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Design
The design, or form factor, of a kiosk is extremely
critical to the success or failure of a project.
In other words, a kiosk should look attractive--inviting
and friendly--to the people who are going to
use it, and it should embody a positive expression
of the image that the company or institution
wishes to project, including its brand identity
and service levels.
Differences in appearance can result in use
rates ranging from 15% to 70%, with all other
factors being equal. For this reason The Kiosk
Factory fine-tunes the design of every kiosk
to suit the precise application for which it
is intended and styles it to reflect the client's
image. For instance, several of our designs
are anthropomorphic (resembling a living being),
which provides a sense of familiarity to the
user; others, like the “Fast Lane”
ticketing kiosks, are more functional in design.
Upgradeability
“The only certainty is change”;
nowhere is this idea more true than in the field
of computers and electronics. Applied to the
design of kiosks, this means that the components
used in a kiosk will likely become obsolete
within a few years, if not months.
Because the cost of development, deployment
and installation for a kiosk program is far
greater than the PC, touch screen or card reader
contained within it, The Kiosk Factory employs
a modular approach to component integration
in all of its kiosk designs. All of our kiosks
feature ample internal space ensuring continued
downstream compatibility. This guarantees that
the owner can take advantage of improvements
in component performance and keep the kiosk
relevant and competitive. Considerations can
include:
- The space around each component should
be adequate to permit a dimensional change,
and the mounting should be readily modifiable
and not permanently affixed (i.e. welded)
to the housing.
- Panel PCs, board mounted PC's and other
ultra-compact components should not be used
unless space is at a premium, as in the case
of counter-top systems.
- Standard tower case PCs are ideal, as network
cards and media can be readily swapped or
added in the field.
- The bezel surrounding any device should
be a replaceable component.
Durability and materials
If a kiosk is well conceived and there is a
good business case for it, then deploying a
housing that will suffer rapid deterioration
under field conditions unfairly compromises
it. Since kiosks by definition are unattended,
anything that can reduce rates of mean time
between failures and extend the time between
the reloading of consumables will also reduce
operating costs. All of our kiosks are designed
and built for installation in high traffic,
institutional and/or public environments such
as theatres, entertainment complexes, universities,
malls and airports; they conform to the norms
of architectural metal and millwork fabrication
and are intended for the high traffic use our
clients expect.
Because we specialize in high quality kiosks
and POS housings, we avoid the use of particleboard,
plywood, laminates and knock-in mouldings. Typically,
our hardware and structures are industrial-grade
and made of welded steel, aluminum, stainless
steel, solid surfacing materials, and, where
appropriate, fiberglass or vacuum moulding.
We select materials for their aesthetic quality
and durability, and their ability to withstand
regular use and to resist impacts from strollers,
deliberate acts of vandalism, cleaning equipment
and harsh cleansers.
Regulatory compliance and kiosk standardization
A design concept may require a kiosk to be freestanding,
wall mounted, or located inside a niche, with
the result that issues of loading, mounting,
durability and maintenance access must all be
considered. This means that we operate on the
basis of the principle that a kiosk should be
designed and built to conform to the maximum
standards likely to be encountered. This practice
ensures that higher cost customized units will
not be required to comply with local ordinances.
Additionally, we have found that the incorporation
of specifications such as those of the American
Disabilities Association increase a unit’s
functionality overall, contributing to more
rapid throughput for all clients alike and decreasing
operating costs. Likewise, earthquake resistant
construction implies floor bolting, which is
also an effective anti-theft and child safety
measure, making it advisable in all circumstances.
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