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News Archive |
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Tuesday, 31 March 2009
TRUMBULL, Conn. — KioskCom Self Service Expo & The Digital Signage Show announced that Joshua Weiss, managing director of self-service for Delta Air Lines, will share details of Delta’s self-service upgrades during a keynote presentation titled "Full -Service Self-Service" on May 6, 2009, at 9 a.m. at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
"Recent research (Buzzback Market Research for NCR Corp.) shows that 82 percent of people are more likely to use travel companies that offer the ability to conduct transactions online, via mobile device and at a self-service kiosk," said Lawrence Dvorchik, general manager of KioskCom Self Service Expo. "Self-service at Delta Air Lines has evolved into a far-reaching, multichannel, multilingual strategy that aims to put the customer in control of their travel experience. We look forward to the opportunity all of our attendees will have to learn from Joshua and his team’s experiences."
With a focus on improving the customer experience, Weiss will discuss how Delta Air Lines has advanced the adoption of self-service technology through new product development, application redesigns, and facility changes. He will also discuss how Delta Air Lines uses technology to diversify globally in a cost-effective manner, increase customer adoption through design and usability, adapt new technologies to streamline customer processes, create consistent user experiences across channels and devices, and modify existing processes and customer flows to facilitate self-service adoption.
According to the same study, 33 percent of consumers said they would like to receive boarding passes on their mobile devices. Delta, like past KioskCom keynote speaker and current board of advisors member Continental Airlines, has deployed check-in via mobile phone.
Tuesday, 31 March 2009
Los Angeles Times: DVD sales historically have been how movie studios earn a profit on movies, because ticket sales are barely enough to offset production and marketing costs. But some studios believe that consumers will forgo buying DVDs if they have a cheap option to rent movies. The spread of redbox's kiosks, coming as DVD sales started to decline, has triggered alarms within Universal Studios. Last year Universal sought to withhold DVDs from redbox until 45 days after release to prevent competition with sales. When redbox rejected the deal, Universal ordered wholesalers to cut off supplies. Redbox then sued Universal, alleging restraint of trade.
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Tuesday, 31 March 2009
The Chicago Tribune: Fifty new tourism kiosks will be installed throughout O'Hare International Airport, Mayor Richard Daley announced Monday. Travelers at the airport will be able to use the touchscreen kiosks to access the city's 2-month-old tourism site, explorechicago.org. The kiosks, which provide information in several languages, will provide many functions once performed by the red-jacketed greeters the Daley administration recently laid off to help address the city's budget deficit.
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Monday, 30 March 2009
If customer-data security was a big issue before, it became gargantuan in 2007, following the infamous TJX Companies security breach. More than 45 million customer records were compromised, causing the company to spend more than $20 million investigating the breach, notifying customers and hiring lawyers for multiple lawsuits.
The crisis caught the attention of virtually everyone — from consumers, who heard numerous stories and warnings from multiple media, to retailers and other handlers of customer data. No longer could the need to protect financial information be treated as a secondary concern.
Enter the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard, adeveloped by a council of multiple financial institutions to enhance payment-account data security. It includes guidelines for user authentication, firewalls, encryption, anti-virus measures and more.
Despite the increased focus, however, one path of credit card and other information from the consumer to the back office of the store and the bank has not seen enough attention: the kiosk.
Kiosk manufacturers and software developers in self-service should understand the importance of a secure kiosk network and how it affects their customers, and be prepared to introduce the right partners to help customers build, deploy and manage a robust kiosk network to meet the requirements of PCI DSS.
Kiosk deployers and endusers should not only understand how to best secure their networks to comply with PCI DSS, but also assign someone on their teams, or even hire connectivity and security experts, to assume ultimate responsibility for securing the kiosk network and the customer data it captures and transmits.
The formation of the PCI council was announced in September 2006 and comprises American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc. This article will look at a specific segment of PCI’s complex body of rules and regulations and discuss the firewall and network components that are recommended to secure a kiosk network.
Relevant issues include protecting data at rest (storing information like credit cards) and in motion (sending credit card info for processing). Playing into that is whether the network is connected to the payment center or corporate headquarters by a wireless (cellular) or wired (DSL, cable) network, and what equipment and security setting is best for securing the data and protecting the network from intruders?
Firewalls
In the years of experience providing network expertise to the self-service industry, we at TeraNova have seen kiosk deployers utilize both software-based firewalls and hardware-based firewalls in the kiosk to secure the data that is captured from the user. Here is some perspective on both:
Software. Many kiosk deployers utilize software-based firewalls to protect their networks from vulnerabilities because it’s less costly. They simply use the server/processing unit inside the kiosk (often a computer with a Windows operating system) to ward off viruses, worms, trojans, bots, and other sorts of computer malware. They can block certain popular ports of entry such as port 80 and others. These deployers do not want to incur additional equipment or maintenance costs required to set up a separate firewall to launch a hardware-based VPN tunnel with encryption algorithms available to “scramble" the data in motion.
This relates directly to the TJX debacle. According to InformationWeek, poorly secured in-store computer kiosks were partly to blame for acting as gateways to the company's IT systems. The kiosks, located in many of TJX's retail stores, let people apply for jobs electronically, and they were connected directly to the company's network and servers. These kiosks were not protected by firewalls. An anonymous source said, "The people who started the breach opened up the back of those terminals and used USB drives to load software onto those terminals.”
The source said the USB drives contained a utility program that let the intruder or intruders take control of these computer kiosks, essentially turning each kiosk into a remote terminal that could connect into the main network. The firewalls on TJX's main network weren't set to defend against malicious traffic coming from the kiosks.
According to Corey Nachreiner, senior network security analyst at WatchGuard Technologies Inc., a manufacturer of firewalls and other network security products, if someone is protecting a mobile computer, like a laptop used for business travel, then a software firewall combined with other security software might be “good enough.”
If, however, someone is protecting a computer or network of computers that is not mobile, like a kiosk system, a hardware firewall often provides better protection.
Hardware. Software firewalls are designed to be just firewalls: they often can’t block email or Web-based malware. “Malware” can be defined as software designed to infiltrate or damage a computer system without the owner's consent. If malware does infect a system with a software firewall, the malware can easily bypass that software firewall, or just simply turn it off.
In the past, many worms, trojans and bot clients were designed to actually add policies to various popular software firewalls, thus bypassing the software firewall and allowing malicious traffic to enter and exit the network at will. If the software firewall lives on the system (server/PC in the kiosk) and the malware infects the system, then the malware can easily reconfigure the firewall. If one has an external hardware firewall, even if malware does infect one of the internal systems, it can't make policy changes to that firewall, since it's external to the system.
With kiosks, the security goal is often two-fold. The system needs to be protected from Internet and network threats, but also from the kiosk users as well. A kiosk is typically designed to only allow users to perform specific actions. Often, these types of kiosk systems implement security controls that try to prevent users from gaining unauthorized access to certain areas of the kiosks operating system.
Unfortunately, kiosk attackers have become experts at bypassing these restrictions and gaining unauthorized access to the operating system. If someone uses only a software firewall on the kiosk, and an attacker is able to bypass the local security restrictions, the attacker gains full control of that software firewall, and can disable it with ease. However, if a hardware firewall is used outside the kiosk, even if a local user gains access to the kiosk, he cannot disable the firewall.
In addition, software firewalls are sometimes ineffective at preventing attacks that target a system’s operating system. Since a software firewall runs on top of an operating system, the operating system usually has to handle network traffic before the software firewall does. If certain components of that operating system suffer from security vulnerabilities, attackers could exploit them before the attack traffic actually reaches the software firewall. At that point, the hacker has already created a path to the kiosk processor.
Airborne attacks
Let’s take another look at how the hackers got into the TJX Companies’ network.
According to The Wall Street Journal, another separate entry point was an improperly secured Wi-Fi network the thieves accessed from the parking lot of a Marshall's store in St. Paul, Minn. The thieves reportedly used a wireless data-poaching tactic called "wardriving" and exploited the deficiencies of the aging Wired Equivalent Privacy (WEP) wireless security protocol. Although WEP is a security algorithm that can be enabled to secure the Wi-Fi network (802.11), it is susceptible to hacking.
Do not confuse Wi-Fi with cellular. Cellular refers to data that is transmitted directly between a device and a carrier’s cell tower. Wi-Fi is the name of a popular wireless networking technology to provide high speed Internet and network connections in a wireless local area network (WLAN) using the 802.11 standards.
WEP a security protocol for Wi-Fi is based on a 64-bit or 128-bit shared key algorithm. WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) on the other hand, is an enhanced wireless encryption mechanism. But even WPA can have inherent weaknesses, although it is much more difficult to crack than WEP. The danger is that if an access point is hacked, the hackers can now sniff all the packets on the private Wi-Fi network.
There are a number of measures that can be applied with WPA to ensure higher barriers to hacking. For example, one can choose a long pass phrase over a simple password, and make sure it isn’t composed of common words; a “brute force” dictionary program can run all common English words to uncover the pass phrase. If the hacker retrieves the pass phrase, they render the WPA security useless or at least highly vulnerable.
Builders of kiosk networks must be careful how they lock down their 802.11 security. Kiosk deployers may be leveraging a customer’s Local Area Network (LAN) and using 802.11 (Wi-Fi) to broadcast that connectivity to the kiosks. Or they might bring in their own network but broadcast to multiple kiosks in the location. Either way, they need to secure the Wi-Fi portion of the LAN and the data as it is tunneled, encrypted, and transmitted across the Wide Area Network (WAN) to its destination, such as a payment processing center.
In fact, most security experts would not recommend the use of Wi-Fi unless there is a very specific and business critical reason to do so. If so, it’s important that the wireless traffic be on a separate VLAN or network segment. Also be sure the WPA/WPA2 encryption and appropriate authentication as dictated by the PCI-DSS are enabled. In some cases, using Wi-Fi can add cmore PCI-compliance burden than it would cost to run DSL/able or use a single cellular connection for each kiosk.
Point of capture
Jason Sweitzer, president of Tempus Technologies Inc., says, “Assessment of PCI compliance is a point in time.”
Tempus Technologies is a technology vendor that focuses on point of sale applications, data warehousing, and payment processing for retail companies.
Indeed, PCI compliance is a moving target, and companies need experts and managed solutions to take the complexity and costs out of the ongoing exercise of maintaining security. Certifying costs are high, and if a deployer doesn’t know what he is doing, not only is he in jeopardy of non-compliance and potential security breaches, but is spending more to process credit card payments. For a mistake in processing, the transactions can go from being charged at 1.5 percent to 3 percent from the merchant bank.
Here are some potential solutions for security at the point of capture as well as for protecting the data at rest.
- Sweitze says Magnesafe technology, which encrypts track data on the head of the card reader, allows for the transmission of data without ever having unencrypted data on the kiosk network. This is one line of defense. Then the data should travel across an IPSec tunnel with at least Triple DES encryption to the data center. Again, this requires either a software-enabled tunnel and firewall or a standalone device that can launch the tunnel, encrypt the data and protect against intruders on the network.
- File integrity management products can “protect” data at rest such as preventing it from being changed and providing alerts when the data is tampered with. This essentially ensures the “virgin” state of the kiosk so that the only programs that can run on the machines are the ones that have been loaded. Even if the kiosk network becomes compromised, the malware cannot run its programs.
How are other kiosk deployers handing the PCI compliance issues? Alex Doumani, vice president of engineering for Coinstar, says fraud and security are constant concerns, and they have invested heavily not only in PCI compliance but also in multiple layers of authentication and encryption for access and data transfer between the kiosks and the Coinstar data centers.
Smaller deployers of kiosks, however, need to watch the costs of deploying their networks and auditing for PCI, carefully weighing potential security risks and the need for more robust security options against doing the bare minimum for the network’s security. With the use of the proper network equipment, purchasing a few affordable managed services, and leveraging industry experts, those deployers will be able to offload the complexities of designing, deploying, and maintaining a secure network. For a reasonable cost, they can ensure they don’t fall behind on security requirements to protect their company and their customers’ assets.
Natasha Royer Coons is the managing director of TeraNova Consulting Group Inc. To submit a comment about this commentary, please e-mail .
Monday, 30 March 2009
American Medical News: Adoption of patient kiosks is on the rise, according to a study released earlier this month by the California HealthCare Foundation. While hospitals have been among the first to adopt the systems in outpatient and emergency departments, the study indicates patient kiosks could also soon be a common sight in other ambulatory settings as well.
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Monday, 30 March 2009
New York Times: Sales clerks still ask customers, “May I help you?” on the floors of many department stores, but some shoppers may soon choose to be served instead by a computer kiosk with clever software. The new kiosks aren’t the stodgy kind that have long dispensed boarding passes, train tickets and family snapshots. Instead, they have sleek lines and large touch screens — as well as software that, depending on the application, can recognize customers, know what they’ve bought in the past, point out bargains and even let them try out virtual clothing, hair colors and cosmetics onscreen.
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Sunday, 29 March 2009
The Library of Congress Experience might have been the belle of the ball at the Self Service Excellence Awards, held earlier this month at the KioskCom Self Service Expo in Las Vegas, but other deployments stood out in the retail, healthcare and travel verticals, as well.
NCR Corp. took home two awards:
In the Best Travel/Hospitality Deployment category, the company’s kiosk program with the Hertz Corporation caught the judges’ attention for its obvious resonance with busy travelers and its customer satisfaction level. The car-rental company first worked with NCR to deploy online check-in kiosks in 2007 and since has expanded the program to more than 37 United States airports, as well as five locations in Europe.
The kiosks expedite the rental car pick-up process by allowing customers to begin checking in from their home or office and complete the rental via kiosk upon arriving at the airport. Similar to an airline check-in kiosk, the program has a reservation-based system that collects the customer’s personal information and identifies the reservation. The solution also allows Hertz customers to select and purchase upgrades, optional insurance products, fuel options and add-ons such as child seats or Hertz’s customized GPS system. NCR provides Hertz with hardware support services, including remote management and help-desk assistance.
The Self Service Excellence Award winners are judged partly on how successful the deployment has been, and the NCR/Hertz partnership certainly has produced some impressive results. Hertz has seen approximately 65 percent average usage rates across all of its kiosk locations, and the company has provided more than 340,000 rental cars via the self-service program.
“Consumers are increasingly expecting to find the convenience of self-service wherever they interact," said Theresa Heinz, general manager, NCR Travel. “By extending the option of self-service to its customers, Hertz has further strengthened its leadership position in the industry while improving the experience for Hertz customers. We are proud to be a Hertz partner and congratulate the company on its award-winning self-service program.”
VIDEO: The NCR/Hertz kiosk deployment
In the Best Healthcare Deployment category, NCR picked up another award for its MediKiosk patient check-in system, deployed with Adventist Health System. Adventist operates 37 hospitals, 17 skilled nursing centers and 20 home healthcare agencies in 10 states. The company has 43,000 employees and serves four million patients annually.
The MediKiosk allows patients to check in for medical appointments using a driver’s license or credit card or prompts first-time patients to enter all necessary demographic and insurance information, as well as to sign forms electronically.
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Adventist also deployed the NCR Patient Portal, which gives patients access to their account balances and bill-payment services, and an electronic referral platform, which enables physicians to submit and track patient referrals electronically.
Through the kiosk program, Adventist has decreased average patient registration time by four minutes per visit, allowing staff to process more patients at a time and simplifying training requirements for consent and privacy documents. In 2008, more than $4.87 million in payments was received via the self-service channel.
According to comments from the judges of the Self Service Excellence Awards, the deployment was impressive because it accomplished providing an easy-to-use interactive tool for patients while decreasing costs and increasing productivity for the provider at the same time.
“By using NCR’s self-service technology, we’ve been able to consistently increase data accuracy, solicit outstanding patient balances and boost collections,” said Tim Reiner, senior revenue officer for Adventist, in an NCR case study on the deployment.
VIDEO: The NCR/Adventist deployment
In the Best Retail Deployment category, Canada’s Indigo Books and Music (which also operates Chapters stores) won for its Next Generation Retail kiosk, which was developed in response to two key in-store customer behavior insights: 25 percent of the customers who visited an Indigo or Chapters store with an intent to purchase left without doing so, and 70 percent of Indigo customers saw the existing in-store kiosks as a staff tool rather than a customer resource.
The retailer’s pre-deployment analysis also showed that customers regularly had trouble locating products in-store, were unable to search for items in a particular subject area or found that the item they wanted was out of stock.
To solve these issues, Indigo partnered with IBM Canada in 2008 to upgrade the kiosk program and launched a hardware-only pilot in six stores, which saw a 25-percent increase in usage and a seven-percent increase in product orders. Upon rolling out the entire program, Indigo saw a 150-percent increase in usage over the previous year, as well as a 10-percent increase in product orders. Survey results from Net Promoter also have indicated promising figures:
• 29 percent of customers who used the kiosks and also made a purchase.
• 95 percent of customers who used the kiosks said they were “easy to use.”
• 75 percent of store employees said the kiosks were “helpful in selling to customers.”
VIDEO: Indigo Books and Music's Next Generation Retail kiosk
“Indigo’s Next Generation Kiosk had ambitious goals of delivering significant sales increases through improved in-store conversion while also being a strong fit with our brand,” said Sumit Oberai, senior vice president of technology for the retailer. “We internally believe that we delivered against those objectives and are very proud of the external recognition provided by winning the Best Retail Deployment award amongst a field of U.S. and international competitors.”
The Self Service Excellence Awards judges reported that the complex deployment was particularly impressive because of its focus on the customer and use of extended branding to drive traffic to the kiosks.
Friday, 27 March 2009
ST. JOHNS, Newfoundland — Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corp. and Dalcom Consulting Inc. have installed Wine Market Assistant's information station self-service kiosk in two stores.
According to a news release, the Wine Market Assistant kiosk enables NLC to provide premium self-service to customers by providing educational information plus beverage and recipe pairing suggestions. Customers obtain product information, ratings and reviews for wine, beer and spirits by scanning a bottle or browsing the kiosk. Customers can also browse and print recipes to pair up with their wine selections.
The customizable configuration of this powerful tool results in a rich environment for selling beverages and provides a value-added service for their customers with matching recipes. The kiosk also has the capability to provide targeted promotional opportunities to the customer at the point of decision, including registering for the NLC Newsletter and for upcoming events.
Friday, 27 March 2009
More RFID: Integrated Technology Group, a division of Vernon Library Supplies Inc., in partnership with SirsiDynix, has expanded its client base to include its first major Canadian library system, the Hamilton Public Library in Ontario. By the end of 2009, Hamilton Public Library is scheduled to install a mix of RFID technology applications in 19 of its 23 branches, as well as in the technical services department. The installations will include ITG's Apex XpressCheck patron self-service kiosks and Apex FlexCheck staff stations.
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Friday, 27 March 2009
NORTH CANTON, Ohio — Diebold Inc. announced Wednesday that Kevin J. Krakora, a Diebold executive vice president and chief financial officer, has stepped down following the receipt of a "Wells notice" from the Division of Enforcement of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with an ongoing investigation of the company's financial-reporting practices.
Diebold's prior CFO along with other former employees in the company's finance organization also received Wells notices. Diebold says the Wells notices relate to items addressed in the company's previously filed restated financial statements.
The Wells notices indicate that the SEC is considering recommending that civil enforcement actions be brought against the named individuals, alleging that they violated various provisions of the federal securities laws.
Under the SEC's procedures, recipients of a Wells notice have the opportunity to respond to the SEC before a formal recommendation is made to the SEC regarding any civil enforcement action.
Krakora will continue to serve the company in a non-financial reporting capacity, pending resolution of the SEC matter. Leslie A. Pierce, vice president and corporate controller, is fulfilling the role of interim CFO.
Diebold says it is continuing to cooperate with the SEC in connection with its previously disclosed investigation. As part of this process, the company has had preliminary discussions with the SEC concerning resolution, including the possibility of entering into a settlement agreement. It is possible that the SEC will issue a Wells notice to the company in connection with the investigation.
Pierce joined Diebold in 1990 as a senior accountant. Before joining Diebold, Pierce had four years of public accounting experience at KPMG in Cleveland. She holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Kent State University and is a certified public accountant.
Thursday, 26 March 2009
Whatever one thinks of the U.S. government these days, it sure knows how to deploy a kiosk.
That's the consensus of a panel of judges who gave three Self Service Excellence Awards, including Best of Show, to the Library of Congress Experience, a project that comprises more than 50 kiosks, an interactive Web application, an oversized interactive wall and cell phone audio tours.
At the ceremony, held earlier this month at the KioskCom Self Service Expo, the program also received Deployer of the Year and Best Other Deployment awards.
The excitement from Library of Congress Experience program manager Rob Sokol was evident as he accepted the awards for the team, which includes Librarian of Congress James H. Billington and COO Jo Ann Jenkins.
“To us, the KioskCom awards mean that we are truly on the cutting edge, and we are extremely proud to receive this profound recognition,” he said.
A unique, cross-channel experience
When Sokol and his colleagues conceived the idea for the Library of Congress Experience five years ago, their objectives were clear. The Library knew it would see more visitors, thanks to the newly constructed Capitol Visitor's Center across the street, and it wanted to help them maximize the visit once they arrived.
“Before the Capitol Visitor’s Center, people who came to the Library knew where they were going,” he said. “Now, they go to see the Library, but they don’t necessarily know anything about it. This caters to a new group of the general public that we had never really catered to before.”
Visitors to the Library will find an institution equipped with advanced technology, including more than 20 kiosks full of information specific to the exhibitions or architectural details immediately next to them. For instance, a visitor can view and turn the pages of a rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, complete with Benjamin Franklin’s handwritten notes, or she can take a closer look at the paintings and mosaics in the Library’s Great Hall, all on either 20- or 32-inch, high-definition touchscreens.
“This implementation is so much more than just an information kiosk,” said Faith MacPherson, director of HR transactional services for Avery Dennison and a judge for the Self Service Excellence Awards. “Visitors are able to turn pages of books, interact with objects and view details of paintings, all with the touch of a finger.”
In addition to the exhibition kiosks, the Library has installed more than 30 “myLOC” stations, which feature functionalities identical to one another but contain content specific to their individual locations. It is here that visitors can use their Passports to Knowledge, a pocket-sized replica of an actual passport that features a guide to the exhibitions and instructions on how to use the tool, as well as the capability to be inserted into the myLOC stations and save the visitor’s activities.
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The content on the Library of Congress kiosks is developed to appeal to visitors of all ages.
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Each myLOC station has four functions:
1. Explore this Space. A visitor can examine details from the room she’s standing in and save them to her personal accounts using the Passport.
2. Featured Highlights. A visitor can browse exhibitions, look up docent-led tours, or find Library events occurring throughout the day or week.
3. Knowledge Quest. A visitor can play a learning game that asks questions about her surroundings and challenges her to discover the answers. Each Quest follows up the final answer with an open-ended question to keep the visitor’s mind in the Experience and curious.
4. Build Your Collection. Through the Passport, a visitor can save anything in the exhibition or space to her personal account and begin to establish her own online collection of Library of Congress treasures.
All of the myLOC activities can be continued at myLOC.gov, which also offers curatorial videos, related links to other Library “treasures” and a wealth of educational resources, including a continuation of Knowledge Quest, as well as activities and lesson plans for teachers that are based on state standards.
“We wanted kids, especially, to uncover things. So it’s not only cool, but there’s a little bit of exploration and discovery in the process,” Sokol said. “We never wanted the technology to be for the sake of itself — whiz-bang alone. We needed the technology, wherever it was installed, to enhance and explain the visitor experience.”
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SPECIAL REPORT...Order Now!
2009 Self-Service Survey:
Customer Perspectives on Self-Service Technology
The 2009 Self-Service Consumer Survey is a complete refresh and update of our hugely popular 2007 edition.
This special report lets you into the minds of consumers to discover how they really feel about kiosks, self-checkout and other types of self-service. Find out what works, what doesn’t, and what makes the difference between a device that helps your business and one that just gathers dust.
Buy Now
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The nuts and bolts
The Library worked with various partners to design, develop and install each facet of the deployment, which is entirely privately funded.
All the kiosks run on Windows Vista, and their content consists of either WPF or Flash applications, designed and developed by Second Story Interactive Studio and built in part by Schematic. The interactive Web content is all in either Silverlight or Flash animation.
A few different industry players worked with the institution to develop and fabricate the kiosks’ enclosures, including Design and Production Inc, which works specifically within the museum industry, Capital Exhibits, Riggs Ward Design and Color Ad Inc. In addition to collaborating on the kiosks’ fabrication, Design and Production was the project’s lead A/V integrator.
The Library’s CMS, which serves both the on-site and online components, was built by Portal Solutions, is hosted by Terremark Worldwide Inc. and is powered by Microsoft Sharepoint.
Having the entire program networked to a central CMS has been a real benefit, according to Sokol. Library staff can reboot unstable machines remotely, even from their smart phones, and new content or software can be uploaded anytime, from anywhere — individually or in bulk.
“We have so much more control over content than we’ve ever had before,” he said.
In terms of service and maintenance, the Library’s I.T. department manages the physical machines, and its Web Services department oversees all of the software. The institution’s Interpretive Programs Office and Education Outreach Office develop and manage all of the content, both on the kiosks and the Web site.
“It was really important to make this all feasible,” Sokol said. “Maintenance can be very overwhelming.”
‘Staggering’ results
To ensure the technology would appeal to a diverse audience, the Library conducted focus groups before the deployment and found that adults and children have opposite ways of approaching a museum experience — adults typically look around and examine an exhibit before going to the technology, while children go to the kiosks first and explore their surroundings afterward.
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At the Library's "unique interactive" stations, like this one, user can dig deep to learn about the building's classical architecture.
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“We have witnessed, for example, a child showing their grandparent how to use an interactive, while the grandparent teaches the child about the subject matter being displayed,” Sokol said.
In terms of results, Sokol called visitor response to the Library’s interactive experience “staggering.” He explains that the standard return rate for a device that encourages a continued experience (i.e., hopping onto a related web site after a tour) is 10-15 percent. The Library’s goal was a 20-percent return rate.
“We are currently averaging a 54-percent rate for anyone who uses a Passport on-site returning to the Web site,” Sokol said.
The program is making an impact from the user’s perspective, as well. Industry consultant Janet Webster, of Creative Solutions Consulting LLC, recently visited the Library for a tour.
“The Library of Congress Experience is phenomenal,” Webster said. “The way they have integrated technology into the classical environment is exceptional. The technology blends into the architecture and is totally unobtrusive.”
And all the recognition the deployment has received certainly won’t hurt the already impressive numbers.
“We typically compete with other cultural institutions, but this time we decided to throw our hats into the KioskCom pool to see how we might fare against private-sector competition,” Sokol said. “It’s that sort of recognition that helps validate what we’ve done as successful. We need real, concrete validation, not just people inside the Library saying it’s a great thing.”
The program’s future
The private funds backing the Library of Congress Experience will run out in April 2011, but even now Sokol and his colleagues are hard at work on future plans. In addition to a mobile application the Library is currently piloting and will launch later this year, Sokol is putting together a workshop to determine where its leaders want to take the technology down the road.
“That is the big question, and why the KioskCom awards are so important to us,” Sokol said. “The leadership at the Library truly believes that we have initiated a rich new relationship with teachers, students and the general public. With the proper funding in place, the Library could build on this award-winning, interactive platform as the technology evolves.”
Thursday, 26 March 2009
JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — AT&T has announced a new way to shop for and experience an array of communications and entertainment services with the official opening of its new AT&T Experience Store in Johnson City. The store is defined as a high-energy retail format that showcases AT&T’s complete set of products and services.
According to a news release, the new store is much larger than the typical wireless store. The free-standing store features a fully integrated media experience, showcasing AT&T’s complete provider profile by housing all of its products and services under one roof. Customers can try out products via several experience and personalization stations located throughout the store.
The 4,000-square-foot store will feature several new retail concepts, including four self-guided information kiosks. The kiosks include a rate plan recommendation tool that customers can use independently or with the assistance of an AT&T representative. The tool walks customers through a few simple questions and, based on their responses, will highlight the most appropriate rate plan. In addition to wireless phone plans, the kiosks also provide information on GoPhone, wireless data access for laptops and smartphone data plans. New device filters allow customers to sort and compare devices and select the best device to fit their needs. For customer convenience, the store also has an automatic bill-payment station, where customers can pay with either credit or cash.
The 4,000-square-foot store offers a comprehensive portfolio of advanced wireless products and services, all of which customers can experience throughout the store.
These include:
- AT&T Home Connections. Customers can browse the Internet using AT&T services and customize AT&T Yahoo! home page portals.
- Entertainment and Style. Customers will be able to test-drive all of AT&T’s music offerings from Napster, iTunes, eMusic, Music ID, Pandora and XM Satellite Radio on wireless phones, Bluetooth headphones and Bluetooth external speakers. Customers can also transfer songs via a laptop or mobile phone. For the gamers, AT&T experts will show customers how to download games to wireless phones and laptops at this station.
- Productivity Solutions. Geared toward road warriors, on-the-go customers and small business owners, this front-of-store station includes wireless phones, PDAs, smartphones with GPS and Bluetooth accessories. Customers can learn how to use e-mail and Microsoft applications on these devices, and they can get the hang of multimedia messaging and photo- and video-sharing capabilities.
- Talk, Text and Browse. Customers can browse the latest, coolest GoPhone and Push to Talk devices offered from AT&T, learn about AT&T’s extensive wireless service offerings and brush up on the latest text and video messaging directions.
Thursday, 26 March 2009
WWJ Newsradio 950: Casino Queen has chosen NEXTEP Systems to develop and implement a Casino Express customer self-order system at its property in East St. Louis, Ill. Two Casino Express kiosks will be installed that allow customers to quickly and conveniently order and pay from the Market Street Buffet using intuitive, interactive touchscreens.
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Thursday, 26 March 2009
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Coinstar E-Payment Services, a subsidiary of Coinstar Inc., has been named a top prepaid performer in the 2009 Convenience Store Decisions brand preference study.
According to a news release, the study polled 65 decision makers from convenience-store chains about the sales and product performance of their prepaid providers. Survey questions included which prepaid manufacturer offers the most effective sales program, the best quality products and the best supplier relationship. Convenience Store Decisions announced the survey results in its March 2009 Reader's Choice issue.
"We are honored to be acknowledged as a leading prepaid provider by our customers," said Mike Skinner, general manager of Coinstar E-Payment Services. "This recognition not only points to Coinstar's leadership in the Pay As You Go industry, but to the dedication of our retail partners to make the prepaid category successful."
Coinstar shared top honors with PaySpot Inc. and Verizon. Honorable mention went to InComm and AT&T.
Coinstar's complete Pay As You Go solution features national and regional prepaid wireless programs, long distance, gift cards, digital entertainment and one of the industry's largest portfolios of financial services, including reloadable and one-time use Visa- and MasterCard-branded debit cards.
Wednesday, 25 March 2009
DAYTON, Ohio — A survey by Buzzback Market Research for NCR Corporation has found that travelers want the ability to do more at airport kiosks than check in for flights and print boarding passes.
Though consumers have become accustomed to checking in at a self-service kiosk upon arrival at the airport, nearly one in three respondents indicate they'd like the flexibility to do more at the device, such as upgrade, make seat changes and purchase in-flight meals (28 percent). An even greater number (35 percent) would like to be able to check into their hotel or secure their car rental.
"Consumers have embraced the time-saving convenience of serving themselves," said Tania Ladic, NCR vice president, Travel Industry Marketing. "Our customers see up to 90 percent of check-in processed through self-service. There is an opportunity for airlines to improve customer satisfaction and drive ancillary revenue by further accommodating passenger needs."
The research reveals a clear connection between self-service and passenger preference, with 82 percent of respondents indicating they are more likely to choose a travel company that allows them to interact easily via kiosk, online and mobile self-service channels.
Greater use of mobility, such as the use of mobile boarding passes, is welcomed by consumers. Thirty-three percent said they would like to receive boarding passes on their mobile devices. Many airlines are currently piloting this technology.
According to the International Air Transport Association (IATA), the use of barcoded boarding passes is likely to impact airline operations as much as customer loyalty. "We expect barcoded boarding passes will deliver annual savings of $1.5 billion to the airline industry," said IATA Bar Coded Boarding Pass (BCBP) Project Manager Eric Leopold. IATA has set an industry objective of 100 percent BCBP compliance by 2010.
The research was conducted between December 2008 and January 2009. Results reflect input from 8,447 respondents in 16 countries and 6 regions. All respondents were at least 18 years of age.
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Library check-out technology has much to offer poor librarians who still have to open and stamp each item by hand.
New self-service technology has eliminated the need for librarians to handle most individual outbound items at all; patrons can even retrieve movies and CDs, which used to be guarded by staff because they were likely to be stolen, from locked dispenser vaults. And some libraries are even using self-serve machines to extend their reach beyond the institution walls, by setting up offsite redbox-style vending machines.
The potential market growth is such that Integrated Technology Group, which specializes in library services, recently partnered with kiosk-manufacturer NCR Corp. to extend its scope around the globe. The partnership gives ITG more international reach and more ammunition to compete with 3M, the biggest U.S. distributor of library solutions. ITG is the only library specialist NCR is currently partnered with.
PHOTO GALLERY: Library self-checkout technology
"It’s going to give us muscle," said Amy Thropp, ITG’s vice president of marketing. "We are getting big, and we needed to be able to anticipate how we would be able to expand our customer base without expanding our own company significantly."
For its third-generation self-checkout machine, ITG is using NCR’s EasyPoint hardware for its first all-in-one hardware appliance. NCR’s customer experience consulting team also helped upgrade the user interface for the system, which uses ITG’s Apex XpressCheck software. There are three different versions available: bar code only, bar code with RFID, and bar code with electromagnetic security.
Though libraries often can’t afford the latest technology, these RFID scanners are among the most advanced on the market, which allow patrons to check out multiple books at once, and which have the ability to identify individual items. Many retailers use scanners that can recognize items only at the palette level, identifying groups of items.
"In this case, RFID is cutting edge and libraries are leading the pack," Thropp said.
Initial plans call for hundreds of ITG’s new kiosks to be deployed in North America, with future deployments to Latin America also in the works. ITG is marketing them mostly to public libraries; universities don’t circulate enough material to justify the expense and schools usually can’t afford the technology, Thropp said.
Need grows
Other countries have been quicker to embrace self-service technology than the U.S., said Leslie Burger, chair of the American Library Association public awareness committee and director of the Princeton, N.J., Public Library. In Singapore, there are libraries that rely completely on a self-service model, she said, with patrons able to seek help via text-message requests.
In the U.S., technology is used more as a complement to personnel whose time could be better spent on the service floor, Burger said.
"I don’t think these are going to replace people, I think these are going to displace people," she said. "Potentially it allows us to put more of our staff out on the service floor to provide direct customer service."
One factor holding back libraries from adopting self-service equipment is the cost, she said. With some self-check-in machines with RFID tags selling for more than $100,000, and with DVD-dispensing machines costing $30,000 or more, many libraries simply don’t have the funds to invest. Bar code- based self-check systems require less of an investment but still cost more than many libraries can absorb, even if the devices pay for themselves over time.
"Most libraries aren't sitting with large cash reserves that can be used to purchase these systems," said Burger, who said many libraries get self-service machines as part of larger capital projects.
Burger said patrons are getting used to seeing self-service machines in more libraries, which increases their acceptance. The vast majority of patrons who use the machines do so for the convenience, though she said some people use them to remain anonymous when checking out sensitive material.
New products
Libraries who can invest are finding more options that solve old problems, Thropp said. For example, libraries had struggled to allow self-service for media items such as DVDs, which are likely to be stolen because they are small and relatively costly to buy.
"It basically defeats the idea of self-service because they can’t check out CDs and DVDs there," Thropp said.
Some companies, including ITG and 3M, have developed DVD-case locks that can be unlocked by the self-check scanner. ITG has a patent on its unlocking mechanism, Thropp said. Security tags in the case will trigger an alarm at the door if the item isn’t properly checked out.
ITG also has a media-item vault system that, when the item’s case is scanned on the self-checker, dispenses the actual DVD or CD. ITG’s vault, which it calls Apex DiscXpress II, holds up to 5,000 discs.
3M says its Integrated Disc Media Unlocker is different because its system matches the item being unlocked to the item being checked out, to ensure that thieves don’t check out one item, unlock and remove another, and then return the still-locked first item.
Some libraries are deploying a vending machine called Bokomaten in public transportation stations and other public locations.
Redbox itself is even piloting 10 rental installations in libraries for the next six months, including Burger’s Princeton Public Library. Burger said redbox won’t be competing with the libraries’ own selection of movies because the institutions don’t have many copies of items, and some libraries charge for movie checkouts. Libraries and redbox will split the profits on the rentals.
"People live in this 24-7 world they didn’t live in even 10 years ago," Burger said. "The expectation is you can do anything when the impulse strikes you. If you want to get a book at 2 in the morning, you can drive by one of these vending machines."
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
BURNABY, British Columbia — TIO Networks Corp., a provider of self-service financial options for the underbanked, says the second quarter of fiscal year 2008/2009, which ended Jan. 31, is one of the best the company has seen. Revenue for the quarter was up 62 percent from the same period last year, totaling $5.5 million. And the company's net loss was 70 percent lower than the loss reported in 2Q '08/'09, coming in at a loss of $453,389 as compared to the $1.5 million net loss reported for the same period last year.
“The second quarter confirms the positive trend in transaction revenue growth and financial performance that we established over the last several quarters,” said Hamed Shahbazi, TIO's chairman and chief executive. “We will build on these results by increasing our network endpoints and grow our biller portfolio to serve America’s growing demand for expedited payments and financial services.”
The company says it cut operating expenses by $497,195 during the quarter and also added utility and retail biller partners. Network endpoint activations increased to 12,577 locations, compared with the 3,235 activations attained a year earlier.
For the year, TIO's revenue is $10.3 million, up from the $6.7 million reported at the sixth month mark in FY '08/'09. Net losses for the year cam in at $1 million, compared with the $3.3 million in net losses reported one year earlier.
Monday, 23 March 2009
KENT, England — POS and printer manufacturer DED has launched the NP2511V and NP3511V 2-inch and 3-inch thermal kiosk printers, designed for use in vertically challenging applications. Specifically designed to be mountable in kiosks where space is limited, the printers offer vertical paper mounting as a standard feature. Speed is almost 8 inches per second on a variety of paper weights, including tickets, with a width of up to 3.27 inches.
According to a news release, additional features include a lock-free cutter capable of a full or partial cut, drivers for XP/2000/Vista and Linux CUPS, and a choice of RS232C or USB interface.
Friday, 20 March 2009
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Websults LLC, a Nashville, Tenn.-based Web site strategy consulting firm, has announced that it is now offering self-service touchscreen kiosks as a solution for its clients.
According to a news release, the company started developing kiosks in 2008 as part of a larger project for museum exhibit company Eureka Exhibits and their traveling exhibit, Be the Dinosaur.
Two separate kiosk applications were developed for the exhibit.
"The kiosks build upon our vast experience designing and developing Web site applications," said Jonathan Weindruch, principal of Websults. "Their primary advantage is location, which means organizations can interact with customers and partners without requiring them to turn on their computer, connect to the Internet and visit a certain Web site. The touch screen applications are ideal for physicians and healthcare providers who want to improve the speed of their patient registration process or any organization that wants to leverage locations with existing foot traffic."
Applications developed for the Be the Dinosaur exhibit were recently featured at the Louisville Science Museum. Because the touchscreen kiosks require no keyboard or mouse, they are easy to use for children as well as seniors.
Friday, 20 March 2009
Variety: Blockbuster, which last year agreed to develop movie-rental kiosks with ATM leader NCR, is in the "final stages" of testing the machines, said chief executive Jim Keyes, who maintained an earlier estimate of having as many as 12,000 kiosks operating by mid next year.
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Friday, 20 March 2009
MENLO PARK, Calif. — Elo TouchSystems has released its 15D1 All-in-One Touchcomputer, designed for point-of-sale applications, with the ability to accept peripherals for additional uses.
The 15D1, which can be set up to face customers as well as employees, offers a slim, vertical design with a footprint sized to match standard cash drawers. Its motherboard, hard drive and power supply are field-replaceable, enabling rapid replacement and upgrading, to significantly reduce downtime. For customers who require more storage capabilities, a second, 80GB hard drive can easily be added.
Deployers may choose from Windows Embedded for POS (WEPOS), Windows XP or Windows Vista operating systems. True-Flat AccuTouch, IntelliTouch surface acoustic wave and zero-bezel acoustic pulse recognition touch technologies are offered as touchscreen options. The zero-bezel APR, which removes the frame of standard monitors to create a seamless glass surface, allows a virtually 100-percent useable surface area.
Numerous POS peripherals are available to customise the 15D1, such as a perpendicular MSR card reader for easy reach in small spaces, a hand-held bar code scanner, a fingerprint reader, and a customer-facing display. Furthermore, it comes with a range of input/output port connection options to support virtually any POS configuration, and supports third-party peripherals such as cash drawers or printers.
"We actively designed the 15D1 with the end customer in mind," said Elo spokesperson Nadia Vandeweyer in a release. "We’re confident the Elo 15D1 POS All-in-One will bring performance, versatility, and functionality to even the most exacting POS applications."
Friday, 20 March 2009
ATLANTA — Delta Air Lines today announced a partnership with the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to launch paperless check-in for domestic travel on nonstop Delta, Northwest and Delta Connection flights departing from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport.
Customers will have the option of using their mobile device to check-in and receive an electronic boarding pass via their Web-enabled devices.
"Delta is taking another step to eliminate lines from airports by putting more time-saving technology in the hands of our customers," said Josh Weiss, Delta’s managing director, delta.com and self-service. "With the introduction of paperless check-in at our largest hub, Atlanta-departing customers can now quickly check in and receive a boarding pass 24 hours in advance of their flight literally from anywhere with no paper required."
Customers traveling in the United States and checking in for a nonstop flight from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport may simply download their boarding pass to their mobile devices via delta.com or nwa.com and proceed directly to the airport security screening area. Customers checking bags should drop their bags at the baggage drop counter location prior to proceeding to the security checkpoint.
At the security checkpoint, TSA will scan the electronic boarding pass, check the customer’s ID and process the customer through security. Customers can then proceed to their departure gate, present their electronic boarding pass to the gate agent at boarding time and board with their designated zone.
Other airports currently offering mobile check-in to Delta and Northwest customers include Las Vegas, Memphis and Minneapolis-St. Paul; Detroit and Indianapolis (Northwest only); and New York-LaGuardia (Delta only).
Thursday, 19 March 2009
Kiosk printers run the gamut from low-cost to expensive. Some are basic, while others come equipped with the latest technology. Printers can be purchased with or without looping presenters, cutters or remote management capability. Some will work like a charm, while others will be high maintenance.
As Bill Phelps, business development manager for Vernon Hills, Ill.-based Zebra Technologies Corp. explains, the printer is the kiosk component most likely to malfunction.
"Think about it," he said. "Most components are solid state, whereas a printer still has a lot of moving components because it's trying to move paper. So if anything is going to break down at a kiosk, it's typically going to be the printer."
Phelps says one of the most common mistakes kiosks deployers make is settling for a low-end printer. But what is the difference between a low-end kiosk printer and a high-end kiosk printer? Phelps sounds off on the issue.
Thursday, 19 March 2009
TRUMBULL, Conn.— Producers of The Digital Signage Show and KioskCom Self Service Expo have announced the day one opening keynote speaker and two new educational sessions for their upcoming joint tradeshow and conference May 6-7 in Las Vegas at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center.
According to a news release, Robert Fort, chief information officer and vice president of Information Technology for Virgin Entertainment Group will kick off the two-day event with a presentation entitled, "Enhancing the Customer Experience While Achieving Increased Sales Lift, and Operational Efficiencies Through Customer Facing and Customer Engaging Technologies."
Click HERE to view a slideshow of last year's KioskCom.
Fort will focus on certain retail technologies that are especially helpful in improving the customer experience and driving sales. In particular, he will address how Virgin uses technologies such as the Virgin TV digital network and kiosk listening stations, and how they complement each other to enhance the customer experience and increase sales lift. He also will examine ways the technologies improve employee productivity, control costs and ensure better compliance and consistency overall.
"Robert has not only been on the leading edge of implementing customer facing and engaging technologies, but he's been a pioneer in utilizing them to improve the customer experience," said Lawrence Dvorchik, general manager of the two co-located shows. "He has led a talented and dynamic marketing and IT group through the experience of completely overhauling how Virgin Entertainment Group connects with its diverse customer base at Virgin MegaStore locations around the country."
In addition to the keynote speaker, two new educational sessions have also been announced.
On May 6, Gerald Johnson, vice president of marketing communications at ConAgra, and Ray Rotolo, senior vice president and managing director of Chrysalis, will share their insights on purchasing DOOH media. Chrysalis is the highly acclaimed agency behind Schering Plough's recent $10 million DOOH ad buy.
The next morning, on May 7, panelists will discuss how they have implemented digital signage and kiosk programs that communicate a wide variety of messages, including the conveyance of corporate strategy, emergency notification, motivational messaging and employee scheduling. Panelists include Miguel Oliva, vice president of public relations and corporate affairs at HBO Latin America; Faith MacPherson, director of HRIS transactional services at Avery Dennison; and Tom Hunter, media productions administrator at McKee Foods.
Thursday, 19 March 2009
The New York Times: B-cycle LLC, an American company that provides self-service bike rental solutions, is scheduled to deploy a series of bike rental kiosks throughout Denver at the end of July. The company has already begun pilot tests with select city employees in Denver and National Park Service employees in Washington D.C. Users pay $50 in annual membership fees for the right to rent the bikes, which are valued at $2,500 to $3,000. Similar programs have been met with success in parts of Europe.
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Thursday, 19 March 2009
Los Angeles Times: As technology progresses, some hotel chains are removing an age-old staple of the hotel lobby: the front desk. That's just what Andaz, a new, hip hotel brand from Hyatt has done. The hotel uses handheld computers no bigger than a stenographer's notebook to confirm hotel reservations and swipe cards. Other hotel chains use automated kiosks to enable travelers to confirm their reservations. Some say it's just a sign of the progressive times. "The reliance on the front desk is going to diminish greatly because technology will allow it," said Laurence Barron, chief information officer for the American Hotel & Lodging Association in Orlando, Fla.
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Thursday, 19 March 2009
LONG BEACH, Miss. — Triton Systems of Delaware Inc. has joined the Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council.
According to a news release, as a participating organization, Triton will work with the council to evolve the PCI Data Security Standard, as well as other payment card data protection standards. As a participating organization, Triton now has access to the latest payment card security standards from the council and will be able to provide feedback on the standards.
"Triton is happy to join the ranks of PCI's participating organizations," said Chuck Hayes, product development manager for Triton, who is representing the ATM manufacturer on the council. "We look forward to assisting in the development of new security standards to protect the interests of both our customers and the general consumer."
PCI DSS, endorsed by American Express, Discover Financial Services, JCB International, MasterCard Worldwide and Visa Inc., requires merchants and service providers that store, process or transmit customer payment card data to adhere to information security controls and processes that ensure data integrity.
"The PCI Security Standards Council is committed to helping everyone involved in the payment chain protect consumer payment data," said Bob Russo, general manager of PCI DSS. "By participating in the standards setting process, Triton demonstrates they are playing an active part in this important end goal."
Thursday, 19 March 2009
BELLEVUE, Wash. — DropStation Inc., a provider of secure package pickup and drop-off stations, has announced the availability of its Supply Station self-service order retrieval solution.
According to a news release, the Supply Station system is equipped with 22 electronic delivery lockers and a touchscreen kiosk. It serves as an outdoor mechanism for customers to pick up their maintenance and repair orders any time, day or night, without having to visit the Will Call window. Customers can routinely use the station to pick up repaired motors pumps, HVAC equipment, hand tools, power tools and other industrial materials.
"DropStation is very pleased with the Supply Station and gauging by the response of the major players in the maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) market, we believe it will be a popular solution to create efficiency and expand operating hours," said Dan Wilson, chief executive of DropStation.
The various locker sizes in the Supply Station facilitate a wide variety of order sizes and the machines are made in the U.S. The supply station ships with standard software loaded on the kiosk and is driven by a 15-inch touchscreen monitor. Orders are initiated via a Web portal from a standard Web browser and replicated on the Supply Station using a secure Internet connection. Once the order is placed in the locker, the customer gets notified for pickup via e-mail or text messaging.
"Today MRO customers are requiring more efficient ways that enable them to make smart delivery decisions and our technology will allow the retailers to be more responsive," said Darren Murrey, founder and president of DropStation. "This is the same phenomenon we have seen in various markets such as self-service checkout, and most recently, DVD rental kiosks. By enabling customers to make their own schedules and delivery choices, retailers are gaining competitive advantage."
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
GRAFTON, Wis. -- Frank Mayer & Associates Inc., a provider of interactive kiosk solutions and a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, has launched a new Web site, according to a news release.
New features include an improved customer interface and enhanced marketing-at-retail program features. The site is now optimized to provide up-to-date information about the company's core competencies: in-store merchandising, interactive kiosk solutions and promotional marketing programs.
"In today's competitive market, customers are looking for a company that offers a comprehensive marketing program," said Dave Zoerb, vice president of marketing at Frank Mayer & Associates. "As a result, the redesigned Web site expresses the custom solutions offered by FMA and expands on exclusive trends and looks of the most current successful retail and interactive programs."
To view the Web site, visit www.frankmayer.com.
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Pennsylvania Commission for Women, an association that promotes the needs of the state's female population, and First Lady Judge Marjorie O. Rendell, have jointly announced the deployment of bilingual, touchscreen-based Women's Wellness Guide kiosks in two Philadelphia-area Acme Markets.
Shoppers can spend a few minutes with the kiosk to learn about healthcare issues such as heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, depression, asthma, diet and exercise, weight management, smoking, domestic violence, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted diseases and insurance options. Information is available in both English and Spanish, and the kiosks can also provide audio for individuals with visual impairments or literacy issues.
Click here to view slideshow.
"Women have a tendency to care for everyone else but themselves, and their own health ends up low on the priority list," said Leslie Stiles, executive director of the Pennsylvania Commission for Women. "Providing ready access to potentially life-saving medical information and educating women, especially those in overburdened communities, about prevention and early detection of diseases is an essential component for a productive life."
The Pennsylvania Commission for Women is providing 12 kiosks, free of charge, to targeted locations across Pennsylvania. The two Acme Markets are among them. Additional kiosks are located in county assistance offices, healthcare clinics and prison waiting rooms.
"Knowledge is power when it comes to your health," said First Lady Judge Marjorie O. Rendell. "This kiosk and others will hopefully empower women to find answers to health issues, and we are excited about the opportunity that these kiosks will provide for women across the state."
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
NORTH CANTON, Ohio — Diebold Inc., a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, is making leadership changes as part of an organizational realignment within its security division.
Bradley J. Stephenson, vice president, physical security solutions, has been promoted to vice president of Diebold's security division, where he will focus on increasing the value of Diebold's security solutions to customers and accelerating market growth in the Americas. He is now responsible for the company's enterprise security and fire-services operations, government solutions group, monitoring services, security research and development, product management, and security marketing and business development.
According to a news release, Dennis M. Moriarty, senior vice president, global security division, is leaving the company.
"This change is designed to drive efficiencies through defined business processes, targeted geographic focus and organizational optimization," said Tom Swidarski, Diebold's president and chief executive. "We have an enormous amount of confidence in Brad Stephenson's ability to deliver results in his new responsibilities. His wealth of experience in running various businesses within Diebold across a number of different industries will prove to be valuable in this broadened leadership role."
Stephenson has been with Diebold for more than 35 years, serving in a variety of senior management and technical positions including general manager of card systems, fire services and Nexus Software. Stephenson led the company's electronic security division from 1996 to 1999, developing security products to meet the needs of financial services and retail clients. Prior to moving to the security division's corporate headquarters in 1995, Stephenson had more than 20 years of experience in various customer-facing roles.
A West Michigan native, Stephenson earned a bachelor's degree in computer information systems from Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Mich.
Moriarty was appointed vice president of Diebold's global security division in 2005. He joined Diebold in 1996 as Eastern Division vice president, where he led the sales, service and systems organizations. He also served as vice president of Customer Business Solutions within Diebold North America. Prior to joining Diebold, Moriarty served in senior leadership positions at Pitney Bowes Corp. in Stamford, Conn.
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
(Boston) WBZ-TV, Channel 38: Police in Salem, N.H., are looking for a man armed with a hypodermic needle who tried to rob a woman while she withdrew cash at a Bank of America ATM. The 35-year-old woman told police the attacker held the needle to her neck and demanded money.
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Wednesday, 18 March 2009
SHENZHEN, China -- Universal Travel Group, a China-based travel services provider, has announced plans to add cell phone recharge functionality to its portfolio of TRIPEASY kiosks.
According to a news release, TRIPEASY kiosks, developed by Universal Travel Group, provide information in response to users' travel-related inquiries.
The kiosks will begin offering cell phone recharge beginning April 1. According to ChinaNews.com, there were approximately 540 million cell phone users in China in 2007, a number that is expected to grow to 730 million by 2010. In addition, large tier one cities, such as Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Chongqing, where Universal Travel has a strong presence, have about 50 million cell phone users combined. Moreover, these users require a recharge inquiry every month.
While the company has a current membership base of 2.5 million people, with recharge functionality, it expects traffic at its kiosks to more than double from current levels via return trips to its kiosks by cell phone recharge customers. The increased traffic could generate significant opportunities for the company to promote and sell its traditional air ticketing, hotel booking and packaged tours businesses.
The TRIPEASY kiosks accept bank cards and provide secured payment functions to finalize transactions. Universal Travel will continue its efforts to add functionality to increase its kiosks' traffic flow including utilities payment, lottery purchase and transportation IC card recharge.
The company plans to have several hundred kiosks in place by mid-2009.
"We are pleased to take the next step in rolling out our revolutionary TRIPEASY kiosks by adding increased functionality, which we expect will significantly drive customer traffic," said Jiangping Jiang, chairwoman and chief executive of Universal Travel Group. "We are looking for the kiosks to make a significant contribution to achieving our growth objectives in 2009. Also, as our kiosks attract a more targeted audience interested in travel-related products and services, and users embrace the concept, we expect to gain marketing efficiencies in the process."
Wednesday, 18 March 2009
TROY, Mich. -- NEXTEP SYSTEMS, a developer or self-service solutions for the food service industry and a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, has announced a number of key client wins.
Among other offerings, NEXTEP provides touchscreen ordering, digital menu boards and online ordering solutions.
In the past three months, NEXTEP has deployed self-service solutions in dozens of new locations, including Philadelphia International Airport, MotorCity Casino Hotel, JFK International Airport, SUPERVALU and Berry Chill, according to a news release.
Since its founding in 2004, NEXTEP has grown more than 100 percent annually and has implemented more than 1,000 self-order kiosks throughout the U.S. and Canada.
"NEXTEP's outstanding company growth and expanding client roster demonstrate the value and return on investment we bring to the food service industry," said Tommy Woycik, president and co-founder of NEXTEP. "Our advanced, failsafe touchscreen ordering solutions help foodservice providers improve productivity, eliminate potential customer walk-aways and increase revenue and upsell opportunities. Staff can better focus on fulfillment and customer service, so that consumers enjoy shorter lines and less wait time."
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Tim Walsh never forgot the day right after college when a retailer turned him down for credit.
"I still to this day won’t shop at that retailer," he said. "It's a bad experience."
The rejection is worsened today, Walsh says, because so many credit cards issued by retailers come with so-called "loyalty benefits," such as discounts on in-store purchases or rewards for multiple purchases. But bad or no credit means no card, and no card means no loyalty benefits.
But that is changing, says Walsh, who is the chief executive of Ready Credit Corp., which has developed a loyalty solution for shoppers who don't qualify for credit.
ReadyCredit has partnered with Macy's on a kiosk solution that dispenses open-loop prepaid Macy’s ReadyCARDs. The ReadyCARD, which is MasterCard-branded, offers the same loyalty benefits, such as in-store discounts and access to special sales, as the Macy's Star Rewards card.
"We strongly believed in changing the experience for consumers so they have an option other than credit," Walsh said. "It's a way to respectfully serve a part of the customer base that isn't able (to get) or (is) uninterested in credit. The Macy's loyal cash customer wasn't able to receive the benefits of other credit customers."
ReadyCredit and Macy's launched a pilot program two years ago to test the prepaid, self-service option. Today the kiosks are deployed in eight Macy's stores. Macy's would not comment on the pilot, citing competitive reasons.
As with any open-loop, network-branded card, the ReadyCARDs can be used anywhere MasterCard is accepted as well as in any Macy's store, of course. The cards can be used to pay bills, and can be reloaded at any readySTATION kiosk, which is manufactured by NCR Corp. To reload funds, users simply insert cash.
Getting the card
Getting a ReadyCARD is similar to getting a Macy's credit card. When Macy's customers apply for a credit card at the point of sale, their credit is checked. If they do not quality for the Macy's credit card, they are directed to a readySTATION kiosk, where they can enroll in the ReadyCredit program. The kiosk then takes enrollment information, asks the customer to insert funds to be loaded on to the card, and then a temporary ReadyCARD is dispensed. Within a few weeks, a personalized ReadyCARD, which has the customer's name embossed on the card, is mailed to the customer.
The kiosks are built on NCR Corp.'s EasyPoint Xpress kiosk platform. And because they rely on wireless connectivity for transaction processing, they can be placed anywhere in the store. TeraNova Consulting has equipped the kiosks with wireless communication ability.
ReadyCredit has offered instant-access prepaid cards since 2005. For the last six months, the company has also tested its readySTATION kiosks in Best Buy stores.
"Their application seemed compelling," said Natasha Royer Coons of TeraNova Consulting. "There are so many people who, when (sales) associates ask at the point of purchase 'Would you like a credit card?' they get declined."
This solution, she says, serves the customers who fall through the credit gaps — ultimately enhancing the overall customer experience.
"Macy's is revolutionary," Walsh said. "I predict in five years every retailer will have an alternative to credit."
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Global Software Applications, a developer of self-service software solutions, has announced the availability of Here2There interactive wayfinding software for self-service kiosks.
According to a news release, the software can be installed on a standalone, interactive kiosk or used as a separate Web application. The software consists of the following functionalities:
Where am I?
Here2There can reside on a touchscreen kiosk or wall mount near the entrance of the building. When visitors enter, the software can display a graphical representation of the entrance in relation to the rest of the building, showing visitors their current location. A navigational panel on the right-hand side can enable visitors to choose the department they wish to visit. Directions, including a map with a line detailing the appropriate route of travel, can be displayed on the screen or printed out.
Where to go?
Sometimes visitors don't know which department they need to visit. For example, imagine the case of a woman who knows she is visiting the hospital to view the results of her MRI, but has no idea which department she needs to go to. For these situations, the Here2There software provides a FAQ, matching services with departments.
Electronic messaging system
Here2There can integrate bus schedules, special announcements, advertisements, phone lists and many more useful add-ons.
Indoor/outdoor
Here2There specializes in generating directions, indoor or outdoor. This combination also allows for offering directions to the facility from any address in the United States or Canada, or offering directions back home after visiting the hospital.
Ease of use
Large fonts, buttons, contrasting colors and a consistent logic with minimal click-through provides the ease of use necessary to capture 98 percent of the visitors. Any special arrangements for the visually or mobility impaired, like compliance to section 508 accessibility standards, can be incorporated on request.
Back-office
To help deployers cope with changing facilities, the software integrates a back office. This allows for adding or moving of departments, generating new directions, adjusting the accompanying text directions and uploading new photos or maps.
Standalone vs. Web application
Here2There is Web-based, which makes management of multiple standalone kiosks or one or more campuses easier. This allows for fluid integration into other features like a patient registration kiosk. Here2There can also be offered through any Web site.
Options for integration in patient registry systems or self-check-in systems are available. Here2There interactive wayfinding also is available for universities, airports, cemeteries, visitor centers and casinos.
Tuesday, 17 March 2009
The Des Moines (Iowa) Register: Valley High School in Des Moines, Iowa, has found a high-tech way of honoring the four Olympians who grew up there. An interactive kiosk will provide images and information about the accomplishments of swimmer Craig Oppal, wrestler Joe Corso, two-time bobsledding medalist Carlos Kirby and gymnast Shawn Johnson. The decision to deploy the kiosk, which will cost nearly $20,000, came after the school realized it would free wall space currently occupied by 189 11-inch by 14-inch photos.
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Tuesday, 17 March 2009
E-consultancy.com: Sears Holdings is integrating a new branding strategy called "ShopYourWay" across all of its channels, including in-store, online, mobile, electronic kiosks and PDAs. The branding has already launched on Sears.com and soon will be introduced to Kmart.com. The full range of Sears and Kmart products will appear on each site and will increase the options available to consumers. The strategy also includes in-store Internet kiosks. Sears.com sells roughly 100,000 tools online, while its stores offer only some 7,000 to 8,000 options. With the ShopYourWay functionality, in-store shoppers also will have the opportunity to order out-of-stock items through the kiosk.
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Monday, 16 March 2009
Retail Solutions Online: As the global recession tightens its grip, many retailers are taking a second look at the ways self-service can help them curb expenditures. In addition to cutting costs, self-service solutions can also improve workforce efficiency and customer satisfaction. The effects of self-service are not always positive, however. In some cases, the technology can decrease the interaction between the retailer and the consumer and reduce the opportunities for upsell. How can retailers know if self-service is right for them? John Roach, editor of Retail Solutions Online, weighs in.
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Monday, 16 March 2009
ROYAL OAK, Mich. — Two Michigan-based cancer centers operated by Beaumont Hospital will deploy touchscreen kiosks to disseminate information about cancer and related hospital services, according to a news release.
Visitors of the centers, which are located in the cities of Royal Oak and Troy, will also be able to use the kiosks during regular business hours to schedule appointments with doctors. If requests for appointments are made at the kiosk after business hours, the kiosk will add the user's name and contact information to a log so a Beaumont representative can call them.
"If there's one thing I've learned from my patients through the years, it's that they crave information," said Frank Vincini, M.D., chief of Oncology Services for Beaumont Hospitals. "This is a well-researched, credible source for that information."
The American Cancer Society provides much of the regularly updated kiosk content, which includes information about 40 kinds of cancer in both English and Spanish. Recently, 23 short video segments co-produced with Discovery Health Channel were added to the kiosk.
The kiosk can also refer users to the Beaumont hospital Web site, where they can review information on topics such as the Comprehensive Breast Care centers, radiation oncology, cancer genetics, clinical trials and support groups.
The kiosks are part of a joint venture between the American Cancer Society and St. Andrew Development Inc. They're funded by the Freeman Wilner Foundation
Monday, 16 March 2009
The San Francisco Chronicle: Nevada lawmakers are reviewing a proposal that would permit some state prisoners to access the Web via special Internet kiosks. If the legislators pass the proposal, qualifying inmates would get limited Web access that would enable them to send and receive e-mail, engage in videoconferencing with the state Parole Board, interact virtually with doctors and purchase items such as digital downloads. Web traffic would be monitored by prison staffers.
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Monday, 16 March 2009
National (Ontario, Canada) Post: Vending kiosks from PharmaTrust, a provider of IT solutions for the healthcare industry, are now dispensing prescription medications to hundreds of Toronto-based patients. Customers using the kiosks insert their prescriptions into a slot and, moments later, receive their medications from a dispenser on the machine. Users can also communicate directly with a live pharmacist via a video link, even after business hours. "I think it could be the next BlackBerry," said Dr. Sharon Domb, medical director of family medicine at Toronto's Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. "The feedback has been positive: 'It's great, it's fast, I don't have to go anywhere else.'"
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Friday, 13 March 2009
ATLANTA — KIS Photo-Me Group, a provider of instant printing equipment, debuted its KIS Photobook Maker in the United States at PMA 09 in Las Vegas last week, according to a news release.
The kiosk sorts customer photos into an aesthetically pleasing layout in about two minutes, based on photo date and archival properties. High-gloss, stain-proof and scratch-resistant paper, as well as a quality binding system, ensure the DVD jacket size albums are built to last.
To complete an album, consumers bring their images on a memory card or USB stick to the kiosk, select the images to appear in the album and ensure the images are oriented in the right direction. Consumers then choose a photo for the front cover and enter an album name which will be printed on the KIS Photobook cover page and spine. Approximately eight minutes later, consumers leave the kiosk with their new photobook in hand.
The news release predicts that KIS Photobook Makers will offer a swift return on investment with profit margins up to 50 percent.
"Thanks to digital cameras, the average consumer takes eight to 10 times more digital photos than with analog cameras," said Nicolas Series, president of KIS USA and vice president of Photo-Me International PLC. "Photobooks have evolved as a means of transforming rarely viewed digital images into finished albums and preserved memories, perfect for reminiscing and reliving life's finest moments. Our cutting-edge smart technology software, combined with the latest techniques in digital imaging, allow the KIS Photobook Maker to create, print and bind quality albums in minutes, and this is an industry first."
Up to 30 pages and 90 photos can be included in each KIS Photobook. The albums feature a 300 dpi print resolution, with images sized at 5.7 inches x 8 inches.
The KIS Photobook Maker is scheduled to appear in a selection of test retail outlets starting in April.
Friday, 13 March 2009
 In-Store Touchmedia, a division of In-Store Experience manufactures retail merchandise displays that incorporate eye-level digital signage and multimedia touchscreen systems.
Friday, 13 March 2009
IRVINE, Calif. — Advantech, a provider of global e-platform services, has won Control Engineering China 2008's best product award for its PPC-L61T Panel PC, according to a news release.
The PPC-L61T is powered by an AMD LX800 processor with a bright, 6.5-inch LCD display, and features a fanless and compact design. The panel PC can operate in harsh environments, is vibration resistant, and is built with a sturdy aluminum front bezel. It can run Windows CE 6, XPe and SUSI for ease of programming, and supports a SATA HDD extension for added storage. The PPC-L61T is designed for industrial computing applications such as factory and machine automation.
The PPC L61T can withstand vibrations of 1G, according to the release, and its aluminum design is optimized for long-term use. It supports dual-power AT and ATX, and its low-power, fanless AMD LX800 CPU increases its reliability. Low-power design reduces thermal emissions, and lowers energy costs. Installation requires minimal cabling and offers flexible panel mounting or VESA mounting options.
The Panel PC comes with a mini PCI connector for convenient wireless LAN solutions. A SATA HDD module is available, increasing storage capacity for data or application use. Operating system options are Windows CE 6.0 and Windows XPe, and with the use of Advantech's Secure and Unified Smart Interface (SUSI) API suite.
The PC can also be customized, to save time and money. RS-232/422/485 COM ports are adjustable in the BIOS; and choices of chassis color, logo and other installation accessories are readily available. PPC-L61T also features a sunlight-readable, resistive touchscreen, for use in outdoor applications.
The PPC L61T is certified with CE, FCC, UL, CCC, BSD and VCCI standards. Customers can configure memory, optical devices, the SATA HDD module, wireless LAN modules, a CF card and have a choice of embedded operating systems, all online.
For more information, visit http://www.advantech.com.tw/ctos/.
Friday, 13 March 2009
Star Micronics of America, a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, has unveiled its latest kiosk printer offering: the TUP500 kiosk printer. According to a news release, it prints at speeds of up to 220mm/sec and can handle paper widths ranging from 45mm to 82.5mm. The printer supports OPOS, JavaPOS, Linux, XP, Mac and OS X drivers.
Click here to view slideshow.
Thursday, 12 March 2009
EDISON, N.J. -- Star Micronics America, a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, has announced the unveiling of the new TUP500 kiosk printer.
According to a news release, the TUP500 kiosk printer is characterized by a compact footprint and support for small paper widths. It features a print speed of up to 220mm/sec. and a MCBF of 60 million lines. The looping presenter prevents paper jams by printing the receipt in full before providing it to the user. The presenter also uses Star's document capture technology to retract receipts left by the user, resulting in increased document security and a cleaner operation area.
"Star has once again listened and responded to the industry," said Michael Hanson, vice president of Star Micronics America Inc. "The TUP500 is truly an adaptable kiosk printer. With support for adjustable paper widths ranging from 45mm-82.5mm and an optional large paper roll holder, plus unique features such as the attention-grabbing two-color LED lights on the bezel, it is ideal for a variety of kiosk applications."
The TUP500 features a neww bezel (snout) option which can be directly attached to the presenter to capture the user's attention with programmable two-color (red and green) flashing LED lights.
When purchasing a TUP500 printer, users will receive all drivers needed for legacy and contemporary applications, including OPOS, JavaPOS, Linux, XP, Mac and OS X. The unit is available with swappable interfaces for Serial, Parallel, USB or Ethernet (100BASE-TX/10BASE-T) interfaces. The TUP500 comes standard with a three-year limited warranty.
Thursday, 12 March 2009
IRVINE, Calif. -- Advantech, a provider of global ePlatform services and a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, has announced a new product offering.
According to a news release, the PPC-125T is an Intel Core 2 Duo processor-based Panel PC with a bright 12-inch LCD display. The Core 2 Duo CPU and Intel 945GME chipsets support dynamic applications without sacrificing industrial reliability. The dual Gigabit LAN port configuration of the PPC-125T helps protect the device against security threats. Four serial ports and six USB 2.0 ports, combined with the ability to run Windows XPE, WinXP Pro, or Vista, add to the units varsatility.
The Core 2 Duo processor and Intel 945GME chipsets can power almost any application, and are especially suited for industrial equipment makers, mobility equipment and monitoring and process control equipment. PPC-125T can also act as a host information appliance. It is available in both fan and fanless models, and it meets IP65/NEMA4 protection standards. PPC-125T is dust-tight and resistant to water, which allows it to function in a wide range of environments. Onboard hardware monitoring protects it against overheating and ensures added reliability for critical applications.
Dual Gigabit LAN configuration gives System Integrators the ability to satisfy security concerns, PPC-125T has an array of connectivity options. Four serial ports and six USB 2.0 ports add versatility to application deployment. The PPC-125T chassis color, logo and installation accessories are fully-customizable, saving system integrators time and decreasing the time-to-market. The 12-inch LCD touchscreen is also versatile, available in resistive touch, capacitive touch and SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) technologies to suit any application need.
Thursday, 12 March 2009
DUNDEE, Scotland -- NCR has announced a proposal to cut 252 jobs in Dundee and cease its manufacturing of low volume and high complexity products at its Gourdie site.
According to a news release, the company will also propose to reduce staff levels in engineering, solutions marketing and support functions.
"Like many companies, we have taken a number of prudent steps to better manage our cost structure in recent months," said Rick Marquardt, vice president of global manufacturing for NCR. "However, based on the current business outlook, we now need to make the difficult but necessary decision of proposing further workforce reductions in Dundee in order to protect our position."
"We realize that these changes will bring challenging times for those employees affected and we are committed to helping any individuals affected with comprehensive outplacement support," he said.
NCR is beginning a 90-day consultation process on the proposed restructuring with union and employee representative groups in Dundee.
Under the proposals, NCR's remaining business activities in Dundee will focus on engineering, research and development, services support operations, solutions management, marketing and new product introduction. Approximately 450 positions would remain across all functions in Dundee.
NCR is a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association.
Thursday, 12 March 2009
Taipei (China) Times: Five bike rental kiosks were inaugurated in the Xinyi District of Taipei City, China, on Wednesday. A total of 250 "YouBike" bicycles can now be rented at the kiosks, which are located the MRT Taipei City Hall Station, the east side of the Taipei City Hall, Exhibition Hall 3 of Taipei World Trade Center, the Xinyi District Office and the sidewalk across the street from the Grand Hyatt Taipei Hotel. The bikes are currently offered free of charge until April 10, at which point the machines will begin charging per rental.
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Thursday, 12 March 2009
SURREY, England -- Protouch Manufacturing Ltd., a U.K.-based provider of touchscreens and associated software, has announced that it will be the official supplier of Internet kiosks for the 2009 Screen Expo Europe.
The digital signage trade show will take place April 7-9 at the National Hall in Olympia, London.
In addition to surfing the Web at Protouch's Internet kiosks, attendees will be able to experience a wide range of the company's products, including the EPoS Xen X5 kiosk and Protouch's latest touchscreen software.
"The idea behind the hub is to give visitors a greater show and product experience of instantly being able to supply what they're doing to their own business needs," said Amanda Wallace, marketing manager for Protouch.
Protouch will showcase its products alongside its Internet hub at stand F11.
Thursday, 12 March 2009
(Denver) YourHub.com: As unemployment numbers rise, the lines in front of two job kiosks at the Aurora Central Library in Denver are getting longer, according to the Denver Post. The libary hosted 1,468 kiosk users in February and the job kiosks are the most popular kiosks at any library in the metro area. "The Aurora Central Library continues to stay extremely busy helping customers find jobs, and the Denver Post Job Kiosks are proving to be especially popular," said Linda Shaw, supervisor for the Aurora Central Library. "We regularly see people waiting in line to use the kiosks."
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Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Dayton B2B: Dayton International Airport expects to receive about $13 million in economic stimulus money and the air hub plans on spending some of it on upgrading and expanding its self-service offerings. Among the planned additions: movable self-service kiosks that generate boarding passes about 20 feet from the service counters, so that people using the kiosks will be out of the way of the lines at the counters.
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Wednesday, 11 March 2009
The Shropshire Star Newspaper Online: A Shropshire, England-based provider of digital communications has secured a contract with the government of Rwanda to design, build, install and offer tech support for public information kiosks to be deployed throughout major Rwandan institutions and rural communities. Scream.com.uk will provide kiosks with touchscreens, printers and Internet access so residents can obtain public information, surf the Web and check their e-mail. The first kiosk has already been deployed at the Kigali International Airport.
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Wednesday, 11 March 2009
TRUMBULL, Conn. — JD Events, the company behind KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show, announced that it will provide qualified end-users with free full access to the shows.
Both KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show will take place May 6-7 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
According to a news release, the decision is a recognition that companies are tightening their belts during a period of economic uncertainty.
"Our priorities rest equally between our end-user audience and our exhibitor audience," said Lawrence Dvorchik, general manager of the events. "What we strive to do is introduce features that give all of our attendees, regardless of which end of the business they're coming from, a complete conference experience. The new conference pass policy is just one of the benefits we bring to the table that helps us provide the most cost-efficient and effective tradeshow opportunity to others."
Among the session speakers who will address attendees at the shows are key figures from BMW, ConAgra, The Palms Hotel & Casino, HBO Latin America, Target, Indigo Books & Music, The Nielsen Co., The PCI Security Standards Council, Virgin Entertainment Group, Columbia Sportswear, Cabela's, Chrysalis, Continental Airlines, SoloHealth, Ricoh Americas and PQ Media.
For more information on KioskCom Self Service Expo, visit www.kioskcom.com.
For more information on The Digital Signage Show, visit www.thedigitalsignageshow.com.
Wednesday, 11 March 2009
Gujarat Global News Network: The Congress in Gujarat, India, has begun reaching out to the youth vote via a medium they will feel comfortable using. Planned Internet kiosks will dispense information about Congress and its leaders and its activities. The kiosks will also provide free Internet access.
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Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Despite the unsettling condition of the economy, members of the Digital Signage Association Advisory Board say the digital signage industry is moving ahead at a steady pace, and the Digital Signage Association is at the forefront of that movement.
Stuart Armstrong, president of EnQii and association president, said that was the mood of the Advisory Board meeting that took place Tuesday, Feb. 24, on the eve of Digital Signage Expo in Las Vegas.
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Stuart Armstrong, president of EnQii and of the Digital Signage Association, addresses attendees of the User/DSA board member luncheon held immediately after the Advisory Board meeting. (Also pictured: Suzanne Alecia, president, OVAB)
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"My feeling is that the association is really starting to turn a corner and it's beginning to develop some momentum," Armstrong said. "That momentum is being powered by the quality of the membership and the growth of the membership. We're seeing a lot of knowledgeable and energetic people that are raising their hands and getting involved."
Members increase
Some of that energy is coming from an influx of user members, Armstrong said. That influx can be attributed to the association's recent user membership drive, which provided free membership to eligible digital signage deployers.
The association currently consists of 238 members, 129 of which have joined in the last five months. Of those new members, over 80 are users including retailers, hotels, restaurants and banks.
Those new user members include companies such as Dunkin Donuts, Hallmark Cards, Delta Air Lines Inc. and Fifth Third Bank.
"Six months ago, we had six users," Armstrong said. "At the time of the event, we had 86 users. And they are bringing a very valuable perspective."
One such user member is Sean Andersen, director of interactive services for Six Flags Inc. Andersen said his company is in the midst of deploying roughly 250 45-inch outdoor LCD screens throughout seven of its parks. The project, including content creation, was managed in-house, and he was eager to attend the Advisory Board meeting to see how other users have handled their digital signage projects.
"We wanted to see what else the industry was doing," Andersen said. "Obviously we were tackling it from our own microcosm world and I wanted to see what other vendors were doing out there, and more importantly, what other users have been experiencing."
Andersen chose to use the board meeting for a special announcement: from this point onward, he says he is going to require all digital signage vendors who work with Six Flags to become members.
"What the board has done by not making users ante up to be part of the association – that was brilliant," he said. "Our way of thanking you guys and thanking the committee is for us to flex our muscles and make our vendors, in essence, pay our ride. And they should."
Return on investment
One aspect of digital signage deployment that particularly interested Andersen was identifying costs and return-on-investment. During the meeting, Steve Nesbit, president and chief operating officer of Reflect Systems, expressed his desire to lead the association's efforts in providing strategies for digital signage ROI.
"I'm not sure that we as an industry have really come up with a cogent set of guidelines that are really usable by retail, quick serve restaurants, banks, public spaces or whatever that might be," Nesbit said. "My thought was that it would be a terrific benefit if the DSA could help along those guidelines."
Nesbit said digital signage does represent a wise investment – even in today's tight economy – because it 1) creates a positive customer experience, 2) becomes a medium for branding, and 3) can be a persuasive tool to get shoppers to purchase goods and services. The key, he said, is providing guidance to users so that they capitalize on these benefits.
Nesbit said he hopes to form a committee that will start putting together a ROI model that will be beneficial to digital signage deployers.
Content focus
The topic of digital signage content was also a central focus during the meeting. The recent success of the association-sponsored webinar, "Content Best Practices for Digital Signage Networks," demonstrated that there is considerable interest among digital signage users in creating effective content.
Keith Kelsen, founder and executive chairman of MediaTile, said the shift from technology to content was bound to happen as the digital signage industry matured.
"We solved the technology problem and now it's all about what's on the screen. It's all about the strategy for a network and content is a huge part of that strategy," he said. "So we're going to get more focused around that and we're going to provide more in-depth webinars that will help people get their strategy and their minds wrapped around these types of networks."
Kelsen, who chairs the association's Content Best Practices Committee, told attendees that the DSA will release three best practices documents over the coming year, focused on digital signage content at the point of sale, the point of wait and the point of transit.
He said hearing about the association's upcoming initiatives, as well as the enthusiasm of new user members, filled him with a sense of mission for the future.
"I thought it went great. I think the list of things before us, we can accomplish," Kelsen said. "It's almost like we need to accomplish this for the betterment of the industry. That's why we're there."
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
Every kiosk needs a user interface. It's the bridge that enables the user to interact with the machine. The more user-friendly the interface is, the greater the likelihood people will flock to the kiosk.
Some self-service deployers make the mistake of simply copying their Web sites without transforming the site content for the kiosk. Wouldn't it serve the same purpose at the kiosk level?
Bob Ventresca, vice president of marketing for Netkey Inc., explains how deployers should correctly alter a Web site for a kiosk interface.
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
LAS VEGAS — Whether it's digital signage hardware, software, content or solutions providers, you'll always find what you're looking for at Digital Signage Expo. This year, Digital Signage Association members were out in force.
View the complete list of Featured Exhibitors
View a slide show of DSE exhibitors.
Here is a partial list of some of the association members who were present and accounted for on the showroom floor:
BLACK BOX NETWORK SERVICES
Many companies at DSE, even large ones, were focused on simple digital signage solutions geared toward the small to medium business market. Although Black Box has more than 180,000 SKUs in its catalog, it showed the iCompel, a player designed for small deployments which comes with software already installed in the player. Brian Kutchma, director of marketing, also said that although the software is licensed, customers aren’t charged for future upgrades. --BY
ENQII
EnQii released its latest software at the show, which Chief Executive Ajay Chowdhury said is built on three pillars: Create, Control and Capture. The product is called EnGage, and is Java-based and can allow connection to point-of-sale systems and mobile phones.
EnQii also announced that EnGage is now being offered integrated with TruMedia's iCapture solution which measures audience information through the use of embedded cameras in the screens. Chowdhury said the TruMedia integration will also help EnGage customers comply with OVAB's Audience Measurement Guidelines. --BY
HELIUS
The big story here was the new relationships the company has formed. First, the Blue Man Group announced they would use Helius digital signs in their performances in addition to employing them already for corporate communications. But perhaps a bigger if less enticing deployment was worked through the L.A. County Sheriff's Dept., in California. Helius installed a fleet of signs serving the department's 18,000 users, ranging from law enforcement folks to clerical help to the inmates themselves. Communications help process the evil-doers, spread the word on important policies and procedures, even post the time and locale for the precinct picnic. Finally, the Las Vegas police department has entered into a similar arrangement with the company. --JG
LG ELECTRONICS
LG usually brings an arsenal of unique digital signage screens to shows, and Digital Signage Expo was no different. Many booths on the floor, including LG's, featured the Stretch Screen, which is a 32-inch screen cut in half lengthwise. Powering six different channels of content from one PC was the LG Smart Vine, a thin-client player designed for call centers and education settings. LG also showed unique models of its Shine Out display (for high-brightness applications), Triple View (which features three different pieces of content depending on viewing angle) and the 3D Screen. --BY
MAGICBOX
The new Web-based solution from MagicBox is designed for individuals without I.T., A.V. or graphics savvy—say, a lobby receptionist or the administrator of a hospital—who suddenly find themselves responsible for digital signage content. With a desktop feel and offline editing capabilities, the product enables users to work among five levels of admin and manage multiple slices of individual screens in multiple locations. --JG
NANONATION
Company suits like to say their big news is always Nanonation's core platform, but in terms of wow factor, it was hard to beat their new Microsoft Tag work. The 2D barcode shows up on a screen and anyone with one of about 70 approved smart phones with Microsoft Tag software loaded onto it can photograph the tag and be instantly linked to download content, URLs and more. The color barcodes allow more accurate photographing from more angles. Also at the booth were digital menu boards developed for quick-service restaurants. --JG
REFLECT SYSTEMS
Reflect Systems, which made headlines last year for its deployment of the GameStop Network, announced its involvement with Target's next-generation digital signage network, Channel Red. Channel Red is just one part of a large multi-channel communications effort from Target to reach customers. Research has showed that when fully operational, Channel Red will reach Target guests through more than 50,000 screens.
"Target has approached this network scientifically," said Stephen Nesbit, president and COO of Reflect Systems. "We're delighted to be a long-term partner with them."
Best Buy representatives also announced in several breakout sessions that Reflect digital signage software will be powering its next-generation in-store network to be rolled out this year. --BY
SOUTHERN VISION SYSTEMS
The Huntsville, Ala.-based SVSi, a connectivity provider, showed its signature digital signage product, the VoLANte system, which stands for Video over Local Area Network technology. Bob Sharp, director of sales, was busy fielding questions from booth visitors.
"We aren't a media player," he said. "We allow multiple HD streams over Ethernet cable. Those live feeds can come from anywhere – a camera, media player or TV feed."
Sharp said the VoLANte comes in handy when a digital signage media player can't be placed near a screen and the signal must be transferred a long distance. --BY
SYMON COMMUNICATIONS
Drawing attention to the Symon booth was a Microsoft Surface Table, which was running on Symon's SCS 10.0 software. Symon also made good use of its Smart Screen, a self-branded integrated touchscreen in 42- and 47-inch sizes with a pull-out media player, which Bob Brittan, director of product marketing, said comes in handy when it comes to repair the unit.
Also notable at Symon was its Door Signage display, which featured a media player that could power up to 12 channels. Used for medical facilities, conference centers and hotels, the Door Signage software can integrate with the facilities’ event management system, such as Microsoft Outlook or Delphi. --BY
WIRELESS RONIN TECHNOLOGIES
Wireless Ronin's Linda Hofflander, vice president and chief marketing officer, was exhausted from giving presentations to potential customers all day, but found time to demonstrate the AutoPick, a context-driven touchscreen designed for auto showrooms. The out-of-the-box module runs a comparative car program that allows users to decide between several models of cars by lining up attributes side to side.
"This is great for the dealer and the auto customer, neither has to be an expert to use it," Hofflander said. "With the economy the way it is now, auto dealers are reinventing their business, focusing on the closing ratio. This is a great ROI tool." -- BY
X20 MEDIA
With the launch of the new X20 Xpresenter Xe all-in-one, stand-alone digital signage system, X20 Media offers the best of its full-size system in one compact solution. The affordable, entry-level solution uses proprietary broadcast rendering technology, so it has better-than-broadcast quality. Crawls are smooth, and updates are seen virtually instantly, all managed from a simple but attractive GUI. The product is targeted to users who aren't IT or AV specialists, such as the receptionist charged with freshening the lobby message. --JG
ZIPCAST
The expertise of this company is in deploying and managing networks in shopping centers and other retail environments. Retailers who want to roll out a digital signage project can work with ZipCast to determine the best solutions and locations, with ZipCast acquiring the hardware and other necessary accoutrements and making it live. The cost to the deployer? Nada. Advertising pays for it. The company says its own surveys show that anywhere from 6 to 19 percent of people who see something advertised on a digital sign while they are in the store buy it. An added strength of the Houston-based ZipCast is its strong ties to the Hispanic community. --JG
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
TRUMBULL, Conn. -- Tommorow, March 11, is the last day to enter the Self Service Excellence Awards competition, which recognizes innovation in self-service products and business solutions.
Visit http://www.kioskcom.com/awards.asp to learn more. Applicants must complete a form and submit a video of the kiosk in use. There is a fee of $195 per entry, per catagory.
Winners in each category will be recognized at the Self Service Excellence Awards Ceremony on May 6, 2009 at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas during the KioskCom Self Service Expo and The Digital Signage Show.
For more information, contact JD Events at (203) 371-6322.
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
The (Milwaukee, Wis.) Journal Sentinel: Two employees of the Pick 'n Save grocery store have been charged with theft for allegedly hacking into the self-service checkout lanes and claiming 5-cent credits the store gives for using reusable grocery bags. Though the scam may not appear lucrative on its face, between the two of them, the teens were allegedly able to pocket more than $10,000 from the scheme. Shaun C. Franke, 19, could face up to three years in prison if convicted, while his co-defendant, Ryan K. Struck, 18, faces the possibility of a nine month jail term.
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Tuesday, 10 March 2009
The Houston Chronicle: Nexxo Financial Corp., a Calif.-based provider of money transfer services, is making inroads into the Houston market. The company began expanding into Houston in July 2008, with money transfer kiosks at three HSBC Credit Center branches. By December, it had added 43 more Houston locations, including sites at Circle K's and other retailers. The company targets the Hispanic market, enabling them to transfer funds back to their families in Latin America and the Caribbean through its own technology, which is installed on billpay kiosks owned by Vancouver-based Tio Networks Corp.
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Tuesday, 10 March 2009
DANIA BEACH, Fla. -- The IGFA Fishing Hall of Fame & Museum, an organization dedicated to providing education on marine life, will play host to an "Ocean Today" kiosk in April, according to a news release.
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An Ocean Today kiosk deployed at the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago. (Image courtesy of the NOAA.)
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The kiosk will promote ocean literacy among patrons of the museum by exposing them to ocean imagery and video clips. Museum goers will use a touchscreen to explore content related to science and technology, news, recent discoveries and ocean life.
Click here to view a slideshow of Ocean Today kiosks.
"The kiosk was originally developed as a major installation on the floor of the Sant Ocean Hall at the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of Natural History," said David Matagiese, education director for IGFA. "It receives real time data directly from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and will educate museum guests on topics such as the current state of the world's fisheries stocks, endangered species, marine debris and much more."
Matagiese said multiple groups can simultaneously interact with content on the kiosk which includes a 42-inch, independently-operated, touchscreen display, and a 50-inch plasma echo monitor above. It accomodates two specially designed sound areas that will envelop visitors. One sound area will immerse the visitors interacting with the 42-inch displays while the other sound area, at a comfortable distance behind the first, allows a group experience and easy viewing of the content mirrored on the 50-inch overhead display.
Tuesday, 10 March 2009
(Minneapolis) Star Tribune: The city of Minneapolis, in a partnership with the University of Minnesota, is going to announce a self-service bike rental program that will place 1,000 bikes on the street. Residents who sign up for the program and pay $50 a year will receive a special membership card that they can swipe at any of the 75 self-service bike rental kiosks deployed throughout the city. Once the card is swiped, the kiosk releases one of the bikes, which the member can use for up to 30 minutes.
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Read also: The best self-service on two wheels.
Monday, 09 March 2009
There was a lot to see last month at Digital Signage Expo 2009 in Las Vegas. The Las Vegas Convention Center was abuzz with activity. Joseph Grove, associate publisher, and Bill Yackey, editor of Digital Signage Today, were there and spoke to some of the movers and shakers on the showroom floor. Click below to view a slideshow and read about some of the exhibits that raised eyebrows.
Click to view slideshow
Monday, 09 March 2009
BUDAPEST, Hungary -- Scala, a provider of end-to-end connected digital signage software and a member of both the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, as well as the Digital Signage Association, has announced that students of Dennis Gabor Applied University in Budapest, Hungary, are using Scala's software as an educational tool.
According to a news release, Dennis Gabor Applied University was established in 1992 and is a private institute accredited by the Hungarian government. The aim of the university is to provide students with a thorough grounding in a range of technical subjects including information technology, technical engineering and business management which leads to internationally recognized degrees at BSc and BA standards.
To date, more than 10,000 students have successfully graduated from the university and have entered the international information technology, Web development and computer-aided design markets, among others.
Mikropo, Scala's certified partner in Hungary, worked with the university to offer students the opportunity to use Scala as a content creation and design tool to complement their multimedia-focused syllabus.
"In less than two days, students have been able to use Scala to apply academic knowledge to real-life projects by first storyboarding ideas the old-fashioned way and then designing the implementation solution in Scala," said Csilla Muhari, educator and Scala trainer at Dennis Gabor Applied University. "It took very little time for students to understand how Scala works and to become proficient users. This has made my role as an educator significantly easier."
Monday, 09 March 2009
SANTA ANA, Calif. -- Ingram Micro Inc., a technology distributor, has announced that it has added POS touchscreens manufactured by Elo TouchSystems, a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, to its product offerings in North America.
Under the terms of the new distribution agreement, the Ingram Micro Data Capture/POS Division will support, market and resell the complete line of Elo TouchSystems touch monitor products including LCD touchmonitors, touchcomputers and custom solutions to channel partners throughout North America. Elo TouchSystems and Ingram Micro have maintained a successful relationship in Europe for the past six years, and in Mexico for the past year, according to a news release.
"Touchscreen technology brings to life a high-value business solution that can be sold in many key market verticals including retail, government, education and health care," said John Soumbasakis, senior vice president and general manager of Strategic Divisions, Ingram Micro North America. "We're pleased to be Elo's first broadline, value-added distributor and will leverage our vertical expertise to generate demand for Elo's portfolio and enable our solution provider partners to identify, market and sell touchscreen solutions more effectively in today's economy."
Both DisplaySearch and iSuppli report that the touchscreen market is forecasted for double-digit growth over the next three years, according to the release. DisplaySearch's May 2008 report forecasts growth between 2008 and 2015 at a 12 percent increase in unit sales and a 20 percent increase in revenue. iSuppli's May 2008 report forecasts growth between 2008 and 2012 at a 25 percent increase in units and a 17 percent increase when it comes to revenue. Primary market drivers accelerating this growth include reduction of labor costs through customer self-service and the availability of new user interfaces that utilize touch technology.
Monday, 09 March 2009
MyStateLine.com: The Illinois Senate Gaming Committee has unanimously approved a plan that would legalize horse racing bets made by phone, online or via self-service kiosks deployed at the race track or off-site. Marc Laino with the Illinois Racing Board says the decision could make $2 million dollars for the state of Illinois, which is faced with a $9 billion budget deficit. Critics of the plan say it would promote gambling addiction.
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Monday, 09 March 2009
GreaterGreaterWashington.org: Can stimulus dollars be used to fund a national program for bike sharing kiosks across the U.S.? David Alpert, a blogger for GreaterGreaterWashington.org believes they can, and that the program would yield "a lot of sexy headlines and ribbon-cuttings across the nation," as well as jobs surrounding the construction, management and maintenance of the bike kiosks.
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Monday, 09 March 2009
The Boston Herald: Cycle Loft, a bicycle retailer based in Burlington, Mass., has become the first retailer to deploy the new eSoles 3D TruCapture Kiosk Scanning System. The kiosk scans the dimensions and pressure points of the user's foot so that eSoles can create customized footpads for the user.
"The reason why I was interested in the system was because, during my career as it were, in cycling, I was always looking for the best foot bed because I have some pretty strange feet," said Cycle Loft owner Jeff Palter. "The more support inside the cycling shoe, the more comfortable they are and the better the pedaling motion, power transfer, etc."
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Click to view a slideshow of the eSoles kiosk.
Read also: The 'sole' of self-service.
Monday, 09 March 2009
MSNBC: As unemployment levels rise to the heights not seen since the early 1980s, the city of Miramar, Fla., is offering its residents a self-service gateway to job openings. The city recently opened a new 'Work Force One' kiosk at one of its government offices. Residents can use the kiosk to view jobs throughout South Florida. "It's a fantastic resource," said Kim Morrow-Lopez, social services program coordinator. "People can apply for jobs in the tri-county area, which is a big deal, especially at this time."
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Friday, 06 March 2009
Computerworld.com reported this week that a new report from the California secretary of state sheds light on allegations raised last November, when nearly 200 Humboldt County, Calif., votes were not tabulated during the presidential election.
The report claims that voting machines manufactured by Diebold Inc. subsidiary Premier Election Solutions, formerly Diebold Elections Systems, are equipped with a button that can be used to delete audit logs — audit logs that the federal government requires to be stored permanently on the voting system. The report also claims that the voting kiosks failed to maintain required logs of important system events and generated inaccurate data and time stamps in several cases.
The voting kiosks have a history of controversy.
In August 2003, former Diebold chief executive Walden O'Dell publically expressed support for then President George W. Bush and said Diebold would help "give" Bush the election. Shortly after his statements were made public, issues regarding the accuracy of the Diebold voting machines' tabulations began surfacing.
O'Dell resigned in 2005, facing allegations of insider trading. After subsequent allegations that the voting kiosks were providing inaccurate vote talleys, Diebold attempted to sell the voting division, but failed to shake the troubled business unit. In August 2007, the company rebranded the division to help distance itself from the controversy.
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Friday, 06 March 2009
Kotaku.com: GameFly, an online video game rental provider, is launching into the self-service market with the deployment of its first "G-Box" video game rental kiosk. The premier deployment is at Texas Tech University, and allows students to swipe their credit cards for to pay for the rentals of Wii, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 video games. Renters pay $2.49 a day ($1.99 for Wii titles), with an option to rent-to-own.
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Thursday, 05 March 2009
Anyone embarking on a new business venture must be cognizant of regulations and the potential exposure to litigation. The business landscape is covered with unseen legal land mines. One misstep and a mine could explode, either in the form of a lawsuit or lost revenue.
Self-service deployments are no exception. A new deployment means signing a contract (or several contracts) and agreeing to meet certain regulatory standards.
What are some of the most common legal mistakes that deployers of self-service make? Larry Washor, an attorney with Washor & Associates, shares his insight.
Thursday, 05 March 2009
Oh My Gov!: As reported in the Technology Review, an electronic "doctor kiosk" is being developed by the Massachusetts General Hospital. The purpose: to gather patient information such as medical history, weight, pulse, blood pressure and conduct blood tests for glucose and cholesterol. Eva Marie Stahl, a commentator for OhMyGov.com, says this can alleviate the burden faced by understaffed healthcare providers, as long as the doctor-patient relationship isn't compromised.
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Thursday, 05 March 2009
Twice: Kodak, a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, has announced plans to add new up-sell functionality to its Picture Kiosk later this year. The announcement came at the PMA International Convention and Tradeshow in Las Vegas, a gathering of professionals in the photo imaging community. Kodak's Picture Movie DVD creation software used in its Picture Maker kiosks will be updated in the second quarter of this year. When that happens, Kodak will also roll out an "intelligent up-sell" algorithm in its Picture Kiosks to drive DVD and photo book sales.
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Thursday, 05 March 2009
Variety.com: Redbox, an operator of DVD kiosks and a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, is bringing its self-service entertainment offering to the Big Apple. The company has installed its first two DVD rental kiosks in Manhattan. The move comes just one day after brick-and-mortar retailer Blockbuster hired law firm Kirkland & Ellis for advice on how to address roughly $370 million in debt to expire in August. The company said it will discuss its attempts to refinance the debt during its earnings call later this month.
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Thursday, 05 March 2009
The Shanghai Tiansheng Exhibition Service Company, a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, has announced some of the exhibitors for its dual technology shows in Shanghai this summer.
According to a news release, the Shanghai International Digital Signage Show 2009 will be held alongside The 6th China International Self Service & Kiosk Show 2009 at the Shanghai Mart Exhibition Center, June 22-24. Both shows are hosted by the Shanghai Tiansheng Exhibition Service Company.
Exhibitors at the self-service show will include: Fuji Electric, MEI, IBM, General Touch, Star Micronics, Jiangsu Guoguang Electronic Information Technology Co. Ltd., SGS Computer, Tiger Kiosk, Custom, JCM, ICT, CoinCO, Astrosystems International, Shanghai Etone, IR Touch, China Creator, NewBeiYang Info-tech, Guangzhou Tonsincs Technology Co. Ltd., Shenzhen Sunson, NRI & Cashcode (Crane companies), Winstar Century, Shanghai Yingjie Computer System and Beijing Intehel.
Exhibitors at the digital signage show will include: Advantech, DT Research, NEC, Mitsubishi, Avedia System, Beijing Honghe Tech, Aopen, OneLan, ET Media, Tros I&D, Zhizhen Video-Communications Science-Tech Co. Ltd., SeeYoo Electric Technology, Ningbo Plus and Pop-Screens, EB Answers Network, Shanghai DigiVision Technology and Poly Technology.
For more information about the Shanghai International Digital Signage Show 2009, click HERE.
Thursday, 05 March 2009
IRVINE, Calif. -- Advantech, an IPC solutions and service provider, and a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, has announced a series of Intel Atom-based Computer On Modules (COM) that covers full-rangge of COM form factors, from COM-Express and COM-Micro to ETX 3.0.
Com Express: The SOM-5760 COM Express module, soon to be released by Advantech, is equipped with the Intel Atom Z530 solution for portable device applications running on extremely low power consumption. The SOM-5761 with Intel N270 platform provides abundant I/O interface such as PCIe, PCI, USB and SATA.
 COM-Micro: The SOM-6760 and SOM-6761 integrate the Intel Atom Z530 and N270 on a small board size of 95 mm X 95 mm. Together they provide for more design flexibility on the carrier board design, and allow customers to reduce the overall size of their system.
ETX 3.0: SOM-4461 is designed as the future product choice for customer's current ETX solutions. With next generation power saving technology and IO interface, the Intel Atom N270 SOM-4461 is able to provide higher processing and SATA support than old ETX products, and it allows customers to extend the product life cycle of their current ETX applications.
The benefits of Intel ATOM-based Computer On Modules, according to the news release, include a small form factor, low power consumption, extended battery life and increased power and performance.
Wednesday, 04 March 2009
(Santa Barbara, Calif.) KEYT-TV, Channel 3: The Pacific View Mall in Ventura County, Calif., has a new venue for job seekers to learn about recent openings. A new self-service touchscreen kiosk provides free access to Ventura County job listings, including openings at the mall's retailers. The Workforce Investment Board of Ventura County is responsible for the deployoment of the "JobLink" kiosk.
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Click to see video
Wednesday, 04 March 2009
SEATTLE -- NCR Corp., a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, and Toshiba Corp., a manufacturer of consumer electronics devices, have jointly announced that they will showcase MOD Systems' digital download solution at Retailtech Japan 2009 in Tokyo.
According to a news release, the MOD Retail Enterprise System is a solution for secure digital video downloads to SD memory cards with instant playback on a dedicated SD card player. It's part of an initiative by MOD, NCR and Toshiba to give a consumers a faster, more portable way to download movies, TV shows, music and other digital content at a wide variety of retail locations for playback on various consumer electronics devices.
MOD Systems expects to launch its video download solution in 2009 at selected U.S. retail locations. Deployments in international markets are expected to follow.
"For too long, digital media delivery to consumers has been a direct-to-home model, leaving physical retailers out of the equation," said Mark E. Phillips, chief executive of MOD Systems. "We're very pleased to work with our partners to debut this solution to retailers in Japan. We think this mobile consumer market presents a tremendous opportunity to deliver digital entertainment using SD cards, a highly portable form factor."
MOD Systems' entertainment catalog includes 4,000 video titles from independent and major studios, and nearly four million music tracks. In January, the company announced the first major U.S. studio agreements to distribute digital video from Warner Brothers and Paramount Digital Entertainment via downloads to SD cards in retail stores.
See also:
Ask the Experts: DVD kiosks or digital download kiosks?
Wednesday, 04 March 2009
Austin (Texas) Business Journal: The Austin, Texas, city council is considering a proposal that would deploy 750 solar-powered parking kiosks to the downtown area. The kiosks would replace 3,800 13-year-old parking meters, which will experience roughly 16,000 failures this year, according to predictinos. The parking meters are no longer supported by manfacturers, so replacement parts will soon be unavailable. The proposed solar-powered kiosks would each cover an entire block face and would allow users to pay via credit and debit cards, in addition to coins. The kiosks would issue printed receipts, which the user would them place on his or her dashboard.
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Wednesday, 04 March 2009
VIENNA, Va. -- Lucidiom has received three DIMA Innovative Digital Product Awards for its technology offerings in the photo kiosk space, according to a news release.
The first award was for the company's "Scene Me" white screen technology. Similar to the green screen used in the movie industry, Lucidiom's Scene Me is a white screen application for the APM photo kiosk that enables users to put themselves in a variety of scenes depending on the content offered by the retailer. A customer visiting a Lucidiom APM photo kiosk equipped with this feature might choose to create a custom comic strip by placing their child's photo within a licensed Marvel Comics scene or next to Hanna Montana on stage.
Lucidiom also received an award for the Lucidiom EQ coordinated social expression products, which include gift wrap, note cards, folded cards, invitations, banners, posters, photo books and covers, proof books, notepads and envelopes. Lucidiom is the only retail imaging company to offer a wrapping paper template for photo kiosks, according to the news release.
Lucidiom's latest kiosk software version, APM 7.0, also received a DIMA Award. The new version features instant photo uploads from the in-store kiosk to the customer's Photo Finale Web account, as well as the new retailer up-sell engine and a redesigned Product Finder.
"Lucidiom's coordinated social expression products are the 'Do you want fries with that?' of the photo industry," said Steve Giordano, Jr., president of Lucidiom. "With all the Long Tail possibilities of the personal publishing world, even retailers that market their products will often struggle with letting consumers know about all the creative possibilities. Now, we've built the coordinated product suggestion right into the APM order process."
The awards took place at the PMA International Convention and Tradeshow in Las Vegas. PMA is a professional trade association that helps the worldwide photo imaging community adapt to new technologies.
Wednesday, 04 March 2009
CNET.com: Several attendees of the PMA International Convention and Tradeshow in Las Vegas this week are using Hewlett-Packard TouchSmart PCs to demo their photo kiosk software packages. PMA, a professional trade association that helps the worldwide photo imaging community adapt to new technologies, holds the show annually to explore the latest in photo techology. Storefront.com was spotted on the floor by CNET reporter Erica Ogg, with a half-dozen TouchSmarts available for attendees to try out the company's software for retail store printing kiosks. Hewlett-Packard is a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association.
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Tuesday, 03 March 2009
The secret to good cycling is good footwear — at least according to Jeff Palter.
The president of The Cycle Loft, a Boston-based full-service bicycle retailer, says some cycling enthusiasts aren't satisfied with just donning a pair of Nikes when they take to the road. Quite often, they insert custom orthotic footpads into their shoes to act as a cushion against the constant wear-and-tear of pedaling. Creating these custom footpads means taking precise and detailed measurements of the cyclist's feet — measurements that typically require the uninterrupted, one-on-one attention of a sales associate.
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The eSoles Foot Imaging Kiosk System from eSoles Inc., deployed at The Cycle Loft bicycle store in Boston.
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But the unveiling of the new eSoles Foot Imaging Kiosk System, created by Scottsdale, Ariz.-based eSoles Inc., may make it possible for the customer to take these measurements on his own.
According to the company's Web site, the eSoles Foot Imaging Kiosk System is a free-standing kiosk consisting of a touchscreen monitor, a pressure mat, an air bladder "foot receiver," a digital scanner and a printer. The kiosks can also access the Web via a cellular connection.
The consumer activates the kiosk by touching the display. Once activated, the user interface leads them through the measurement process, and customers are asked to stand, walk and jog on the pressure mat. The mat uses 160 sensors (developed through a partnership with Pressure Profile Systems Inc.) to identify and map the pressure points of the user's foot in "weight bearing" position. Then a projector inside the kiosk displays a detailed image of the user's foot on the air bladder, where the user is asked to position his foot. The air bladder maps the shape of the foot in a "non-weight-bearing position," using eSoles' pneumatic laser technology, which creates a 3-D image of the foot. At the end of the process, the printer dispenses a ticket with all of the measurements required for manufacturers to create a customized footpad, based on the type of shoe desired and the type of sport the user will be playing.
Click HERE to view a slideshow of the eSoles Foot Imaging Kiosk System.
The user's individual measurements are also permanently stored at the eSoles Web site, where the user can access his profile at any time by providing an identifier such as an e-mail address.
Based on this information, the retailer can either construct a footpad using pre-fabricated eSoles templates compatible with the user's measurements ($75), or order completely customized footpads from an eSoles plant ($249).
The entire process can be done with the assistance of a sales associate, or in a completely self-service manner.
Glen Hinshaw, chief executive of eSoles, says he came up with the idea for the kiosk while walking through the airport.
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The eSoles kiosk takes precise measurements so that footpads such as this one can be created to custom-fit the user's foot.
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"We really sought out to effectively do what I was experiencing as a world traveler: to take the concept of a self-service kiosk like we see with boarding passes or at check-in for airlines, and make a scanning device that would aid a consumer through the process of imaging their feet," Hinshaw said.
The kiosk chassis is manufactured by Olea Inc., a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association. Frank Olea, vice president of Olea Inc., said it's a project he's particularly proud of.
"This kiosk is by far one of the most innovative projects we've worked on to date," Olea said. "My hat is off to the folks at eSoles and Pressure Profile for creating a system that has really pushed the boundaries of self-service and mass customization. We of course don't want to give away any trade secrets, but the kiosk's unique ability to scan your foot and create a true 3-D image of it is extremely innovative."
Flextronics Self-Service Kiosk Systems, another member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, developed the software for the kiosk, and planning support for large scale deployment.
David Gonsiorowski, general manager of Flextronics, says he's impressed with eSoles' strategy for building the project.
"They have effectively been able to get everyone working collaboratively to create a system poised for growth," he said. "Many times we see projects where providers are working in silos so information and technology sharing is limited."
Installation No. 1
Palter says that, as president of a bicycle retailer, he was drawn to the kiosks immediately when he saw them exhibited in Las Vegas at the Interbike 2007 cycling industry trade show. When he and Hinshaw subsequently met, Hinshaw explained that the initial rollout would include one kiosk in every major market.
"I wanted the one in Boston," Palter said. "It's going to attract customers that don't even know about us."
That vision was realized on Sunday, when the first kiosk was deployed at Palter's store. He says the "wow factor" alone is already attracting attention, with customers mesmerized, particularly with the technology of the 3-D imaging system.
"Getting it up and running was super-easy," he said, adding that the installation and power-up took only minutes.
He said the scanning process is simpler than expected, and that although he originally planned on having sales associates assist the user in operating the machines, that may not be necessary.
"It's exceptionally easy," he said. "It's so easy you could literally self-serve."
Tuesday, 03 March 2009
The eSoles Foot Imaging Kiosk System was created by Scottsdale, Ariz.-based eSoles Inc. to take precise measurements of the user's foot so that custom orthotic footpads can be created. It has already been deployed at The Cycle Loft, a bicycle retailer in Boston, and there are plans to roll it out at additional locations in the future. The solution was developed with the help of Self-Service & Kiosk Association members Olea Inc. and Flextronics Self-Service Kiosk Systems.
Click here to view a slideshow of the kiosk.
Tuesday, 03 March 2009
Cnet: Microsoft has announced plans to bring its Surface computer product to 12 overseas markets. Those markets include Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Qatar, Spain, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, and the U.K. Surface is currently distributed in the U.S. and Canada. "Since our initial launch of Microsoft Surface, we've received an overwhelming response from companies worldwide that are looking for innovative ways to engage with their customers and developers who want to create applications that were not possible with other technologies," said Panos Panay, general manager of Microsoft's Surface product line.
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Tuesday, 03 March 2009
Convenience Store Decisions: R3 Omni and NCR Corp., a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, have joined forces to enable sports fans to purcase merchandise from the NFL, MLB, NASCAR and U.S. Olympics and Colleges via self-service kiosks. The R3 Omni applications, which run on NCR SelfServ 60 hardware, allow consumers to browse a vast selection of products, choosing the ones they want, purchase them and specify how they would like the products to be delivered.
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Tuesday, 03 March 2009
NATICK, Mass. -- VDC Research Group, a consulting firm that studies the self-service industry, and a member of the Self-Service & Kiosk Association, has released a report that provides detailed global forecasts for retail-based kiosk solutions.
According to a news release, "Volume 11: Retail Based Kiosks" sheds light on how the global economic crisis is affecting self-service in the retail space. Retailers are finding themselves under increased pressure to cut costs, improve operational efficiencies and enhance the customer experience. These objectives are consistent with the benefits provided by self-service solutions, which are fast becoming a center of convergence for transaction automation, branding and customer support.
In 2007, the global market for retail-based kiosks approached $525 million, according to the release. VDC anticipates that revenue shipments for retail-based kiosks will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 9.0 percent, approaching $800 million by 2012.
"Although the current economic climate is delaying investment in self-service technologies, the global markets for these solutions are expected to continue to grow in direct response to rising customer comfort levels, clearly defined value propositions and proven ROI metrics," said Rory Gardner, transaction automation analyst for VDC Research Group. "These self-service solutions are a necessary component to any enterprise's customer interaction program, and are viewed as robust and expandable platforms on which an interprise will extend their self-service capabilities."
Monday, 02 March 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — After a six-month research project that involved the surveying of some 1,600 ATM and financial executives from throughout the world, ATM Marketplace and the ATM Industry Association have announced plans to release the findings of their research next month.
In this five-year ATM and financial industry outlook, titled "ATM Future Trends 2009," ATM Marketplace, an industry Web site dedicated to news and information about the financial self-service market, and ATMIA have included in-depth analysis of the survey results as well as industry perspectives from nearly 20 revered industry executives. Those industry experts include Debbie Bianucci, the president and chief executive of Chicago-based Banking Administration Institute; Bill Nuti, the president and CEO of NCR Corp., the world's largest ATM manufacturer; Aravinda Korala, the founder and CEO of KAL, one of the world's largest third-party providers of multivendor ATM software; Eckard Heidloff, the president and CEO of Germany-based Wincor Nixdorf AG; and many more.
The 120-page report offers statistics and graphs that highlight growth and financial-services trends in developing and developed markets covering the next five years.
The report also includes a section dedicated to the use of cash today and into the future. Based on the findings of ATMIA CEO Mike Lee, this cash-specific survey offers a one-of-a-kind look at cash from a futurist's perspective. ATM Marketplace and ATMIA launched a white paper in the fall that highlights some of the overarching themes of the cash survey, but only the full Future Trends report contains the survey's full findings.
Tom Harper, the publisher of ATM Marketplace, said the report is one of the most in-depth ATM future-trends studies to hit the market.
As a bonus, ATM Marketplace has included with each purchase of the Future Trends report a copy of the Future Trends presentation it hosted during the annual ATMIA U.S. conference in February. The video presentation includes a panel discussion with executives from BAI, KAL and Wincor Nixdorf and is moderated by ATM Marketplace editor Tracy Kitten.
Monday, 02 March 2009
ESSEN, Germany — More than 150 international companies have already confirmed that they will be exhibiting at the Kiosk Europe Expo 2009 and Digital Signage Expo 2009, the world's largest tradeshow for self-service solutions and Europe's largest tradeshow for digital signage. After last year's success, both events will again be taking place under one roof. Halls 1 and 2 at Messe Essen will open their doors to industry professionals from May 5-7.
Kiosk Europe Expo 2009 and Digital Signage Expo 2009 offer visitors the opportunity to find out more about both self-service solutions and digital signage during a single trade show visit. At this cross-sectoral meeting of experts, exhibitors show how retailers, banks, tourism and transportation companies, as well as users from other industries, can communicate cost-effectively with their customers about current content.
"The consumer with his need for information and orientation and his demand for transactions is always at the center of the various applications," said Jens Schindler, managing director of the organizer, hf media & events. "Digital signage and self-service thus offer tremendous potential for value creation for anyone wishing to communicate with a wide range of customers. It is possible to meet the needs of different target groups and even to address customers individually."
Both suppliers of complete solutions and niche suppliers demonstrate their latest solutions and products in the field of self-service and digital signage. Experts in strategic communication and marketing introduce their concepts for successfully integrating the projects into the user's communication mix. Specialists in monitors, content management and network technology demonstrate innovative solutions. Suppliers of touch sensors, ticket printers and applications for payment processes in cash, by card, mobile phone or simply by fingerprint are expected for the technical realization of the interaction at the kiosk solutions.
Sponsors of the two trade shows are Friendlyway, Hughes, Impuls TV, Provisio, Star Micronics and Werkstation. The list of high-profile exhibitors includes 42 media group, Deutsche Telekom, Epson, Hyundai, IBM, Narcomm, NEC, Oki, Scala, Seen Media, Sharp, Videro and Wincor Nixdorf.
To pre-register please visit www.kioskeurope-expo.com or www.digitalsignageexpo.eu.
Monday, 02 March 2009
BRADENTON, Fla. -- SteriLyfe, a provider of hand sanitizing kiosks, has unveiled its new SteriStation kiosk model.
According to a news release, the new SteriStation is the only hand sanitizing kiosk in the world that combines a deck-mount, touch-free sanitizing dispenser with interchangeable or permanent graphic panels and digital signage.
"SteriStation combines unsurpassed beauty and practical functionality that will help in the fight against the spread of nosocomial infections and disease in all public places," said David J. Stob, president of SteriLyfe. "The SteriStation kiosks will have plenty of advertising space for custom signage and graphics."
The kiosks can be equipped with other accessories including coupon dispensers, brochure holders, business card dispensers and menu boards.
Monday, 02 March 2009
MediaPost News: New kiosks will empower girls in their tweens to design their own clothing. Deployed by Fashionology, a retail store which opened in Beverly Hills, Calif. in 2008, the computer kiosks are equipped with 42-inch touchscreens. Youngster can use the kiosks to create clothing with a variety of themes, including pop, rock, Malibu, juku and peace. These themes are used to decorate shirts, t-shirts or hoodies. The same application is available online at the store's Web site.
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Monday, 02 March 2009
Springfield (Ill.) News-Sun: The Clark County Jail in Springfield, Ill. has deployed an ATM-style kiosk to accept deposits into inmate accounts. The kiosk will eliminate the need for cash to change hands at the jail. "Before, deputies had to take the money, record it, write a receipt," said Clark County Sheriff Gene Kelly. He said the move will save at least 20 man hours a week and will be more convenient for users.
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Monday, 02 March 2009
BUENA PARK, Calif. -- Noritsu America Corp., a provider of digital imaging solutions, has unveiled the new CT-RS photo kiosk, according to a news release.
The kiosk will be showcased at Noritsu's Booth F155 at the PMA International Convention and Tradeshow in Las Vegas, March 3-5.
PMA is a professional trade association that helps the worldwide photo imaging community adapt to new technologies.
According to the news release, the Noritsu CT-RS photo kiosk is a consumer input self-service terminal that is designed for retail environments. It is equipped with a new media reader that accepts a wide range of input media and delivers processing speeds three times as fast as previous Noritsu models. It includes a built-in receipt printer and is available in a countertop configuration, or as a standalone photo printing system that supports multiple internal photo printers. The kiosk also accepts raw image files directly from digital cameras.
"Noritsu's extensive history of industry innovation and award-winning products has long allowed retailers to offer consumers a wide range of value-added photo merchandise that provides a convenient and satisfying way to preserve their memories," said Akihiko Kuwabara, president of Noritsu America Corp. "The D703, D502, CT-RS and EZ System Manager continue this tradition by ensuring top performance, simplicity and flexibility that directly translates into greater revenue opportunities for the retailer."
Monday, 02 March 2009
MSNBC: Noritsu America Corp., a provider of digital imaging solutions, has announced its intention to purchase Lucidiom Inc., a provider of self-service retail photo kiosks and online services. According to a press release, the acquisition would position Noritsu to develop a strong in-store and Web-based presence for retail photo delivery and consumer-driven creative photo products and services. "The acquisition is an important step forward in our vision to provide the retail industry a compelling single source photo solution," said Akihiko Kuwabara, president of Noritsu America Corp.
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