service, installation, help desk services, real-time monitoring, project management, and parts and supplies for the ATM and self-service kiosk industries.
"After starting TRM Copy Centers LLC in January of 2007 we developed a very sophisticated field service infrastructure that we use to manage our existing lines of business," said Gary Cosmer, president and chief executive of TRM Copy Centers. "It is a natural next step to leverage that infrastructure combined with our nationwide base of uniformed, talented and trained service engineers to expand our service offering to other industries. Our acquisition of Solvport, one of the leading providers of off-premise ATM services, allows us to expedite that activity and makes for an unbeatable combination."
Solvport will move its operations, including its management team and help desk staff to TRM Copy Centers' headquarters in Portland, Ore.
"This is the natural next step in Solvport's progression," said Wayne Vandekraak, co-founder of Solvport. "The acquisition of Solvport by TRM Copy Centers provides our customers, employees, and business partners the benefits of TRM Copy Centers' extensive merchandising and servicing capabilities."
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
The 2008 U.S. Presidential Election came and went with without the significant controversy that has historically surrounded electronic voting machine kiosks, according to some who represent the kiosk industry.
"There were no major issues at all for Sequoia, its customers or the voting technology industry as a whole on Election Day," said Michelle Shafer, vice president of communications and external affairs for Sequoia Voting Systems and chairwoman for the Election Technology Council, an industry association for companies that manufacture electronic voting machines. "It was a relatively smooth day, especially with the high turnout, the large number of new voters and the unprecedented scrutiny and media attention that this historic election received."
Despite this, Shafer admits that the number of direct recording electronic voting systems – voting machine kiosks that tabulate votes electronically without the voter completing them on paper – is down, with most counties opting for an optical scan voting system instead.
Optical scan voting systems require the voter to mark their votes on paper before running that paper through an optical scan machine that is able to read and register the voter’s choices.
According to VerifiedVoting.org, 3,013 voting jurisdictions out of 4,698 used optical scan voting systems. The remaining jurisdictions used a variety of voting methods including electronic kiosks.
Shafer estimates that, out of all of the voting technology Sequoia has deployed, 65 percent is made up of direct recording electronic voting systems and 35 percent is made up of optical scan machines.
Pamela Smith, a spokeswoman for the public advocacy group VerifiedVoting.org, says counties prefer optical scan systems over voting machine kiosks because they leave a paper trail that is easier to verify in the event that a recount is necessary.
"I think a lot of times people compare this type of voting to using an ATM type of kiosk ... or some other automated process like going to get your boarding pass at the airport from a check in kiosk," Smith said. "But the problem is that voting is different."
Smith said her organization does not rank the quality of individual voting machine kiosk models or manufacturers, but she did offer some suggestions for improvement. She said the iVotronic, manufactured by Election Systems & Software Inc., experienced some calibration problems – the touchscreens sometimes had trouble identifying the candidate voters wanted to select. At the same time, Smith said the printers on the iVotronic – used by poll workers to print out the final tabulations at the end of the day – experienced fewer paper jams than other models.
She said that eSlate kiosks, manufactured by Harp Enterprises Inc., utilized a unique rotary system that enabled voters to electronically select the candidate they wanted.
"Some people reported finding it difficult to control or manage that kind of rotary dial selection, but they particularly noted some problems with straight party ticket voting in that system in Texas," she said. "It just kind of varied from one to another in terms of what kinds of reports we saw."
Click below to see video comments from a random sample of voters who used the eSlate kiosks on Election Day.
Monday, 17 November 2008
PARK RIDGE, N.J. - The Hertz Corp. has expanded Simply Wheelz by Hertz, which according to a news release, puts travelers in the driver's seat with faster, easier and more affordable access to today's most popular rental cars. The program will be expanded to Los Angeles and San Diego Airports in California and Miami International and West Palm Beach Airports in Florida. In addition Simply Wheelz will be available at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.
First launched in September 2007, the expansion is based upon the success of Simply Wheelz in Orlando. With low, competitive rates starting as low as $99 a week through December 15, 2008, Simply Wheelz offers an easy-to-use Web site for reservations (www.SimplyWheelz.com), and a self-service rental kiosk to rent vehicles. Simply Wheelz accepts third party reservations, via travel agents and online booking channels, and reservations via its Web site.
"Following the consumer popularity of our pilot program in Orlando, it's only natural we expand Simply Wheelz into additional leisure destinations," said Mark P. Frissora, chairman and chief executive of The Hertz Corp. "While there are numerous economic headwinds facing the American public, people continue to travel. Trip dynamics are evolving, and Simply Wheelz targets the 60 percent of leisure travelers who now book their car rentals online, as well as those primarily focused on price."
Designed for online customers looking for a low price from recognized companies, Simply Wheelz makes car rental economical and hassle-free. Customers reserve one of the six vehicle types (from economy to fullsize plus SUVs and convertibles) offered and, when arriving at the Hertz airport location, rent cars using a self-service rental kiosk. The kiosk scans a bar code from a printed online reservation or the renter's driver's license, the customer selects a few additional options, such as child seats or GPS and insurance/waiver options, and then a vehicle is assigned and the kiosk prints the rental agreement. Once the rental transaction is completed, customers go can to their car and proceed off the lot.
Monday, 17 November 2008
(Springfield, Mo.) News-Leader: "If only I would have had this service 30 years ago," said a retired patron as he watched manager Jim Miller show a young job-seeker how to navigate JobView, a new touchscreen kiosk housed in the reading room on the main floor of the Midtown Carnegie Branch Library. Certainly there are plenty of area men and women who will make good use of JobView now, said Kathy Shatto of the Missouri Career Center. This project, the first JobView kiosk in a Missouri library, was funded through a Community Block Development grant using federal, state and local money.
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Monday, 17 November 2008
Engadgethd.com: Despite the color bias in the company's name, Redbox may have decided to give the Blu-ray home entertainment format a chance. According to a blogger from Engadgethd.com, the company has added a dedicated (albeit currently empty) Blu-ray section on its Web site. That's leading some to believe that soon Redbox customers will be able to rent Blu-ray discs from the machines.
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Friday, 14 November 2008
The Canadian Press: Reg Varney, a comic actor who played a cheery Cockney bus driver in the British sitcom "On the Buses," died Sunday, his daughter said. He was 92. In addition to his television career, Varney also secured his place in history by making the world's first withdrawal from an ATM, at a branch of Barclays Bank in Enfield, north London in 1967.
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Friday, 14 November 2008
The Salt Lake (City) Tribune: Although Salt Lake City motorists can easily miss the subtle "Wine Store" lettering on the front of the new state store, shoppers are anxious for the store to open. The new store boasts an inventory of more than 5,000 wines in a 12,000-square-foot location that doubles the size of the state's only other major wine outlet. And the new store offers a state first: a kiosk equipped with computers programmed to help shoppers choose the right wines.
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Friday, 14 November 2008
(New Zealand) Scoop Independent News: Security consultant Paul Craig from Security-Assessment.com in August released some break-through research at the world’s largest hacking conference, DEF CON 16, in Las Vegas. The research highlights potential insecurities associated with Internet kiosks that yielded a first-of-a-kind attack methodology. The toolset developed as part of Paul’s research, dubbed iKAT (interactive Kiosk Attack Tool), highlights the potential for a "would be" hacker to compromise any Windows kiosk in sub 10 seconds.
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Friday, 14 November 2008
DAYTON, Ohio — NCR Corp. is launching its NCR APTRA Self-Scheduler multichannel booking solution for financial institutions at the BAI Retail Delivery Conference & Expo in Orlando, Fla., Nov. 18-20.
According to a news release, NCR APTRA Self-Scheduler enables consumers to book appointments with the bank's sales consultants through the Internet, a mobile device or a self-service terminal — at a time and physical branch that is convenient to them, whether it be around the corner from work at lunch time or close to shopping on a Saturday morning – providing bank customers with choices they haven't had in the past. The 24-hour system ensures that once an appointment is booked it can be confirmed immediately through the customer's choice of methods, from an SMS reminder to their cell phone, to e-mail or Text-to-Speech.
Trials of the new NCR solution with a major U.S. bank have demonstrated its popularity with customers and staff members, with all key metrics performing well. NCR's research indicates that retail banks using this solution can make inroads into their "no-show" statistics, which can run anywhere from one-in-10 to one-in-five missed appointments. Text message reminders can reduce these missed appointments by up to a third as customers are less likely to forget about the meeting and more likely to reschedule if they have a conflict. The sales consultant can then be released to meet with other customers, improving branch productivity.
"By providing an instant, real-time view of which specialists are available, and registering any cancellations immediately, banks can improve the customer experience — letting customers book time with their branch in a convenient, empowered manner even after the branch or call center has closed," said Brian Bailey, NCR vice president of financial industry marketing.
Banks also can deploy NCR APTRA Self-Scheduler on kiosks in their branches, enabling "walk-in" customers or prospective customers to make an appointment, or allowing those who have previously scheduled a meeting to "self check-in" on arrival. This gives branch employees better visibility to who is waiting and how long they have been waiting. This self-check-in style solution helps reduce queues at the teller line and the reception desk, and helps ensures that appointments start on time. Consumers can also use these kiosks to schedule appointments, view product information and complete digital questionnaires and forms, providing a new way of "pre-staging" activity prior to the start of the appointment.
"Consumers, whether personal or commercial, tend not to sign up for high-value products, such as savings vehicles, insurance or mortgages, without talking to a financial advisor first," said Bailey. "NCR APTRA Self-Scheduler makes it even easier for customers to meet with a financial advisor at a convenient time and location by providing a consistent, easy process for booking appointments across multiple service channels."
The NCR solution features a rules engine, which is used to define the hours advisors are available in each location, their areas of expertise and the locations they work from, providing an overview of current capacity levels.
Friday, 14 November 2008
WALTHAM, Mass. — Bit9, provider of enterprise application white-listing, is making PCI compliance easier for retailers.
According to news release, Bit9 Parity and Bit9 Parity for point-of-sale use whitelisting to help retail merchants secure payment devices, servers and self-serve kiosks in a continued focus on payment data protection in accordance with the new PCI Data Security Standard version 1.2
In the new PCI DSS, Requirement 5 remains focused on maintaining a vulnerability management program, including using and regularly updating antivirus software. But the 20-year-old antivirus technology is struggling to keep up with the exploding universe of malware variants and targeted attacks. Retailers and enterprises that manage sensitive payment data continue to look for easier, more cost-effective and secure ways to protect their systems and meet PCI DSS Requirement 5.
"White-listing is becoming an attractive and cost effective way for retailers to protect both customer data and their own infrastructure. Certain retailers deploy white-listing technology and take a lockdown approach to endpoint security," said Glenn Williamson, corporate security officer for Cyberklix Inc., an approved QSA and ASV firm in North America. "Protection against known malware is currently provided, but at all times there are unknown variants that signature-based protection cannot account for. We must further protect our and our client's information and this is where we have begun to see a new market presence for whitelisting."
U.K. retailer Marks and Spencer selected Bit9 Parity to protect more than 16,000 POS systems and help the company enforce the PCIDSS. Other leading retailers using Bit9 application whitelisting to protect their systems include 7-Eleven, Ahold, Petsmart, and Ritz Camera.
POS, self-checkout, kiosks and other retail systems pose security challenges, as they are often targeted by malicious hackers for their role in handling sensitive and valuable cardholder data. Most companies, however, are unable to easily control what applications can and cannot run on these machines. Blacklisting technologies such as antivirus software cannot always protect against targeted, low profile malware making its way onto a system. Many retail systems also are unable to easily receive updates and patches, or control portable storage devices.
Thursday, 13 November 2008
The West Australian: Internet kiosk company pieNetworks expects to raise about $3.4 million for a planned New Zealand kiosk rollout. To raise the money, the company will offer each of its shares for 1 cent. The funds will be used for production and network development for the Webphone kiosks. PieNetworks plans to install 50 of the kiosks in shopping centers around New Zealand, beginning during the first quarter of 2009. The issue will be partially underwritten to a minimum amount of $1.3 million by company chairman Peter Gunzburg and other shareholders.
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Thursday, 13 November 2008
(Zambia, Africa) ITWeb.com: The Sandton Central Management District in Sandton, Zambia, plans to install electronic touchscreen directory systems throughout the city. The Scout Project, developed by outdoor advertising company Smile Media, comprises a wireless network of public information kiosks that are expected to be rolled out early next year. The prototype will be placed outside the Sandton Convention Centre. The devices will feature an 18-inch screen with an electronic map and will provide information about Sandton central hotels, shops, restaurants, banks and places of interest, as well as community news. In addition, each kiosk will be programmed with a list of emergency contact numbers, as well as a panic button.
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Thursday, 13 November 2008
(Zambia, Africa) ITWeb.com: The Sandton Central Management District in Sandton, Zambia, plans to install electronic touchscreen directory systems throughout the city. The Scout Project, developed by outdoor advertising company Smile Media, comprises a wireless network of public information kiosks that are expected to be rolled out early next year. The prototype will be placed outside the Sandton Convention Centre. The devices will feature an 18-inch screen with an electronic map and will provide information about Sandton central hotels, shops, restaurants, banks and places of interest, as well as community news. In addition, each kiosk will be programmed with a list of emergency contact numbers, as well as a panic button.
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Thursday, 13 November 2008
WOONSOCKET, R.I. — CVS/pharmacy has enhanced its KODAK Picture Kiosks and Online Photo Center as a part of CVS/pharmacy's ongoing commitment to providing customers with the best possible retail photo experience.
According to a news release, customers can, for the first time, create photo gifts using KODAK touchscreen picture kiosks at all CVS/pharmacy One Hour Photo Centers. The gifts include one-of-a-kind photo cookies, photo playing cards, and photo plates featuring the Disney "High School Musical" cast, Barbie and Hannah Montana.
The enhanced KODAK Picture Kiosks include a sleek on-screen menu designed to help customers quickly start a project. The new software automatically detects digital media (USB drives, memory cards, CDs, etc.) and organizes by date and folders.
For customers who prefer to manage their photos online, CVS/pharmacy also provides free online photo storage. Here, customers can upload their images, order photo gifts and share photo galleries with friends and family.
KODAK Picture Kiosks are found at all 5,600 CVS/pharmacy one-hour photo locations nationwide.
Thursday, 13 November 2008
MUNICH, Germany — The new STARCOS 3.3 Passport Edition operating system from Giesecke & Devrient has received two certificates from the German Federal Office for Information Security, confirming that the OS complies with international security standards for passports (Common Criteria EAL 4+).
Specially designed security mechanisms ensure that passports and identity cards can remain in use for many years. Benefits include the speed and flexibility with which the chip can be personalized and its interoperability with a wide range of card-reader systems. These features make STARCOS 3.3 Passport Edition one of the world's most powerful and stable operating systems for biometric passports.
According to a news release, STARCOS 3.3 Passport Edition offers "the ultimate in flexibility." The category of passport and the corresponding security standards do not need to be defined until the time at which the personal data is incorporated. Many countries have chosen to introduce biometric features in their electronic travel documents in gradual stages. The type of data to be stored on the embedded chip is left to the discretion of the passport-issuing authority.
In the first instance, a digital photo is stored in the chip alongside the personal data used to identify the holder of the passport. If the need arises to issue passports and identity cards offering a higher level of security, additional biometric data such as fingerprint images can be added to the chip. No further modifications are required to the actual document or the OS.
It enables passport authorities to simplify their inventory processes and reduce costs, while at the same time guaranteeing a high output of personalized security documents.
STARCOS 3.3 Passport Edition supports all categories of passports envisaged by the European Union and the ICAO. The biometric data are protected against attempted forgery and identity theft by a number of special mechanisms. The system makes a distinction between passports that don't contain fingerprint images — protected by Basic Access Control — and passports containing more sensitive data — protected by Extended Access Control. A supplementary Active Authentication function can provide an additional safeguard by identifying forged copies of passports.
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
DENVER — Catholic Health Initiatives, the second largest Catholic health system in the United States, has signed a vendor agreement with NCR Corp. for self-service kiosks. The NCR MediKiosk technology is designed to eliminate the need for staff to re-enter patient demographic and insurance information into hospital information systems, resulting in fewer claim denials and improved cash flow.
"By simplifying and streamlining patient encounters like the check-in process, NCR MediKiosk can help us reduce administrative paperwork and enable us to create more meaningful interactions between patients and staff," said David Peterson, regional chief information officer for the Catholic Health Initiatives. "We hope to see that this faster, easier approach will lead to increased patient satisfaction. We expect it will allow us to decrease the overhead costs associated with patient registration, increase co-payment collection and improve forms management."
NCR MediKiosk offers services in English or Spanish. A patients swipes a credit card, driver's license or enters a name directly on the kiosk, along with an additional identifier, such as a birth date. The kiosk engages the patient to view and confirm appointment information, enter insurance information, electronically sign forms and pay outstanding payments or copayments prior to service.
"CHI's selection of NCR reinforces its commitment to providing exceptional patient care," said Chakri Toleti, vice president of healthcare industry marketing at NCR. "Automating the check-in process can benefit patients through shorter wait-times and reduced paperwork."
NCR MediKiosk is part of a comprehensive suite of products that allows hospitals and clinics to provide patient self-service capabilities such as preregistration via the Web, Online BillPay, eSignature for digital capture of patient signatures and eClipboard, NCR's wireless patient check-in solution.
Wednesday, 12 November 2008
China Hospitality News: As part of the International Air Transport Association's "Simplifying the Business" project, IATA will promote its "Fast Travel" program in China. Fast Travel will offer full service to passengers through common use self-service kiosks, barcoded boarding passes and 100 percent e-ticketing to meet increasing passenger demands for self-service. IATA is focusing on six key areas including: check-in using the Internet and mobile phones; bags ready-to-go; document scanning; flight re-booking; self-boarding; and luggage recovery. IATA's aim is to establish two pilots per project by the end of 2008.
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Wednesday, 12 November 2008
BROOKFIELD, Wis. — Fiserv has announced the launch of Fiserv Logix, the newest module of the Fiserv cash and logistics integrated management suite.
According to a news release, Logix provides a comprehensive array of powerful decision support, performance measurement and asset management tools to help organizations analyze where operating costs can be reduced to improve profitability and efficiency in a self-service network.
The Fiserv Logix module is designed to capture business intelligence to assist users in measuring and managing the profitability of individual or groups of ATMs and other self-service devices, as well as collect data necessary to understand the number and types of transactions that are occurring at those devices.
The features of the Fiserv Logix module are engineered to give users the capacity to create meaningful reports containing actionable information. With the Fiserv Logix module, clients have the ability to analyze their entire network, or drill down to specific groups, bank identification number codes or individual devices. Using this information, clients may produce standard or customized real-time reports via the Internet. Authorized users can access the information giving clients the ability to achieve and maintain higher levels of performance, customer satisfaction and profitability throughout the network.
Additionally, the Fiserv Logix module can help organizations to track the assets associated with each device and device location including hardware, software and consumables as well as surrounds and signage, security products, and communication lines and equipment. The system is designed to maintain warranty and contract information to ensure that ATM and device owners are receiving service levels as agreed.
"The Fiserv Logix module is designed to help organizations understand the costs and revenues associated with the self-service channel and assist with decisions such as whether their devices are in the right locations based on transaction volumes, revenues and customer satisfaction," said Brian Jorgenson, director of product management, Fiserv Cash and Logistics. "Using that knowledge, organizations will be able to plan more strategically across the ATM self-service channel, and improve cost management through better tracking and reporting of actual costs versus revenues."
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
LINCOLN, Neb. - MacPractice, Inc., a Macintosh practice-management and clinical-applications developer, has announced the release of the MacPractice Kiosk Interface with signature pad for users of MacPractice MD, MacPractice DDS, MacPractice DC and MacPractice 20/20.
According to a news release, MacPractice Kiosk is a simple yet powerful, easily customizable solution for a paperless practice that makes registration, health history, HIPAA, consent, treatment acceptance and all other patient forms available for completion and signature electronically in a doctor's office.
After the patient electronically signs his forms on a Mac computer designated to operate as a kiosk, the forms are automatically incorporated into his Electronic Medical Record (EMR) or Electronic Dental Record (EMR/EDR) in MacPractice. Virtually any paper form may be recreated in electronic format in MacPractice EMR/EDR and made available for completion by the patient on the kiosk computer.
"MacPractice Kiosk Interface is another terrific tool to improve efficiency, enhance productivity, and eliminate paper in a doctor’s office", states Mark Hollis, MacPractice's president.
Physicians, dentists, chiropractors and eye doctors are encouraged to view QuickTime demonstration movies of MacPractice software including the Kiosk Interface after registering at MacPractice.com. MacPractice also supports users of DentalMac, MediMac and ChiroMac.
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Chicago Tribune: For $100 and a copy of their fingerprints, U.S. citizens flying from abroad into O'Hare International Airport can skip passport-checking lines and proceed almost directly to baggage claim with the help of automated kiosks. The Global Entry program, unveiled at O'Hare last month by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, is designed to let travelers get through the airport faster but also affords a key benefit for the Department of Homeland Security: It makes tracking who is coming into the country much easier.
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Tuesday, 11 November 2008
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - In the aftermath of the Wall Street meltdown and global economic crisis, the nation's universities are facing the new realities of donor belt tightening and are ratcheting up efforts to maintain fundraising rates. To help educational institutions appeal to benefactors during these uncertain times, Vital-Signz, a solutions provider in the interactive-touchscreen-kiosk industry, has introduced a high-tech approach to memorializing major gifts with the Virtual Visitor Center, a flat-panel monitor installed permanently at universities to provide campus maps and points of interest, along with photo and biographical information about major donors.
The first installation of the system is now in operation at Point Loma Nazarene University, a Christian school with 3,500 students located on San Diego Bay Point. Housed in a custom granite kiosk at the entrance of newly constructed Smee Hall, the Vital-Signz Virtual Visitor Center(TM) features a photo and video history of the university, an interactive map highlighting the campus's principle buildings and profiles of the donors that contributed to the development fund.
Founder and chief executive of Vital-Signz, Richard Corwin, an Emmy Award-winning supervising sound editor, said the system's PC-based controller and video-streaming technologies were developed entirely in-house and are among the most advanced in the industry. Currently in use at half a dozen museums and other attractions in the Santa Barbara, Calif., area, Vital-Signz has set its sights on the massive but often overlooked educational market.
"We view universities and colleges as ideally suited to benefit from our system's ability to present interesting and update-able information with touchscreen ease of use," Corwin commented. "The installation at Point Loma Nazarene University is the culmination of our years of experience creating dynamic and crowd-pleasing information kiosks at museums and cultural attractions."
According to Eric Groves, director of Development, PLNU, the idea of using the Vital-Signz system grew out of the school's desire to recognize the efforts and contributions of the benefactors that made construction of the facility possible.
"We were thrilled when it was suggested to us that we could profile each Smee Hall honoree with a photo and biography, complete with scrolling names and rotating photos," Groves recalled. "The dynamic screen and layout draws the attention of students and visitors and invites them to interact and discover what the university offers."
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
DRAPER, Utah - While getting a card or gift with a stamp from across the country or overseas is always nice, actually seeing family members and loved ones on TV can make the holidays much more special. Imagine a technology that takes your treasured family photographs and sets them in motion, instantly weaving them together with cinematic effects to create a Hollywood-style photo movie production, all without hours online learning complicated software tools.
"A personalized photo DVD makes the ideal holiday greeting or gift," says Chett B. Paulsen, President and chief executive of aVinci Media Corporation, a company based in Draper, Utah, that is revolutionizing the way life events and memories are shared and preserved. "Family DVDs bring home the holiday spirit, especially when family, friends and loved ones can't physically be together."
For the 40 million U.S. photo consumers, aVinci's creative solutions are as close as one can get to actually being there. Available online at www.avincistudio.com and at photo center kiosks at some of the nation's largest retailers, aVinci's aim is to develop engaging, expansive, all-encompassing ways for everyone to tell their story using personal digital expressions, according to a news release.
"Our motto is: any platform, any product," says Paulsen. "Our suite of products are available online, as desktop software and in stores, and the end product can be shared as DVDs, photo books, posters and more."
In addition to aVinci's life-event themed packages (including achievement, baby, wedding and vacation), the company is introducing The Polar Express Christmas theme just in time for the holiday season. Based on the 2004 film version of Chris Van Allsburg's award-winning children's book, aVinci's The Polar Express Christmas photo DVD allows children to hop aboard their favorite family film, incorporating their personal photos into scenes from the movie and allowing them to interact with Tom Hanks's conductor character as he makes his way to the North Pole. In addition to the DVD, customers can order a matching photo book and poster.
"Imagine the excitement and sense of magic children will feel when they pop in a DVD to watch their favorite holiday film and see themselves on the big screen!" says Mr. Paulsen. "And, with a DVD priced under $25, a 21st-century holiday greeting is within anyone's reach."
Tuesday, 11 November 2008
Vincent John Vincent is a man with a foot in two worlds.
A practicing psychotherapist with an intense love of dance and theater may not be a likely candidate to launch his own gesture recognition digital signage company, but that's exactly what Vincent did in 2000, when he founded Toronto-based GestureTek.
"I was interested in the use of the creative arts · such as dance, music, art, and movement · in psychotherapy," Vincent said. "I wanted patients to be able to step into and become a part of the creative world. Our vision was to allow people to interact with computers using their bodies, rather than using peripheral tools like keyboards, voice, joysticks, and mice."
That vision led Vincent, along with University of Waterloo classmate Francis MacDougall, to create GestureTek in 1986. From the outset, both men realized that they would need to approach their fledging business as entrepreneurs, and not simply treat it as a hobby or project.
"Fortunately we had time to think about how other industries or markets would use the technology in business-wise ways so that we could market it for creative applications, too," said Vincent.
Together, Vincent and MacDougall created graphics and virtual worlds users could immerse themselves in. As they grew the company, Vincent toured on a part-time basis for nearly 10 years, demonstrating the technology through dance and music and using it as a performance tool. To this day, he still unwinds with all sorts of dance.
MacDougall developed and patented the company's core single-camera gesture control technologies and led the creation of the application development engine, tracking engines, and numerous other capabilities that form the base of GestureTek's product offerings. He continues to drive the technology strategy of the company in leading the R&D and production teams as well as all patenting and licensing activities. Meanwhile, Vincent serves as the creative force and oversees day-to-day operations, sales and marketing. He also leads ongoing market identification, product development in multiple vertical markets, and worldwide installation of the company's systems.
One of Vincent's recent installations involved working with the city of Vancouver, British Columbia, to create a dynamic and user-friendly interactive experience to promote the upcoming 2010 Winter Olympics. GestureTek partnered with California-based Xpletive and was able to connect to a real-time rendering of a virtual world of B.C. so that its camera and patented technology could read and analyze the angle of the viewer's hand as it manipulated his "world" and allowed him to fly through 3D versions of various local landmarks. GestureTek's system, in combination with the latest satellite texture maps of B.C., tracks hand movement in complete 3D space, capturing depth information with accuracy and resolution. The effect is an incredibly authentic 3D interactive experience that can be delivered without the need for a remote or any other peripheral device. It provides a unique experience for the viewer standing
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Vincent John Vincent
President and Co-Founder of GestureTek
Age: 49
Education: Psychology degree from University of Waterloo, Canada
Hometown: Toronto
Family: 21-year-old daughter studying at Ontario College of Art & Design
Hobbies: Dancing and reading science fiction
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within five feet of a six-foot screen.
The system has already been used this past summer at the Olympics held in Beijing and will also be used to promote the upcoming winter games.
Dozens of colleges, universities, public spaces, as well as numerous museums around the world use GestureTek technology as a wayfinding system in kiosks or on tables, providing a convenient way for visitors to find different locations throughout these institutions. Continued use of the technology in kiosks will allow users to access information in new ways, such as looking at a map of an area and clicking on something specific; using both fingers to zoom in; opening up pictures and deciding a size; and keeping content on a main screen and moving it around while finding other information at the same time.
"Video gesture control has to be intuitive so that when a user approaches a kiosk, for example, he or she can walk up and start using the installation," Vincent said. "There isn't time to teach someone how to use the technology."
Vincent said his goal is, "to find places where the technology is not only appropriate but also adds value; not expand too fast; and remain open to the creativity and ideas of clients and other employees."
GestureTek has had few competitors over the years because Vincent and MacDougall created all of their own technology and have protected their intellectual property with very broad patents, according to Vincent.
"We are lucky in that we started a technology category in the late 80s and have had 20 years of experience," he said. "We have created and amassed a large body of knowledge and of markets, uses and environments. We deal with real-world issues and have robust technology that we keep moving ahead."
But there's more to Vincent's life than wayfinding kiosks and digital screens. In addition to unwinding through dance, Vincent is an avid reader of science fiction that he said, "provides good descriptions of future realities which is what GestureTek is in the process of helping to create."
As for role models, Vincent points to Nolan Bushnell, known as the father of electronic gaming, the inventor of the classic video game Pong and the founder of the Atari video game system.
"Although there may not be a direct logic to why I'm inspired by Bushnell, I admire his creativity in applying technology in different ways and to vertical markets," said Vincent.
Vincent says he sees the future of the gesture recognition industry as one involving increasingly realistic immersive 360-degree virtual imagery that users can get lost in.
"There will be more dynamic ways to interface with cameras and integration with both voice and gesture," he said. "There will be multiple portals so that if you are looking at a screen you can connect with and 'meet' people at other screens, and expand all kinds of social engagement. We will see more and more large flat screens or projections in public space, especially as installation become more affordable."
It may sound like science fiction. But Vincent's not the type to keep both feet on the ground.
Monday, 10 November 2008
The (New York City) Ticker: The Talking Kiosk, a device designed to aid the visually impaired, was unveiled in the Whitehall Ferry Terminal in lower Manhattan. The kiosk is the second of its kind and Karen Gourney, head of Baruch College's Computer Center for Visually Impaired People, was instrumental in its development. Gourney described the Talking Kiosk as "basically a talking tactile map with some buttons that give the user access to various menus that allow him or her to glean particular types of information. The user explores the map with his hands, and when he presses a particular point, the system speaks and announces what has been touched."
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Monday, 10 November 2008
CXOtoday.com: Improving customer service and satisfaction emerges as the high priority investment driver for 80 percent of the world's airport operators in the 5th annual "Airport IT Trends" survey carried out by SITA, a specialist provider of airport IT and communications, in conjunction with Airline Business and the Airports Council International. Airports want to meet the demands of travelers by expanding self-service to include the introduction of passenger self-boarding (35 percent), off-airport passenger/baggage processing (32 percent) and common bag drop locations (33 percent).
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Monday, 10 November 2008
MALVERN, Pa. — USA Technologies Inc., and Merit Entertainment announced an agreement where Merit will install USA Technologies' ePort software in thousands of its new Megatouch touchscreen entertainment systems.
Merit, provider of Megatouch countertop entertainment systems for 30 years, selected the ePort software and ePort Connect Services to help give Megatouch players the ability to pay with their debit or credit cards. Merit will install the ePort cashless transaction software in all new domestic Megatouch products manufactured over the next three years. USA Technologies will act as the exclusive provider to Merit of card processing and credit/debit card data services.
"Our mission is to give customers the most enjoyable playing experience by delivering the best games, software, hardware, service and support," said Colin Higbie, director of marketing for Merit Entertainment. "With ePort Connect, Merit will give players the added ease and convenience of being able to use their credit or debit card to purchase credits on the Megatouch. For operators, the ePort Connect cashless payment system means greater efficiency, improved reliability over coin and bill-only systems, and the preferred means of payment among our younger generation of consumers, all of which work together to increase revenue, lower service costs and increase overall ROI."
Merit is the first company to bring the ePort cashless payment solution to the multi-billion dollar countertop touchscreen entertainment market. Merit has the lion's share of the touchscreen amusement market, with an estimated 250,000 Megatouch games in use, delivering more than four billion game play experiences for customers a year.
Monday, 10 November 2008
Business Wire: MoneyGram International, a global payment services company, and ATM provider Cardtronics have announced that MoneyGram money transfer and ExpressPayment urgent bill payment services will be offered through 2,250 advanced-function ATMs located at 7-Eleven, Inc. convenience stores in the U.S. beginning in late 2008. As part of a multi-year agreement, the financial self-service kiosks will facilitate money transfer and ExpressPayment urgent bill payment for walk-up customers without the aid of store personnel.
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Friday, 07 November 2008
GENEVA — Diebold Inc. has been awarded a two-year branch-transformation project by European retail banking group Dexia.
According to a news release, the deal includes 1,000 Opteva 328 EF/D recycling units and an accompanying services package. Equipped with Agilis Power software, the Opteva 328 EF/D recycling units have been customized to meet Dexia's requirements for cash recycling and dispenser functionality. The units will be placed in Dexia's branches in Belgium and will replace the bank's existing Diebold 9x series ATMs.
The consultation process for this new contract started when Dexia embarked on a project to examine the profitability and security of the branch. The new Diebold installation meets the challenge of collecting and recycling commonly used banknotes, while also allowing consumers to withdraw any kind of euros, including €5,100 and €500 banknotes. The machines can be configured for cash-in, cash-out, recycling or any combination of the three.
"Banks are increasingly looking for better automation for their ATMs, and Dexia is no exception," said Dave Wetzel, vice president and general manager of Diebold for Western Europe. "The new generation of Opteva models is leading the way in bank transformation and releasing staff for more value-added tasks."
Diebold's Opteva 328 EF/D is complies with European Central Bank Article 6 requirements and allows a user to make a bulk cash deposit of up to 200 notes without an envelope. The ATM also has a secure escrow area where the deposited notes remain until the customer accepts the transaction, allowing the user to cancel the transaction and have the notes returned, if necessary.
The ATM can easily validate note deposits, which can then be sorted by denomination, added to the existing recycler supply and re-dispensed according to demand. The deposit mechanism from the ATM is equipped with many sensors for fraud detection. The algorithms for counterfeit detection are updated on regular basis to optimize discrimination of new versions from counterfeit banknotes.
Friday, 07 November 2008
PADERBORN, Germany — Wincor Nixdorf AG says the 2007/2008 fiscal year was a financially record-setting year, despite the economic challenges affecting companies throughout the world.
According to a news release, Wincor Nixdorf on Sept. 30 closed the year with an 8 percent increase in net sales, hitting the corporate forecast for the year.
Wincor Nixdorf reported annual net sales of €2.3 billion (U.S. $3 billion), up from €2.1 billion (U.S. $2.8 billion) in 2007/2008. Profit for the period was up 17 percent year over year.
"This growth line still applies to us in the medium term, even if our business performance may become bleaker in the short term, due to the global impact of the financial market crisis," said Wincor Nixdorf chief executive Eckard Heidloff today during a press conference in Düsseldorf, Germany. "Retail banking has proven to be the business segment in the banking arena that reacts with the least volatility to market circumstance. That will tend to stimulate its renaissance further."
Wincor Nixdorf has expanded business activities with retail banks and retailers over the last 12 months. Global expansion continued systematically, reducing dependence on individual customers or singular economies. The company says it was able to enlarge its solutions portfolio by adding innovations that enable banks and retail companies to achieve cost advantages and additional customer service in their business processes.
Wincor Nixdorf also expanded its activities in the areas of consulting, software integration, managed services and outsourcing in the year under review. Expertise in branch/store and self-service business is now expected to be applied to adjacent sectors to achieve additional growth potential.
"As far as we can see now, we assume that we will be able to follow up the very good previous year's performance and maintain approximately the same level of business," Heidloff said.
Despite a forecast that tends to be positive, management at Wincor Nixdorf agrees that it is not possible to tell definitively whether and when the financial market crisis can be contained or what impact it will have on the world economy. That applies to both established countries and newly industrializing countries. Depending on the intensity of the negative effects, short-term reductions in retail banks' and retailers' capital spending budgets cannot be excluded. Wincor Nixdorf is preparing to respond flexibly to the challenges that may arise.
"Our main priority is to make our cost structures more flexible in order to secure our margins," said chief financial officer Dr. Jürgen Wunram. "We are therefore taking suitable steps in production, sales and service to make Wincor Nixdorf 'weatherproof.'"
Friday, 07 November 2008
The Muskegon (Mich.) Chronicle: Two years after a lawsuit was filed after a child was taken from a school by a noncustodial parent, a local charter school has clamped down on security. LobbyGuard, a computerized visitor management system, was implemented at Timberland Charter Academy in Muskegon Township last spring. Prior to the system, visitors were required to sign in, which is the routine in many schools. With LobbyGuard, parents and visitors are not allowed access beyond the main office without visiting the security kiosk.
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Thursday, 06 November 2008
(Lubbock, Texas) Avalanche-Journal: A proposal to position kiosks around Lubbock, Texas, instead of constructing a visitor center will be tested by the City Council today. Councilman Todd Klein will ask for $40,000 for an automated machine at Lubbock Preston Smith International Airport, where visitors could get information about the city, tickets to entertainment venues or bus passes. It's the first time Klein has brought his kiosk idea to a vote.
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Thursday, 06 November 2008
TAIPEI, China — Lanner Electronics Inc., a manufacturer of industrial and embedded computer platforms and technologies, has announced the launch of a new embedded computer based on the Intel Atom Processor N270 and the Mobile Intel 945GSE Express Chipset, according to a news release.
The Lanner LUGE EM-F345 embedded computer is designed for flexible deployment in any scenario. Its robust fanless design makes the EM-F345 an ideal solution for video applications such as digital signs, outdoor advertising and kiosk systems. The onboard 1.6GHz Intel Atom processor N270 provides outstanding performance with very low power consumption and minimal cooling requirements, resulting in improved stability and longevity and providing a higher return on investment.
"We're very excited about the family of Intel Atom processors and the advantages they bring to our products," said Vincent Leu, product planner, Embedded Business Group, Lanner Electronics. "As a member of the Intel Embedded and Communications Alliance, Lanner is able to utilize the latest Intel technologies to develop cutting-edge embedded products like the new Lanner LUGE EM-F345. The EM-F345 is a versatile network-ready computer with all the interfaces needed for a wide variety of end-use applications, and with the new N270 1.6GHz CPU and 945GSE chipset from Intel, we've developed a powerful solution that improves on all aspects of the fanless design, including performance, stability, power consumption and price."
"The Intel Atom processor N270 operates on ground-breaking 45nm Hi-K metal gate silicon technology, which provides robust performance per watt for cost-effective embedded solutions," said Jonathan Luse, director of marketing, Low Power Embedded Products Division, Intel. "Embedded platforms built on the N270 and the 945GSE chipset, such as the Lanner EM-F345, introduce a new combination of performance, graphics and low power advantages for a wide range of entry-level embedded applications."
The LUGE EM-F345 includes multiple audio and video interfaces, two gigabit LAN network ports, 256GB onboard DDR2 memory, and two storage interfaces and CompactFlash Type I/II and SATA HDD. By providing both VGA and DVI-D video ports, the EM-F345 provides increased flexibility for dual display applications such as digital signage, point of sales, kiosk and jackpot displays.
Thursday, 06 November 2008
PARIS — VeriFone Holdings, Inc., has introduced a contactless version of its popular PINpad 1000SE, further expanding the industry's broadest line of contactless payment solutions, according to a news release.
VeriFone today also unveiled SingleCI (Single Contactless Interface), a unifying programming interface with development tools that allows acquirers and developers to leverage existing contactless investments, adapt to future needs, and take advantage of the company's entire contactless portfolio. SingleCI is compatible with today's industry-leading contactless interfaces.
The contactless PINpad 1000SE combines two payment peripherals — PIN entry and contactless — into one space-saving device that reduces costs and support burdens. Suitable for use worldwide, the PCI PED approved PINpad1000SE contactless version is backward-compatible with earlier versions, and features USB or serial connectivity for easy connection to electronic cash registers and POS devices.
"We are unleashing contactless by making it effortlessly available in the best-selling PIN entry device on the market today," said Paul Rasori, VeriFone senior vice president, marketing. "Acquirers can literally swap out an older PINpad 1000SE for this new solution. That makes it easy for them to deploy contactless applications to merchants for acceptance of contactless payments from the widest range of card brands, including Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express."
The PINpad 1000SE contactless version also supports non-payment applications, such as MiFare, and will be commercially available in the first half of 2009.
Fully compatible with common industry interfaces, SingleCI enables acquirers to leverage their existing investments in contactless platforms. In addition, it future-proofs new investments by providing development tools that enable acquirers to easily add new features and applications, and adapt to changing specifications such as the NFC (Near-Field Communications) standard.
Thursday, 06 November 2008
RANCHO CUCAMONGA, Calif. — As the only credit union service provider to offer a full complement of electronic deposit capabilities geared to consumers, Co-Op Financial Services is seeing credit unions' adoption of its Check Imaging solutions steadily climb, mirroring the growth in image-capture services industry wide, according to a news release.
"By providing a wide range of imaging solutions that appeal to members on the go, we're helping credit unions compete with much larger institutions," said Stan Hollen, president and chief executive of Co-Op Financial Services. "Providing a variety of channels for making deposits essentially brings the credit union right to its members, wherever they are."
In March, Co-Op introduced the first three services in its check imaging suite: Co-Op My Deposit, Co-Op Fast Branch and Co-Op ATM Check Imaging. The company will soon add two more services: Retail Deposit and Branch Deposit.
Co-Op Fast Branch service, which provides credit union members with "do-it-yourself" shared branch kiosks, has added Anheuser-Busch Employees' Credit Union in St. Louis; Delta Community Credit Union in Atlanta, Ga.; First Financial Credit Union in Albuquerque, N.M.; NASA Federal Credit Union in Bowie, Md.; and Red Rocks Credit Union in Highlands Ranch, Colo.
New users of Co-Op Check Imaging ATM service, which allows members to scan and deposit checks without using deposit slips or envelopes, include Alliant Credit Union in Chicago, Ill.; California Center Credit Union in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.; Provident Credit Union in Redwood City, Calif.; Star One Credit Union in Sunnyvale, Calif.; Antelope Valley Federal Credit Union in Lancaster, Calif.; Rogue Federal Credit Union in Medford, Ore.; and USA Federal Credit Union, San Diego, Calif.
Co-Op My Deposit check imaging service for consumers has added Addison Avenue Federal Credit Union in Palo Alto, Calif; America First Federal Credit Union in Ogden, Utah; California Center Credit Union; Constellation Federal Credit Union in Falls Church, Va.; Meadows Credit Union in Arlington Heights, Ill.; Michigan First Credit Union in Lathrup Village, Mich. (branded as EZ Scan&Deposit by Michigan First CU); and Star One Credit Union.
According to CheckImage Collaborative, a group of trade associations and financial institutions working to raise awareness and promote the benefits of Check 21, more than 14 billion annual check payments totaling $17.5 trillion per year have shifted from traditional paper-based to image-based clearing. On a typical day in March 2008, the group reports, nearly 9,800 financial institutions received more than 42 million check images for posting.
"The use of imaging technology is only going to grow, with the Federal Reserve stepping up the timing for closure of several check-processing facilities," said Hollen. "And as member demand grows for convenient access to their accounts, Co-Op is committed to providing credit unions with the tools to compete and succeed in the Check 21 world."
Thursday, 06 November 2008
DALLAS — TableTop Media LLC announced the national availability of Ziosk, the company's next-generation interactive tabletop device, according to a news release.
Increased labor and food costs, lower check averages, reduced traffic and expensive paper promotions with low success rates are starving the restaurant industry economically, according to some. Ziosk delivers a dynamic, pay-on-demand experience with a menu of financially benefiting capabilities. In addition to Ziosk's core features (split check, touch tip, email or print receipt capabilities, real-time surveys, movie trailers and ticket purchase), the new product offers increased battery life, order entry, sound, dynamic content scheduling and a 3D graphics capable interface.
The technology was tested at the Cozymel's Mexican Grill chain in Texas and immediately demonstrated the consumer fascination with media-rich, touchscreen technology and convenience at the table. Leveraging the "pay on-demand" and digital promotional capabilities, Cozymel's has increased the average check at lunch by seven percent and 14 percent at dinner. Following the successful six-month pilot with more than 20,000 successful check outs, Cozymel's will begin deploying Ziosk to its other restaurant locations before the holiday season.
By shaving, on average, 10 minutes off the check presenting, processing and closing out process, a casual restaurant like Cozymel's is also able to increase its lunch and dinner capacity. Additionally, the "pay on-demand" feature has armed servers with the ability to field more tables, reducing labor costs by 16 percent. Those same servers are experiencing a 15 percent lift in tips per shift with the potential of a 30 percent lift thanks to the increase in tables.
Enhanced Product Features include:
- Increased Battery Life: Ziosk operates with 18-plus hours of battery power, enabling restaurants to operate the complete day without service interruptions.
- PCI Compliant: Ziosk is fully compliant with all Payment Card Industry Payment Application Data Security Standards (PCI PA-DSS) requirements.
- Ruggedized and Spill Resistant: Ziosk was designed for the restaurant environment, and is both spill resistant and drop tested for hard surfaces.
- Customizable Table Configurations: Ziosk offers multiple mounting options, vertical or horizontal in custom designed condiment holders or wall mounts.
- Dynamic Content Scheduling: This patent-pending feature enables Ziosk to display relevant content at specific periods of the dining cycle by day part. Therefore, lunch specific promotions will be shown just during lunch prior to placing the order or just during the meal.
- Training and HR: Ziosk offers restaurant employees the opportunity to login to view vacation and paycheck information, training programs, videos from management and other servers, enter internal blog information or participate in internal programs and competitions.
"Cozymel's proved the model across a number of fronts — higher check averages, increased customer frequency and table turns, positive customer feedback, menu up selling and financial comfort in transacting independent of a server," said Shawn Gentry, chief operating officer and president of TableTop Media. "Despite the current economic environment, we are very pleased with the level of interest among national chains to explore the technology across all category segments. The fact is, Ziosk goes way beyond security and convenience for guests, and it adds dollars to the pockets of restaurateurs and their employees. It's a win-win."
Thursday, 06 November 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. — Pan-Oston, a leading designer, developer and manufacturer of retail checkout products, including lanes, counters and self-checkout solutions, as well as other retail display products, is teaming with National Grocers Association, the national trade association representing the independent sector of the retail and wholesale grocery industry, to deliver products and services which increase efficiency, reduce costs and allow the independent sector to maintain its competitive position.
"We are thrilled to be working with Pan-Oston. This agreement represents a great opportunity to create value and efficiency for our members and achieve the necessary economies of scale to compete," said Frank DiPasquale, senior vice president and executive director, National Grocers Association. "Pan-Oston's Utopia self-checkout is a proven self-checkout solution for independent grocers, and their new Ergolane checkout is the first major check lane design innovation in over four decades."
The agreement establishes an exclusive partnership program whereby N.G.A. members are pre-approved to receive member benefits such as economy pricing, unique programs, technology and support services on all Pan-Oston retail checkout and display products inclusive of the patent-pending Utopia self-checkout solution.
"The National Grocers Association values the existence of independent retailers as a central requirement of a competitive grocery market and pursues strategic initiatives to support their member opportunities to increase efficiency, reduce costs and maintain their competitive position," said Jim Vance, Pan-Oston's president. "N.G.A. members now have an affordable
self-checkout solution with Utopia and access to our broad array of front-end and other grocery display products at Tier One prices."
Wednesday, 05 November 2008
Fermanagh (Ireland) Herald: Fermanagh shoppers got a little more than they bargained for when they were offered the chance to learn how to use the Internet, as well as a range of interactive services, while doing the weekly shopping. As part of the nationwide campaign, "Get Online Day," Tesco Enniskillen and digital inclusion initiative, EverybodyOnline, joined forces to help people step into the virtual world and discover what the Internet has to offer. Members of the EverybodyOnline team were on hand in Tesco Enniskillen to show shoppers how to use the free public touchscreen Internet kiosk.
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Wednesday, 05 November 2008
TRUMBULL, Conn. — Following the successful debut of the co-located spring event in Las Vegas, organizers for The Digital Signage Show and KioskCom Self Service Expo celebrated equally impressive results for their joint fall offering, which took place at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center in New York City on October 15 and 16.
According to a news release, the shows enjoyed their highest attendance to date, with a 34 percent overall increase in pre-qualified attendees, as well as 50 percent growth in the exhibit hall compared to that of the New York 2007 event. In total, 2,490 professionals attended the New York shows in 2008.
"The team behind these conferences have maintained excellent momentum throughout the year and delivered an event that went beyond our expectations," said Peggy Stalhut, marketing communications manager for Harris Corp. "Harris is already planning to attend again in 2009!"
KioskCom Self Service Expo has been named by Tradeshow Week as one of the 50 Fastest Growing Trade Shows in North America three separate times.
Wednesday, 05 November 2008
(San Jose, Calif.) Business Journal: Atari Corp. founder and Silicon Valley legend Nolan Bushnell has launched a venture that's like a Chuck E. Cheese restaurant for grown-ups. UWink Inc. has three restaurants with self-service ordering at the tabletop and games that encourage social interaction. According to the National Restaurant Association, 44 percent of consumers say they would be likely to use an electronic ordering system at their table if offered, while 53 percent would utilize electronic payment systems at the table. Those trends are expected to increase in popularity.
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Wednesday, 05 November 2008
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — NetWorld Alliance, the publisher of ATM Marketplace, has launched "The Future of Cash: Survey Predicts Changes in Consumer Habits," an exclusive white paper that contains the results of a new survey of more than 500 financial-industry professionals.
"With credit markets tightening and consumers rethinking their established habits for dealing with their money, the world of payments is on the precipice of some major changes," said Tracy Kitten, senior editor of ATM Marketplace. "For this white paper, we've tapped the collective expertise of professionals who are out on the front lines every day and distilled their wisdom down to some useful numbers."
Topics addressed in the white paper include:
- Which payment methods will experience the most increase in usage in the coming months
- Changing consumer attitudes about the security and safety of personal funds on deposit
- The evolving role of cash, relative to other paymsent methods
The paper also includes expert commentary from Mike Lee, chief executive of the ATM Industry Association.
The white paper is part of a larger project, "ATM Future Trends 2009," which ATM Marketplace and ATMIA are putting together for a report-release in early March. ATM Marketplace will preview the full report during the annual ATMIA Conference & Expo being held Feb. 10-12 in Nashville. The report will take a look at the future of the ATM industry with even more in-depth survey results, as well as expert commentaries.
Download the white paper.
Wednesday, 05 November 2008
 NS Systems Ltd is a technology leader in the field of public access and self service applications, with experience of thousands of projects over many years.
Public access and self service technology is delivering a new generation of business benefits to many vertical markets, and NS provides software solutions, mentoring, consultancy and professional services to strategic partners and public access network operators across key sectors such as telecommunications, finance, retail, leisure, transport, local and national government.
Wednesday, 05 November 2008
NEW YORK · The future of self-service is bright, so says Mike Webster, the new chief strategy officer for Dayton, Ohio-based NCR Corp. The self-service giant, which focuses its business on six key markets · financial, retail, travel and lodging, healthcare, public sector, and entertainment and gambling · is eyeing with particular interest the healthcare and entertainment industries.
Hear how Webster sees NCR honing in on stronger self-service strategies since the corporate spinoff of Teradata.
Tuesday, 04 November 2008
DULUTH, Ga. — SoloHealth, an association member, has been named one of five finalists in Forbes magazine's "Boost Your Business" competition. Now the self-service startup is calling for association members to vote online to increase the company's chances of winning.
"Thanks to everyone's efforts, what started with over 1,600 companies is now down to five, and SoloHealth is a finalist," said Bob Ventresca, director of marketing for Netkey.
SoloHealth is widely recognized for its flagship solution, the EyeSite kiosk, which it developed with the help of both Netkey and KIOSK Information Systems. The EyeSite kiosk enables users to take an impromptu eye exam, though SoloHealth's chief executive, Bart Foster, cautions that it doesn't take the place of seeing a specialist.
In October, Forbes flew Foster to New York City where he made a presentation to a panel of four judges. The winner of the competition will be chosen on a weighted grading scale made up of judges' opinions (50 percent) and online votes (50 percent).
"SoloHealth needs your help," said Ventresca. "Please vote and try to get your friends and colleagues to do the same. It only takes 30 seconds."
To vote, click here.
Tuesday, 04 November 2008
 Because of the huge success with the motherboards, graphic cards and bare bone systems, MSI was inspired to take the experience and input the expert team dedicated to develop industry-standard motherboard solutions for industrial-computing market.
Since 2006, MSI IPC division has thrived on customer satisfaction from several market segments:
- Multimedia and Gaming
- POS/ATM/Kiosk
- Automation/Workstation
- Health Care
By being a valuable Worldwide partner of Intel, AMD and VIA, MSI IPC is able to provide the most up-to-date chipset solution and reference board for your business; our prestigious production quality and global service chain ensures a state-of-the-art product and real time service.
MSI does not focus on branded market but a few selected, world-class industrial-computing companies. We offer: 5-7 years life-cycle product longevity, 100% customized service at board and system levels, HW and BIOS version control.
To find out more about us and what we could do for you, visit our website: http://global.msi.com.tw and go to Industrial Computing. We are interested in business opportunities with value added distributors, resellers, system integrators.
Tuesday, 04 November 2008
The globe is covered with three types of people · those who are willing to use self-service technology, those who aren't, and those who make up the undecideds, Undecideds eye kiosk technology with an air of skepticism, but aren't quite willing to discount the idea of walking up to a mechanical box and swiping a credit card.
At a time when most political analysts are debating how to sway undecideds in a presidential election, several experts in the self-service industry spoke with SelfService.org about designing user interfaces that draw, rather than repel, the uninitiated to a kiosk display.
The result of that discussion? The following tips:
Keep text and button sizes large
People don't like to squint, but that's exactly what happens when they're confronted with tiny buttons and hard-to-read text. One rule of thumb: The smaller the buttons, the more complicated and unusable the consumer will perceive the kiosk to be.
"It's interesting that you should say "rule of thumb, because that's exactly what we use," said Cam Stewart, director of Phosphor Essence Ltd., a kiosk software provider based in Auckland, New Zealand. "I have quite big fingers, so when I design something for a touchscreen, I actually use my thumb. If I can use it with my thumb, I reckon everybody will be able to use it."
Experts agree that there's no hard and fast rule about exactly how large the button has to be, but it does have to be "finger friendly."
"You can't even say that is has to be millimeters," said Francie Mendelsohn, president and founder of Summit Research Associates. "It's one of those things where you'll know it when you see it."
Bob Ventresca, director of marketing for Netkey, agrees that bigger is better.
"The larger the button, the more impactful the image that really helps somebody understand that this is what you need to do to move on to the next step," he said.
Space buttons out
Mendelsohn says she recently examined voting machines in West Virginia where users were asked to press a button next to the name of the presidential candidate they wanted. The problem was that the buttons were so close together that users had trouble understanding who they were choosing.
"It was appallingly close," she said. "There was almost no space between one button and the next. There was plenty of room on the page, because you've only got five candidates, so it's not like you've got to cram everything in there."
Mendelsohn says she witnessed an elderly man become extremely frustrated because every time he attempted to push the button to vote for one candidate, it would register a vote for the candidate on the opposing ticket. The moral of the story: use good judgment when spacing buttons on the touchscreen.
Make the "sweet spot" larger than the button
When kiosk designers refer to a "sweet spot," they're speaking of the area in or around a button on a touchscreen that will react to human touch. Mendelsohn says that · as long as there is ample space between buttons · it's a smart idea to make the sweet spot slightly larger than the button to accommodate elderly users who may have a hard time hitting the exact area of the touchscreen.
â"The button may appear to be the size of an M&M, but if you have the area around the button be active also, you can touch on the edge or just beyond the edge of the button and you'll still activate the button," Mendelsohn said.
One choice at a time, please
The user interface should appear as simple as possible. Stewart says it's better to have a dozen screens containing one choice each, rather than one or two screens chock full of questions and buttons.
"The older generation certainly gets very quickly turned off by a large amount of choice and a big number of buttons on a screen, especially on a touchscreen," Stewart said.
Keep the easy decisions at the beginning
In order to keep the interactive process as unintimidating as possible, difficult or complicated questions should be saved for the end. If the first thing the user sees is a question they don't know how to complete, they probably won'™t even begin the interactive process. On the other hand, consumers who have already completed 95 percent of the process already have too much invested to abandon the kiosk when they see a relatively difficult procedure near the end.
"We try to lead people into it," Stewart said. "We do a system of what we call decision trees. We try and keep those decisions at the front end extremely simple like "left or right" or "one or two." That actually gives people the confidence so they can read one question and answer "yes or no" or whatever the option is. Then you've already got them engaged."
Minimize the amount of text
When it comes to the amount of text on a screen, experts agree that the fewer words, the more likely the user is to engage the kiosk.
"Short and concise is better," Stewart said. "We tend to be pretty brutal about the language that we use."
Mendelsohn says that kiosk screens that are mounted vertically, as opposed to horizontally, can get away with more text because it’s more pleasing to the eye. At the same time, she says the typical consumer · as a general rule · is less willing to plow through text than they were a decade ago.
"People just don't read," she said. "They want that instant gratification. They want to be able to just drill down immediately to whatever it is that they're going to be doing at the kiosk."
Give the interface a mechanical feel
It may only be a digital representation of a button, but Stewart says the consumer wants to think they're pushing a "real," physical button. In order to give them that perception, buttons should have an "up" and "down" state, when they're down, they might visibly sink into a socket.
When they're up, they might cast a slight shadow. The same goes for any type of control device on a digital touchscreen.
"You can't give a tactile response on a touchscreen, but you can give the visual representation of a tactile response, and we think that's really important," he said.
Mendelsohn, who calls this concept visual feedback, says it assures the user that they're actually completing a task and that the kiosk is functioning properly.
Be declarative: Tell, don't ask
When it comes to voice or text prompts, Stewart says it pays for kiosks to be straightforward. Be declarative about what the user should do to engage in the process. If they need to push a button, say, "Please push the button next to your preferred choice." Don't ask, "Would you like to push the button next to your preferred choice?"
"People want these to be command-driven, so you need to tell them what to do, not ask them if they would like to touch one of these options" Stewart said.
Sound can be your friend, or your enemy
All of the experts agreed that, when it comes to incorporating sound into the user interface, deployers should proceed with caution. On the one hand, some sound can be a necessary ingredient for assuring the user that they're moving through the process correctly.
"From a user interface standpoint, having the ability to put things like clicks or beeps or some other type of mechanism to validate that, yes, you've touched that button and it's going to move on to the next activity, can be very helpful," said Ventresca.
Conversely, having too much sound · especially too much repetitive sound · can become an annoyance to employees at the deployment location.
"If that loop repeats itself over and over and over, people who work nearby · it's like water torture for them," Mendelsohn said. "That's when kiosks get vandalized. By vandalized, I don't mean they take an axe to it, but they'll come when nobody is looking and they'll pull the plug."
Travis Kircher is the full-time editor of sister site SelfService.org.
Monday, 03 November 2008
PARIS — ViVOtech, a provider of near field communication (NFC) mobile phone and contactless payment systems, has launched a flexible contactless payment reader for the kiosk, transit turnstile, bus validator and ticketing markets.
According to a news release, the new ViVOpay Kiosk II is a two-piece modular reader that enables ease of installation in new self-service systems and is certified to work with all major contactless payment programs without requiring the systems to go through a rigorous and costly compliance re-certification process with card associations and network providers.
The ViVOpay Kiosk II is a flexible contactless reader that is comprised of a compact controller module and a customer-facing contactless antenna module for easy integration into a new customer-facing self-service system. Each module in the ViVOpay solution is packaged individually, giving equipment manufacturers complete flexibility in integrating contactless payment functionality with their systems. This flexible design approach allows the controller module to be securely installed within the cabinetry of the system while the small footprint antenna is installed in a customer-facing location with minimal effort.
"Self-service markets are experiencing rapid growth worldwide and manufacturers of self-service systems are demanding a flexible pre-certified contactless reader that can be quickly and easily installed in new systems," said Mohammad Khan, ViVOtech president and founder. "The modular design of our new ViVOpay Kiosk II and pre-certification with card associations and network providers enables solution providers in transportation, retail, parking and other industries to deliver contactless and NFC mobile-enabled devices to market fast and efficiently."
The ViVOpay Kiosk II features a weather-proof customer-facing antenna that allows it to be used in self-ordering kiosk systems across a wide variety of applications such as parking meters, ticket validation/payment machines, transit turnstile systems, airport self-check-in systems, bus ticket acceptance machines, and many more. ViVOpay Kiosk II also enables self-service systems to accept transactions from NFC mobile phone for payments, ticketing, promotions and coupon redemption applications.
Monday, 03 November 2008
ITProPortal.com: It seems that Microsoft is taking its "I am PC" campaign directly before the Mac user, if reports of a new Microsoft kiosk popping up before an Apple store in the United Kingdom are to be believed. Recently, an AppleInsider reader reportedly saw a video kiosk promoting Microsoft in close proximity to an Apple store in Birmingham, where employees from Microsoft were asking passsers-by to come in and express their PC experiences and thereby record their very own "I'm a PC" video.
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Monday, 03 November 2008
The Financial Express: Indian Bank's chairman and managing director M. S. Sundara Rajan has inaugurated an e-ticketing kiosk at the railway station in Vijayawada. Indian Railways has allowed the Indian Bank to install 34 ATM/e-ticketing kiosks and 17 standard ATMs at railway stations across the country. The bank has already installed 27 ATM/e-ticketing kiosks and 9 standard ATMs at various railway stations.
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Monday, 03 November 2008
DUBLIN, Ireland — Research and Markets, an international market research and market data firm, has released "Mobile Ticketing: Transport, Sport Entertainment & Events 2008-2013/"
According to Research and Markets, a mobile ticketing user is "someone who stores a ticket on their mobile phone for later redemption" at the point of travel, the music venue, the cinema etc. The purchase of the ticket does not need to have been initiated on the mobile phone and, more than likely, the main point of purchase for mobile tickets is currently either online at an eCommerce Web site, via a telephone call center or alternatively at a physical ticket outlet or kiosk. This definition therefore includes mobile boarding passes for air travel, even if the ticket has been purchased through a non-mobile channel. This is not to say that there will be occasions when the full end-to-end transaction — the purchase, storage and redemption — will all occur on the mobile device.
This full end-to-end transaction is the ultimate mobile ticketing solution. In terms of definition of "mobile device," the report makes the distinction that the primary function must be mobile telephony. This excludes other mobile devices that have a different primary function such as entertainment, e.g. digital music player or portable games console, or travel, e.g. a GPS enabled mapping device.
Organizations that control the issuance and redemption of tickets are seeing the advantages that mobile phones have over other ticketing options, namely paper-based and electronic tickets stored on a smart card. Those organizations, including Ticketmaster and Tickets.com, Major League Baseball and the International Air Travel Association, are promoting and developing mobile-ticketing applications, trials and services.
Monday, 03 November 2008
The Cullman (Ala.) Times: Post office customers in Cullman, Ala., have noticed a change at the main branch. The convenience kiosk, where customers could use credit cards to purchase stamps and mail packages, has been removed. Lynn Rives, postmaster, said the kiosk was not producing enough money.
"It just wasn’t utilized enough and didn't draw in enough revenue," Rives said. "The company came and took it."
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Monday, 03 November 2008
(Miami) NewsRadio WIOD, AM-610: Customs and Border Protection Global Entry kiosks are popping up at Miami International Airport. The kiosks are expected to make passport check-ins automatic for U.S. citizens and other lawful residents. The kiosks also will help frequent fliers avoid long lines at Customs. Newsradio 610 WIOD reporter Wayne Roustan's full interview with Jose Castelano of Customs and Border Protection can be accessed by clicking the link below.
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Monday, 03 November 2008
RICHARDSON, Texas — Fujitsu Transaction Solutions Inc. has partnered with Ready Theatre Systems of Hartford, Mich., to provide Fujitsu's U-Serv 100 and U-Serv 150 self-service kiosks to movie theater companies across North America.
According to a news release, RTS will integrate its RTS Ticketing Software with the Fujitsu kiosks and Fujitsu will provide ongoing hardware services and maintenance for the systems. RTS software is installed in more than 1,000 theaters across the United States.
Fujitsu's U-Serv systems are self-ordering kiosks designed for a variety of food-service and entertainment venues, such as quick-service and family casual restaurants, casinos and theatres. The kiosks integrate with existing point-of-sale systems, helping companies improve service and lower costs by reducing peak-time traffic and redeploying labor to more productive activities.
"We've had significant demand from our client base for Fujitsu's quality U-Serv solutions, and this partnership will benefit those customers and attract new business," said Mary Snyder, director of operations at RTS.
Monday, 03 November 2008
COLUMBUS, Ga. — Total System Services Inc. has announced plans to acquire Infonox, a private California-based technology firm that specializes in payments technology. The acquisition is expected to be completed this week.
According to a news release, the deal is expected to help TSYS expand its payment offerings, enabling it to move any payment form, through any payment device, anywhere in the world over any network.
After the acquisition, the bought company is expected to be known as Infonox, a TSYS company.
"This is much more than just an acquisition," said Dr. Safwan Shah, president and chief executive of Infonox. "The synergy Infonox has achieved through the partnership with TSYS presents us with a tremendous opportunity to grow our business and take our products and services to new levels of penetration."
Shah will remain with Infonox as president, reporting to Robert J. Philbin, president of TSYS Acquiring Solutions.
Infonox "plug-and-play" platforms simplify payment forms to include debit, credit, prepaid, money transfer and checks. Infonox also offers new connectivity interfaces to multiple payment devices and new channels of service delivery such as mobile phones, ATMs and bill-payment kiosks. Infonox provides a proprietary end-to-end tool to manage the lifecycle of a merchant.
"TSYS's acquisition of Infonox will add a Silicon-valley innovation team to our arsenal," said Philip W. Tomlinson, chief executive of TSYS. "It provides a host of tools and services that will be very attractive to clients of TSYS Acquiring Solutions and technologies we believe will add increased value to our clients across the TSYS enterprise."
Infonox offers an array of payment products on self-service and full-service transaction touchpoints in the gaming, banking and retail markets. The company delivers, manages, operates and supports services for several large publicly traded companies.
Established in 1999, Infonox is based in Sunnyvale, Calif., with an additional office in Pune, India.
"Infonox provides a comprehensive suite of services to manage the lifecycle of a merchant, the lifecycle of a transaction and the lifecycle of a customer. Together we will deliver solutions-on-demand that include a full-range of POS product offerings and payment acceptance forms, more efficient sales and merchant activation tools, enhanced portfolio management, reporting tools and an integrated suite of workflow tools to drive greater back-office efficiency," Philbin said.
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