Kiosks and self service

HBO Goes to the muesums with its movies by kiosks

2010-03-25T16:11:00.002+02:00

The new 10 part mini series Pacific, which launches on March 14th on HBO the executives have come up with a inspired way to create interest for the show, by deploying into 16 muesums kiosks which allow users to record a free 30 sec kiosk blog or video record and these video blogs are meant to pay tribute to US army and service men and according to the report published on Mediapost the video journals will be emailed to servicemen indiscrimnately as a means of paying tribute and homeage.

Antigua Ministry welcomes kiosk technology

2010-03-25T15:59:00.002+02:00

It is obviously a big event when you can call on a government minister to inaugurate a new kiosk service, it seems the small island of Antigua has had the pleasure of American Airlines being the first airline company to deploy 4 machines for self service kiosk check in at the local airport, i guess on such small communities good news travels quickly.

DVD Retailers sue DVD Machine Owners

2010-03-25T15:45:00.002+02:00

This story is exactly depicts the problems the stone and mortar DVD rental shops are going thru, according to the report int he Homemediamagazine the DVD retailers are now threatening legal action against owners of DVD kiosks in Inidiania as it seems state legislature forbids the rental to minors, and as kiosks are unattended it leaves oppurtunities open to minors renting adult material without consent.

Barclays spearheads UK contactless payment market rollout

2010-03-21T22:23:00.004+02:00

Barclays, one of the leading UK banking establishments is pushing more into new markets with contactless payments, the technology used for low value payments although apparently according to Marketing News UK who carried this story Barclays have increased the maximum value purchase from 10 pounds to 15 pounds, Barclays has apparently re issued over 2 million debit cards and 4 million credit cards.
The head of debit cards at Barclays Brian Cunningham commented as follows “Contactless technology is undoubtedly the future of payments and we are seeing it grow hugely in popularity. More than two years after the first customers were issued with contactless cards it is the right time for the industry limit to increase to £15, in line with demand from consumers and retailers alike. The new higher limit gives customers the flexibility of paying for even more transactions quickly, securely and conveniently via a contactless card payment and will lead to more retailers implementing the technology.” We shall see undoubtly more of these cashless type of payments increase as market trends become more that the customer uses plastic than cash to pay for services, be it small value or high cost.

IPhone Payment Terminals

2010-03-21T22:10:00.002+02:00

Information Week are running an article in ref to iPhone cashless payment, a company named Square has launched a smart card tool which apparently plugs into the audio port of the iPHONE to create an instant remote payment device using the iPHONE phone as the mans to connect and secure a payment, ideal as it goes on to explain for small merchants which may be on the move or have connectivity problems, a drawback apparently is the cirka 3.0 - 3.5% comission fee that square charges for the service, but i can see several practical solutions in the marketplace, but then i guess so could Square investors.
On a side note apparently the concept and idea was the brainchild of two individuals, named as the co founder of twitter Tom Dorsey and Johm McKinley

Hypercom slowly monopolizing Germany cashless payment sector

2010-03-21T22:01:00.002+02:00

In online article printed online at TMC website explains that Hypercom is expanding its range of cashless payment terminals which are certified for use in the local German market, the apparent rise of unattended payment solutions is raising the need for certification before products are launched into retail space, and Hypercom certainly seem to be the dominant leader in Germany for unattended payments.

Protecting ones interest from the competition

2010-03-07T12:15:00.004+02:00

One of the biggest challenges that many small companies face is protecting there IP or also called intellectual property. KT Group which is managed and partly owned by myself, is just one such company who began its roots back in 2005 with the idea of designing aesthetical and high end kiosk designs, to be massly distributed globally via a network of resellers. Since those early days we have managed to design a string of unique kiosk terminals, and in 2008 we brought in a professionally qualified industrial kiosk designer into are company, the new products featured from Jerry Schweikart were innovative and exciting, and slowly more interest grew for KT range of terminals.

I have thru my connections continuously checked on the market and competition, i am great believer in using other peoples ideas to stage and develop my own new product launches, in which i allow myself inspiration to further the companies expansion into product development. But via sifting thru my hot links i also notice other less scruplous firms which instead of resourcing there own finances or minds, just simply try to rip off others by taking and using there IP for commercial purposes to further there own greed. It is extremely difficult to that end to police and monitor this, and exhaustively financially near impossible for a small firm to take legal precedence against the culprits, as many of these firms are located in market territories such as India and China were taking legal action is near impossible unless you have bags of funds and precious time as means of resources to fulfill years worth of litigation and court proceedings, and to which avail.

But just recently a new type of cyber crook emerged, one who is more cunning and devious in the shape and form of rogue partners or resellers. We signed up a firm back in late 2008 who were based in the east coast of the States, a firm who is owned and managed by one individual, in many cases a one man band. But we enjoyed the personal touch of the relationship and we felt that business was growing, but after twelve months into a relationship we find out that the authorised reseller had been taking our IP kiosk designs, and sourcing 3rd party production elsewhere and even though he hadnt been up front to tell about his dealings, but we found this out via one of are employees when confronted he didnt deny the fact, and when he asked to stop he insisted he had every right to take on the role of kiosk manufacturer simply because we as a firm werent able to deliver on schedules which he set with his clients.
In looking at the written legal parameters set out in are contract, we find that we stand in a strong position to take legal action to stop his callous actions but at what cost is again the question. Trying to steer and set a course or pathway to success has many diverse obstacles one must face, it can come in several disguises to bring economic ruin but legal actions and precendences is both timely, extremely costly and the worst side is the culprit knows it and exploits it to his full use.

So if there is a moral to the story, even if your path looks bright, be wary especially for those of you who feel you have something to offer unlike others as there will always be others who will use methods of cheating, intellectual property rape to further there own growth, I for example have a firm policy of not buying copy reproduced products for my own personal use as my morals are if I allow myself that pleasure, then were will it stop! I am not a die hardliner either on the matter, but i have seen too many firms who simply directly took over an existing idea or just copied a product to add value, i personally can take solence in that we as a company are taking the fight or stand on this occasion and bringing legal action against the rogue trader, and we will with great vigour protect are product rights as those which exist to our company.

So be wary and never accept a reproduction, it is neither an original nor is right to economic subsidize an industry which steals others ideas for there own gain.

World Wide Web Anniversary

2010-03-07T11:56:00.003+02:00

Its has now past 12 months since my last blog, how time flies and even more scary how one forgets ones pet projetcs, my blog was started as a light hearted site bringing quirky, interesting and side line stories from the world of self service kiosks of which my company is one of many vendors out there who are part of a industry which allows users to interact with machines.

But my first blog of 2010 isnt about kiosks or self service, but more a commendation to a man who had a vision and brought that too life some near 21 years ago, Sir Tim Berners-Lee is one of the driving sources behind why us who use and surf the web are able to find the information requests we so readily through to Google and other search portals each day in the millions. Sir Tim and respectfully he was awarded a knighthood for his work, and deservidly so as where would many of us be without having online access to our favourite social websites, corporate sites and are friendly search portals to find that next product A. Sir Tim developed the original coding language HMTL and this in turn was used to easily label and source or find sites with relevance to are search requests as the details were in the search string labels of each URL which forms part of HTML coding.

My awareness this was brought to my attention, NO not via the web but via another source of media information, the television while watching the BBC World Service do a piece about the internet, and of course one of the core subject areas was the historical part. What was interesting to learn was how Sir Tim designed and developed the protocol, but it pure unequivocal fashion decided that the source coding he developed should be made FREE to use, unlike the giants of Microsoft or Adobe, this person decided the web and its foundations should be made Free for all, think alternatively if he had charged us would we be so advanced in website technology as we are today, think the flip side of what would that mean if Microsoft offered there products or source code to others to freely redesign and develop into something which is better. Does make you wonder, and over 20 years later I am sure we can all pay tribute to Sir Tim for his generousity and pioneering work which provided us the bases for me to write this blog and for you the reader to have found it.

New payment options increase efficiency

2009-01-15T09:10:00.002+02:00

There is a growing market for interactive kiosks at restaurants and diners, all kinds of companies coming forth especially in the US who specialize in the concept of providing digital platforms next to your plate of cheeseburgers and fries, has anyone ever tried to eat a burger will in midst of fighting the universe from small alien aircraft, Scary thought

To read more on these trends follow the link

ATM: Nigerians Warned against Fraudulent e-mail

2009-01-15T09:03:00.002+02:00

The story concerns one of the main payment transactions houses in Nigeria who process all POS and ATM payments in Nigeria, i thought it comical (of course not for those who have been affected by such scams) that we all have received many mails which originate from Nigeria claiming all kinds of fraudulent schemes, but had any of us considered that these fraudsters also target those in there home country i had certainly not.

To read more on the story concerned follow the link

KT Technology Appoints Jerry Schweickart as its Director of Kiosk Design

2009-01-15T08:55:00.000+02:00

KT Technology Press Release

London, 13 January 2009 – KT Technology is proud to announce an exclusive contract with award-winning kiosk designer Jerry Schweickart.

Mr. Schweickart has an acclaimed background designing kiosks and self-service devices, and his designs have been awarded the prestigious KioskCom Self Service Excellence Award five times. The J. Schweickart Signature Collection for KT will be showcased on the KT website (www.kioskterminals.eu in Europe and www.kioskterminals.us in North America), and will be available exclusively through the KT international network of partners.

Mr. Schweickart’s keen aesthetic makes this collection of designs distinctive while complimenting the KT product range. He incorporates high-end, user-centric design into kiosks and other self-service devices. Managing Director Mr. Kenneth Larsen stated, “We at KT are continuously striving to develop our product range. Jerry brings a refined design language which will strengthen KT for future expansion into new global market sectors.” KT Technology is a full-service kiosk terminal manufacturer with offices strategically placed in Maryland, London, Copenhagen, Istanbul, and Hong Kong. KT produces a range of kiosks for indoor and outdoor use, and has been in operation since 2005. Current clients include General Electric, US Army, Chevron, French State Railways, Saint Gobian, Bose, Danish Tax Authorities, British Metropolitan Police Authorities, Chrysler, Siemens, Greek Tourist Board, and Hotel IBIS. Through its international network of partners and appointed resellers, KT provides a full range of services, including custom design solutions, product sourcing, manufacturing, support, and financing for its global network of customers.

Robot kiosks

2008-11-14T10:50:00.001+02:00

Thouhgt i had to share this with are readers, probably one of the strangest kiosk designs i have ever come across.

to see what i mean follow the Link

China Travel Booking Online Kiosk

2008-10-04T13:46:00.002+02:00

I am sure we are all aware how vast, big and many inhabitants China has, and finally it seems People Republic are breaking into new market ventures. The Tripp Easy kiosk being planned for initial roll outs this year of 600 units are offering passengers to view, book and buy online via kiosks by credit cards trips to domestic destinations.

A great idea, which in time as the market evolves and matures could be a real winner for those entrepreneurs who have made the investment, think about over 1 billion people. few can resist such a temptation.

Printed by Earth times, read more follow link

Medical medicine disposal kiosk

2008-10-04T13:37:00.002+02:00

An innovating idea, to help all of us who have old pharmacteucial perscriptions laying around in our cupboards. the basic idea is to use a kiosk to collect old medications no longer in use so it can be destroyed correctly and not fall into the wrong hands, apparently (be honest i had no idea that this was occuring) but there is allot of over the counter medecine being sold illegally, mostly are old medecines which the patient no longer uses.

To read more follow the link, posted by Gloucestertimes

Wedding donation kiosk

2008-10-04T13:31:00.003+02:00

This is a very short summary new release, but i found it interesting as i hadnt heard of such a concept before, personally think its a great idea, even if it lacks somewhat personalization.
In Isreal someone has had the bonafide idea of placing a kiosk in a weding hall, were guests can go and make an online donation to tha happy couple. It doesnt explain much more but an truly interesting idea.

Posted at Mixx, to read more follow link

Parking fine kiosks for Naples Florida

2008-10-04T13:24:00.003+02:00

As we all have tried, or at least those of us whom have a valid driving license, parking tickets are part of life. We also i am sure know how much bother it can be to sort out the payment of such tickets, endless queus, time off work all bring extra wasted time to our ever busy lives, so when i read of a parking kiosk its with interest that someone has taken the time to lessen our daily lives, a great self service application.

Golden gate residents have been equiped not only with a parking kiosk to allow residents to pay quickly and easily parking or driving infringements, but it is also run by a recycled computer so our local governments are also considering the green element.

A practical good all round solution.

Printed by Naples news, to read more follow link

Australia and New Zealand go Passport kiosk digital

2008-10-04T13:16:00.003+02:00

In an recent article the governments of Australia and New Zealand are one of the first global locations to start implementing digital kiosks as part of the immagration and customs clearing. In an awarded contract to HP for several millions of dollars, the system implement will see the complete rehaul of e-passports being implemented into customs, departures and arrival halls at international airports in Australia, Auckland being one of the first locations on trial.
The system will allow local nationals of Australia and New Zeland to clear leaving departure gates to self serve themselves, and will on arrival make passengers go through self service scanning to reciprocate and finalize arrivals, including in the system customs at local port of arrival will automatically be notified of there check in and forthcoming arrival.
Will this mean the greater step towards big brother, and all eyes on us.

Printed by Stuff to read more click here Link

Indian Tourism goes digital

2008-07-15T23:00:00.002+03:00

It seems that the Indian government are planning to roll out pilots soon of information kiosks for tourists visiting major tourist sites, transportation facilities, other districts which attract tourist, quirkly enough the article mentions one of the reasons being the tour guides seem to hassle the tourists, when they want information provided for extra payments.

The first such kiosks will be installed in region of Rajasthan, a popular area for tourists.

To read more follow the link

Source Times of India

Delta heads up campaign against US exit kiosks

2008-07-15T22:53:00.002+03:00

It seems that Delta airlines are lobbying the ATA unions to lobby against a proposed exit kiosk, which the US givernment are requesting the airlines should manage, the propsed plan to install self service kiosks in international departure halls will require foreign nationals to register photos and finger prints onto a kiosk database which would then be transfered to HMS department, for verification within 24 hours of the passenger leaving the US to ascertain on whether they would be considered a risk, based on data received and compared too from there entry, no such service currently exists, but trials although popular with Department of Homeland security it seems isnt popular with such airlines as Delta due to the enormous cost factor (in the billions according to sources) and the inconveniance it would cause for delays to checkin facilities.

Read more follow the link

Source Mlive

Banks are too chipper about pin fraud

2008-04-08T20:38:00.003+02:00

The following article was printer in the Telegraph newspaper, it specific too kiosks, but i thought that it was an extremely interesting article which highlights the abundance of fraud that still occurs even using chip and pin systems, and how easy it is for unscrupluous types to get access to the magic 4 pin number most of us carry around in our minds thinking its safely stored with us alone, and OH how wrong can we be. But it also touches on a second problem which is dealing with compensation from the banking world, so a good insight and possible something worth bookmarking if you are ever in that unfortunate situation.

The following transcript read as follows -

Fresh doubts have been cast over the security of chip-and-pin cards after research by a Cambridge academic proved criminals can hack into terminals and retrieve account and personal identity numbers with ease.

Stay pin-sharp: chip-and-pin chip technology is not necessarily failsafe
Professor Ross Anderson, a specialist security engineer, claims this data is then exploited by fraudsters to clone cards which are used to withdraw cash overseas, or run up big bills. It is all very worrying for customers.
More worrying still is the attitude of some banks. Stuart Cliff of the National Association of Bank Customers, says: "Phantom withdrawals from consumers accounts have not gone away since the introduction of chip-and-pin, but now a bank's typical response might be: 'Chip-and pin technology is failsafe. If money has disappeared, it must be your fault'."
Eddie Wetherill, of the Independent Bank Advisory Service, adds: "The banks have passed the buck, leaving customers to pick up the tab for the £427m annual fraud bill."
So what is the truth about the security of our cards, and if you become a victim of phantom transactions what can you do?

In reality, customers are in an extremely strong position, with almost all rights on their side. Banks are perfectly well aware that fraud exists, so don't be fobbed off by fatuous assertions to the contrary. Cases of shoulder surfing, where someone watches you tapping in your pin and then "borrows" the card are well-documented. So are instances where the data is copied and used to produce "cloned" magnetic stripe cards. However, cloned cards can only be used abroad, and the banks don't accept the "chip" technology has been compromised.
Sandra Quinn, a spokeswoman for Apacs, says: "Of course we accept that card fraud can happen. No system is foolproof. But we are not aware that the chips themselves have yet been breached."

However, Cliffe is not so sure. He says: "The problem is we just don't know. The banks hold all the information, and they won't divulge it even to their own customers."
To an extent all this is an irrelevance, because the Banking Code clearly states if someone else uses your card details without your permission, you will not have to pay anything and should receive an immediate refund. If you no longer have the card, but report it lost or stolen, in theory you can be liable up to a maximum £50 for losses incurred before you notified the bank. However, most banks waive this. You are only liable if you have acted fraudulently or negligently.
This is the hook the banks try to wriggle you on if you report unauthorised transactions. But again they are contravening their own code in doing so.
Under the code, the entire onus rests with the bank to provide proof of a customers' negligence or collusion. Quinn says: "This effectively means the bank has to produce evidence that you wrote the pin number down and kept it with the card. If it can't do that, then it must pay up."
However, there is a further menacing clause in the code, which requires customers to co-operate with any investigation launched by the bank or the police following their complaint.
Wetherill says: "People are frightened of reporting a fraud in case they find themselves being marched off to the police station."
Quinn dismisses any such suggestion. ""There is no question of banks asking police to investigate their customers. There may be instances where police for their own reasons decide a case should be investigated further, but that is up to them. As far as we are concerned, it is simply a case of changing the way crime numbers are recorded."
The Consumer Credit Act offers further safeguards where credit cards are compromised, or a debit card where an account is in overdraft. In such cases, even if the bank can prove that you were negligent, because, for example, they find the card with the pin written on the back, the bank must refund any loss over £50. The Financial Ombudsman Service says that provided you didn't authorise the transaction, the banks must reimburse you for losses above £50, whatever the circumstances"
However, there is one glaring flaw from the consumers' perspective to all this "protection", and that is timescale. Neither the Banking Code nor the Consumer Credit Act stipulates the timetable by which the complaint must be resolved and customers compensated. This can cause great annoyance.
Cliffe says: "We see customers fobbed off and pushed from pillar to post. The whole thing drags on and on."
If customers are not satisfied within eight weeks, they can refer their complaint to the FOS, although consumer groups have accused the ombudsman of "swallowing" the banks' line.
Wetherill says: "You are wasting your time going to the Financial Ombudsman. We are not at all happy with the way these cases have been treated. It does not carry out a full forensic investigation, and simply accepts the banks reassurances."
The FOS vehemently rejects these allegations: "We have heard this criticism before, but we look at each case individually. It is true there are some very difficult cases where we have to balance both sides of the story, but consumers always get a fair hearing," says a spokeswoman.
Pin them down
1. Immediately you spot a suspicious transaction report it to your bank making a note of the date, time and operator you speak to.
2. Demand your account is immediately reimbursed. Do not be fobbed off with assertions that chip-and-pin is fraud-proof.
3. Do not be intimidated with allegations that your friends, family or someone close must be responsible.
4. Quote section 12:12 of the Banking Code, and refer to the accompanying guidance notes. Demand immediate recompense or proof of your negligence or collusion
5. Also quote the Consumer Credit Act, if a credit card or overdraft involved.
6. If you can’t get satisfaction, demand the complaint be immediately expedited to a higher level, and request a timetable for resolution.
7. After eight weeks complain to the Financial Ombudsman Service www.financialombudsman.org.uk
CASE STUDIES
Fraud Victim One An account holder complained to the ombudsman after typing in his pin and then trying unsuccessfully, to withdraw cash from the machine outside his branch, which swallowed the card. He went inside to report the problem. While inside, two £300 withdrawals were made from his account at other banks in the shopping mall. The bank agreed to refund the second withdrawal but said he had been negligent over the first and refused to pay up.
The Ombudsman concluded he had been a victim of the Lebanese loop scam where the card is swallowed after the criminal has watched the customer tap in the pin. It ordered the bank pay £100 for distress on top of the £600 stolen.
Fraud Victim Two Every Friday, an 80-year-old widow withdrew £50 from the cash machine outside her local bank branch. On one occasion, a smartly dressed middle-aged man warned her it had ‘eaten' his card, and advised her to cancel her transaction.
Her card too was eaten, whereupon he suggested she go into the branch and report the loss. Within 15 minutes, two withdrawals of £250 each were made from her account. The bank refused to pay up saying she had been negligent. The Ombudsman ordered full recompense plus £250 compensation for worry

Author Teresa Hunter
Source The Daily Telegraph

In and outs of sourcing direct from Asia

2008-04-01T14:28:00.003+02:00

KT Technology has up till recently manufactured and worked in China in conjunction with OEM factories to produce the range of kiosks we offer now we have been able to take the next step to source and open our own plant, obviously from a cost factor it is certainly extremely attractive to do so, but as we learned earlier on, and compounded by working with clients who come to us after a dismal experience in China in which they pay cheap and in return receive inferior quality it should be noted that unless your willing to invest into many man hours of communication, travel expenses and long trips backwards and forwards, finally that your company has a solid background in experience and in-depth knowledge required it isn’t a direction we recommend.

China has become the melting pot for worldwide production of all types of goods, from electronics to toys, you can quite literally source anything in the vast countryside which represents the People’s Republic, and this includes several factories who claim to have qualified staff to produce A1 standards, the fact is far from true. There are several pointers to consider in working with a local Chinese manufacturer, and here are some of the more important factors that one should seriously consider before deciding on actively pursuing such a venture successfully or alternatively whether it should be left to those who not only have the experience within kiosk manufacturing, knowledge of working with Chinese factories and the expertise in product development.

A) Raw Product – many firms who purchase standard manufactured kiosks, or whom seek a manufacturing partner to produce a terminal from drawings provided, will inadvertely realize that the aspect of quality assurances are not assumed by many Chinese factories when they physically produce goods, be it poor grade raw materials, incorrect types of materials used to manufacturer, but also such problematic as the right choice of powder coat paint finish, or simply that heights and dimensions are not adhered too as per the specifications.

B) Electronics – with emphasis of components for kiosks, today in China one can source electronics for a fraction of the cost you would pay in most other global regions of the world but allot of it is cheap and poor in quality, such items as touch panels is a extremely good example as we see more firms entering the market to produce touch panels as technology has now been recopied by untold firms that there are many who claim they have a high grade touch panel, but in truth it’s a poor knock off which cannot be used correctly or isn’t stabilised for long life. There are many other standard device components which may not be as physically demanding as a touch panel, but one area which is just as important to be extremely wary of is payment section. In China the certification process for approvals for example with pin pads or coin accepters is literally zero, with European banking regulations expectations for certifications before they will consider the use of pin pads and card readers many inexperienced users simply get burned because they haven’t researched well enough into the matter, and expect that any pin pad or card reader can be utilized, invariably they receive a product which either cannot be approved or simply costs more then if they had originally chosen one of the manufactures who have specialized in manufacturing units to the correct specifications.

C) Communications – in most cases communications is dealt by email, there is still a large percentage of Chinese whose foreign language skills are not on par so that an oral conversation is on a professional level required to fully understand each other. I have seen or heard directly or via colleagues of how one thing may be completely construed to mean something else to the receiving party. It requires allot of due diligence and dozens of man hours to complete one project if it is to be successful, at many factories in China the managements mentality is simply that the staff are to approve or simply say YES to everything or anything when working with clients, and we have come to understand that one has to understand that factor fully to be able to manage the project on hand, otherwise the inexperienced or those who are not aware of this quickly find out that either they receive a product which is unusable or simply not what they had ordered.

D) Building Partnerships – a important factor which several never considered is the importance of building business relations with your counter parts, China today is by all means plastered with lead generation for those wanting to save and source from cheap manufacturing and low cost wages, but what they do not pick up on is the fact that many factories today are simply quite ignorant to customers requests, it may sound surprising but the mentality for them is that unless the customer is such a well known brand or high profile customer there expectations are that simply non serviced minded towards customers. The factor that weighs heavily is consistency, corporation and that can include on a level of simply being diplomatic towards crisis or situations that arise, showing respect and not losing face in Chinese society cannot be weighed upon to heavily, and it is imperative that one shows this in ones demeanour and actions when working with your counterpart in China.

E) Intellectual Property – Many firms have realized that there are certain regions in the world today in which unless you have a worldwide copyright, and design registered product that invariably these countries will directly copy goods of other well known producers, it certainly happens in other industries, but it also happens in the kiosk industry and its rife. Couple this with the factor that if you provide your own design to an unscrupulous factory, they will consider without fear of repercussions to produce the goods and sell them onto your competitor, and the IP holders will never even realize it until they come across it and by then it will have been too late.

F) Legalities issues – China is in so many ways foreign to us, that invariably most jump in and gleam with delight when they see the price, they walk in without considering the above or maybe even they do consider some of the above points but not all, and when they are left stranded, there is by then both spent time of product manufacturing, hours invested and finances spent and in most cases even if they feel that if they were to seek compensation in there own country of domicile they can right off trying to bring there counterpart to court or have there financial investment returned in China as the countries infrastructure to do so is setup in which us foreigner do not comprehend or simply do not know.

G) Maintenance and Support – requires careful planning, a internal setup within the firm to deal with returns and how internationally that works, logistics. I still amazed at how many firms neither consider the element of support and service, nor simply think that it’s a process which is not difficult to tackle, it should be dealt or spoken of very earlier on in the relationship if one is not to be disappointed.

Now certainly there is without a doubt several firms in all types of industry who work as ethical partners in China, or provide excellent quality standards, and those I am confident in saying there are many firms but even when you find a solid manufacturing partner you will still require in-depth details to product development, solid skills in business negotiating, language capabilities, invest allot of time in working with your partner and in most cases it is also a extremely solid idea to have or source local representation who can be near to ground zero if and when a visit at short notice is required.

So the recommendation to many is that unless your firm has the necessary back up, experience, knowledge and simply put man hours and financial investment to invest into dealing with local Chinese manufacturing and product sourcing then leave it to those who have professional knowledge and experience to deal with a product which is in many ways is quite technical complicated.

Viking Visions

2008-03-29T12:08:00.001+02:00

I decided to continue my splurge into kiosk design, with a more focussed story line on my home country and national heritage, Danish Design. Denmark has for many years been a recognised leader in crafting and sculpting designs which have become world renowned, especially well recognised within architecture and furniture designs with such heavy weight names as Arne Jacobsen and Poul Henningson just a tip of an iceberg of national and international near celebrity status of well renowned Danish designers.But as we are focussed on self service and kiosks, how does that play into my subject, the fact of the matter is that probably not many readers will know that some of the most innovative and forward thinking kiosk designs, actually originated from Denmark. The country by land mass and population size is small in comparison to other European nations, but if you look carefully, there has been a growing cottage industry of kiosk designers and companies who have produced extremely eye catching designs and formidable innovation within simple enclosure structures. One of the first pioneers of the kiosk industry and designs of kiosks in Europe, was a small but innovative company, owned and managed by Mr. Ole Meyer First Impressions designed and developed a striking kiosk all the way back in 199X the FI-301 designed by another Danish industrial designer by the name of Claus Jensen, the FI-301 was far ahead of most other kiosk products of its time and was for at least many years to come considered one of the most striking kiosk designs ever to be launched, the untimely demise of First Impressions in 2007 when AM Productions bought out the remaining share holders of First Impressions, primarily there interest in doing so lay in getting hold of the rights to the classic FI-301 design. But not only First Impressions but a host of other companies have played a inspiring role to making Danish Kiosk Design world famous, other companies who still either presently still exist and a few unfortunate companies who no longer exist have also inspired a industry, a few examples our such names as Dreamvisions, Ceboline, Ipos which all no longer our in circulation but have all designed extremely well crafted looking kiosk machines and innovative in there own rights, so much so that you can see examples today of similar looking designs which were inspired by these companies. The problem has been for many of these small firms, that they focus there strategy more on the realization of beauty then the innovation it requires to make a kiosk become a true winner, by this I mean in the example of First Impression the look and feel of the design in the end was also somewhat what assisted to the demise of the company simply put the kiosk didn’t have the necessary infrastructure so that integration of extra components such as printers, payment function were able to be integrated easily and thus the company lost many contracts, another cataclysmic problem was that the FI-301 used a specially integrated motherboard as the size of the physical cabinet was ultra thin it meant that only certain expensive hardware was able to physically fit, thus as when the rest of the industry back at the turn of the century begun installing Pentium 4 processor and standard boxed pc when the small form factor casing launched First Impressions were still battling with a technological donkey if compared to other machines available on the market. One company based in Copenhagen, House of IT who our well renowned as one of the leading self service companies in Scandinavia and most probably the most successful kiosk company in Denmark have known all about Danish designed kiosks, for several years House of IT sold First Impressions, and since late 2003 House if IT have partnered with Rosendahl, another Danish based kiosk manufacturer with a eye for flair and keen sense of design. House of IT our adamant that in there region of Denmark and Scandinavia, were they work together with Norwegian based TS Procon a.k.a internet station that have a predominant position in the Norwegian market as kiosk concept sellers. Both companies spearheaded by Michael Lorentzen from House of IT and whom is one of the early leaders of the kiosk business in Denmark underline in there market strategy the importance of the design aspect for kiosks.
The most typical aspects of Danish design, or I suppose why so many attribute there fondness for its reputation of a innovative nation of creators, is as according to one of the main lecturers at the national centre for design research at Aarhus school of architecture Mr Thomas Dickson comments “because we seem to understand to be able to mix user friendliness and comfortable forms into shapes and materials”, and this can truly also be said about Danish kiosks. Another factor which weighs heavily as well for any firm is the cost factor scenario, and if you ask the Danish Design Centre Director Mr. Christian Scherfig the results according to his comments speak for themselves because according to recent statistics showed that firms which utilized sleek designs into the business factoring tended to increase sales by 250 percent which is a strong economic argument to weigh into the consideration. There is no doubt that certainly design costs, Danish products our certainly not known as the cheapest products on the market, but there innovation, style as well as high grade of manufacturing certainly play into the factor that you our investing into something unique which as shown above from market research will bring your investment back and return you a healthy profit. So next time when you walk past something and look at its form and style think Jaconbsen or for that matter Jensen, and ask yourself does the product exhume style and form you be surprised how many users or consumers would rather interact with a well designed kiosk, then something which looked like it just came out of the Neanderthal age.

parking payment kiosks

2008-03-29T11:48:00.003+02:00

In Collier Circuit Country Court has of Monday last week installed parking kiosks, to allievate the long queus and to provide an alternative method to having to queu at the cashiers desks which typically get jammed up at lunchtime and on Tuesdays when dricving offences are typically dealt with the county clerk decided to install two kiosks to allow people to make payments via a card reader online, since the county court handles approx 80.000 people a year, it seems that it will allow people to quickly pay there parking indiscretions and move on.
Payment kiosks are greatly reducing everyones workload, and helping us as customers to break the montony of having to queu up for such drull tasks as having to pay a parking fine, now it will not take away the service desks but in time i think we shall see more of these types of kiosks being deployed for everyones good.

Source Naples News

For more on the specific article go here

Kiwis kiss airport queus goodbye with passport kiosks

2008-03-29T11:30:00.003+02:00

Certainly not a new phenomenom, but airport terminals seems a very likely spot to place a kiosk, you have masses of people congregating in a small area, just look at the recent articles posted about T5 at Heathrow and with approx 100 check in terminals, we can obviously see the rise of the kiosk, but down under in Australia and NZ the government sponsored initiative has recently launched a service allowing locals to queu bust long lines and pass through customs using proprietory software "Smartgate" to pass through without the hassle of waiting in long queus at passport control.
Expect to see the rise of these machines in the future, popping in other locations i am sure throughout world.

Source Stuff

Link to news article go here

A rather morbid kiosk concept

2008-03-22T22:47:00.003+02:00

The self service industry never seems to stop amazing me, here is a story which caught my attention as a first and it may even be on a worldwide basis a local Michigan funeral home have installed the latest up to date web and kiosk technology, to allow its patrons to sign online guest books, view the final visitation of the deceased and its family even if you live on the other side of the world by using net technology, a $2 million dollars investment has brought this all to fruitition, and it seems to be a growing market.

To read more follow the link

Source MLive

Hardees Largest Franchisee test kiosk concept

2008-03-22T22:37:00.003+02:00

Boddie-Noell are a privately owned business located in Rocky Mountain are the largest franchisee operator of Hardees, they have recently been testing kiosk technology in a pilot test in 3 stores, with 345 restaurants in total the considerable roll out if successful but initial results are very positive according to the management, there seems to be a fast increasing interest for self service now beginning to pick up in both fast food and traditional restaurants allowing patrons to order and pay at terminals with cash or credit cards, and the staff can oversee the food preparation and serving the customers, enriching the experience and allowing more upsales of different plated food.
This is truly a application with a rich and fast growing market segment for kiosks.

To read more on the article follow the link

Source PR-Inside

Kiosk tracks historical heritage

2008-03-22T22:25:00.003+02:00

A small community in Nova Scotia Canada, have installed kiosks to back track and display both stories, and photos of the history of the area, and according to the source its hugely popular, by using new technology we can serve the community in showing there heritage.

To read more follow the link

Source The News

Time for open source vendors to think beyond FREE Software

2008-03-22T22:16:00.004+02:00

Although the article spotlights self service internet, more then it does kiosk self service i read the article with interest, in short the author explains that cost of free software is actually halting the open source community in ways which vendors and developers may not perceive, and in the end damages the long run to stifle its true potential, and i am sure that we can all agree if we sit and think on this for a moment that Microsoft is full aware of why they do so well, and most probably the high scoring executives at Microsoft are cringing each every time they read about open source.
Why is it so wrong or why is out mentality bent on that open source must, cost what it may be Free to users, this to me sounds like it go against all illogic, ask Mr. Trump for something Free and i am sure we will in short tell you to go jum in a lake, or many other industry leaders would probably say the same the common word of Free isnt really something we humans can comprenhend as from a early age we are taught by our parents the importance of currency, money and selling and buying, so wise up open source community and start charging, the funds gained could be used to develop products, train new staff, market effectively etc..

To read more on the article follow the link

Source Entreprise Source Magazine

Malaysia first with passport kiosks

2008-02-23T21:23:00.003+02:00

I guess we all know the dreaded passport renewal, when we have to visit the immagration or municipal police, all depending on which country you live in, but on a worldwide basis i bet there is no one who gets it as quickly as the Malaysians do now. Just 3 hours, not 2,3 or 4 weeks of waiting anymore no sir re bob select the passport renewal kiosk and you are on the fast track to renewal happiness.

I have seen many kiosk applications, but passport renewal is one of those which is mighty when we talk of customer service and speed, just wait the next thing will be visit the income tax kiosk, but thos machines had better be extremely robust i could imagine they will get quite a beating.

to read more on this interesting story please go here

Free ATM's

2008-02-23T21:16:00.001+02:00

Again the largest consumer nation in the world has shown how competition has brought a higher class of service to those consumers who prefer not to pay for a cash withdrawal or card transaction, and we are not talking on a small scale, they already nationwide with 45.000 ATM installed, and is US largest credit union assemble going to break the bank.

Read more here

MAXBOX is back from its near death experience

2008-02-23T20:59:00.004+02:00

As a privately owned business owner i can certainly understand that when a company flops or its investors pulls its traction, that the real individuals behind the company who have spent blood, sweat and probably a good ounce of all that they own into its life blood its nice to hear when a firm bounces back even bigger.

Max Box who was owned and operated by the Felix group decided to close the doors on Max Box back earlier part of this year, when the shares fell through and investors decided to pull the plug, i had heard of this and really felt for the original founder Andy Egan, but it appears they have bounced back, according to the press release Mr. Egan has once again put everything he owned out on a limb and has managed to make sales of fair considerable volume, to start 2000 machines in total a thousand for Ireland and another 1000 for Australia.

It just goes to show that however you look at it, the numbers may have not been there last year, but after Mr. Egan bought the company back from the Adminstrators he can pride himself on that he has also managed to make the rabbit out of the hat trick work for him, and i guess he can walk away feeling fairly smug about it all, and why not.

To read more on this press here

Self service supermarket checkout and daylight robbery

2008-02-05T21:35:00.000+02:00

It was with some interest i bruised through the selfservice.org editiors blog of his encounter with self service check outs in his local supermarket, and in some ways i could see exactly something that would have happened to me.
To read more on his blog story, then follow the link.

But to mention i was in a self service check out last year, here me being a veteran of 7 years in the industry i thought i had better try it out for the first time, it all went seemingly well until i had to pay, i couldnt for the life understand how to pay and i had card ready. The lady behind me started to scold instead of help and in the end i gathered my groceries and shirked off to the cashier line, waited a further 10 minutes and went through in normal circumstances, feeling totally humiliated.

When is self service not service, and as the editior points out how many of us out there our stealing from our local supermarket left and right, apparently to recent survey in the UK 2 million of us have already admitted to doing so.

Wow thats quite a number.

Heathrow airport kiosks get hacked

2008-01-28T19:38:00.000+02:00

Apparently an Italian hacker recently demonstrated how vunerable the internet kiosks at Heathrow airport our, and this has created more inspection by those who have deployed the kiosks at the airport, Spectrum Interactive. But again it demonstrates how vunerable public access systems can be when loop holes our not checked or tested.

To read more go here

Terminal 5 ready for take off

2008-01-28T19:30:00.000+02:00

Many in Europe and even more in the UK have long waited for the newly soon to open T5 at Heathrow, i caught this story as it struck me how much British Airways is relying and wanting passengers to use the self service kiosk check in, and they claim a staggering 90 percent will which equally they say will ease the flow of passenger traffic so we dont all have to wait in those long qeues, wouldnt that be nice and its almost tempting just to book my next flight with BA to test the water. Terminal 5 is supposed to the largest free standing building built in the UK. So floor room is apparently not an issue.

To read more go to here

Dutch hotel offers complete self service

2008-01-27T11:50:00.000+02:00

I read this on a small bloggers site, of Qbic hotels which offer a complete self service check in desk, which even dispenses you a key to the room. At very economic prices, an area were you can order food, beverages by means of a vending kiosk the hotel seems set to take off on a very successful self service route.

read more here

National Retail Federation Round Up

2008-01-27T11:40:00.000+02:00

A round up from the last National Retail federation expo in New York, a few interesting developing kiosk ideas set to hit the fast track.

Read more from Self Service World here

Mediaport Offers NBC Universal content on demand kiosks

2008-01-27T11:34:00.000+02:00

KT has followed with great interest the spur of evolving on demand kiosk entertainment kiosks, either offering movies, music, ring tones or mix of them, there has been a growing hype in the media as expected sales will boom in coming years, which we at KT can only confer.

Mediaport traditionally started with music, but have recently launched a new stream of content in the form of NBC Universal television content. At the recent CES show there kiosks on trial had over 10.000 downloads taken while the show was in swing, so apparently the results our demonstrating themselves how popular such kiosks our with the public.

For more information, check AfterDawn here

KT Technology develops outdoor solutions

2008-01-06T12:50:00.000+02:00

KT Technology has been busy in the latter half of 2007 in developing several new terminal concepts to fulfill its base of customers needs with an extension to its base of standard products of indoor housings, there is a sharp rise seeing the need to go outdoors and with more requests being for solid, robust aesthetically pleasing kiosks the industry is battling to compete to the customers wishes, as only a handful of suppliers have the required knowledge to design as well as implement a working concept into a reliable product.

KT launched in December 2007 its first outdoor kiosk, under its Tseries kiosks, the T9 has all the attributes of a aesthetically robust and flexible housing, which comes as standard with such fixtures as a sunlight readable display, water proof touch screen and industrial themostatically controlled heater with sensor. Ventilation is provided through its 4 main vents and the complete housing has intricate sills installed so as to ensure that any excess water which may spill into the cabinet our directed out of the internal mechanics safely via a ingenious systems of funnels which our designed into the main component structure of the housing.

The whole cabinet is finished off in scratch resistant paint and comes with front and back anodized aluminum sheets to both protect it as well as to give it a timeless finish. The host of options available our everything from metal industrial keyboards to thermal printers, rfid readers and even with a little more security installed payment can be added as an option.

Malaysia goes nationalistic at petrol pumps

2007-11-25T14:52:00.000+02:00

According to the article the association representing the petroleum companies our wanting that the Malaysian government ratifies an proposition which will ban foreign labour from working at the petrol forecourts. Although i am in favour of self service, and that i personally believe also that kiosks our helping all of the world in some small manner, that a country should go as far as to ban foreign workers from taking jobs which our being replaced by self service seems very radical indeed, and not helping the country job or lack of jobs i would point out. But read more on this from the printed source at New Straits Times

Google Magazine, whatever next

2007-11-25T14:38:00.000+02:00

Picked up from another techie blog site, this story had me ponder on its vailidity as if you think of the bigger picture it brings more scary images of another idea which Google could corner the market of, and just increase there revenues to such sizes that they will be a masterdon in business society outplaying even the biggest giants of industry.
The Google Magazine is just a concept, but they have gone as far as to patent and be awarded the patent as well for the concept as of May 2006. Google simply is saying that as the print world and the internet /electronic print world our in many ways competitng for the consumers time to read the literature they publish, now Google the online masters of search and digital search advertising propose the idea that consumers should be allowed to search online for those publications or articles they wanted included in there daily printed edition and with some clever algorithmic formulas the edition will include adverts which our more specific to the readers. In simple idea its sounds like a wonderours idea, i have many times myself pondered why should i have to read of a new gadget or gizmo which i would personally have no interest in, and we all know that advertisers clamber to try and sell space, and then more space but what if they could go to there customers with guaranteed readers interest, say if it were mobile phone company who wanted to specify advertising to those within there specified market fulfillment plan, wonderful the advertising world thinks as now we can promise more direct results, and low behold it all comes back to Google, the brian child company has done it again. The idea is that kiosks could be installed in high traffic areas and let people print out there daily paper, does that mean we in 10 years time will waive good bye to the street corner kiosk news paper stands which have become an institution to so many. Personally i doubt it, but still a scary thought.

Source Techcrunch

A christmas wish from consumers

2007-11-25T14:27:00.000+02:00

With christmas fast approaching, NCR had requested a survey to find out what consumers spenders wanted most out of a merry xmas kiosk, the answer was simple most consumers seem to be tired of having to endlessly walk in the aisles of shops looking for that product, so a product locater kiosk in locations throughout the shop seemed to be the big wish for 2007, followed closely by the kiosk which could accept returns or swaps. Ideally its ironic that retailers havent caught on more the idea of such kiosks, especially at busy times of the year, and with such advanced software management systems being rolled out each holiday or event could easily be customised to the applications to market the concept better.
I mean a product locater which inspired gifts, promtions or suggestions for the xmas festivities located in a large hyper market could boost sales no end, if done correctly or a system which allowed us to print our xmas cards from a kiosk would be ideal think of the time spent saved if you didnt have to wait in that que for 20 minutes to buy one or a few christmas cards, bliss is what i say.

Read more from the source at thewisemarketer

Mag cards kiosks being replaced by smart tage rfid kiosk readers

2007-11-25T14:19:00.000+02:00

With new technologies driving new sales of kiosks, rfid is one such technology which is spurring new development for kiosk applications, particular in regions such as European Union smart kiosks our on the rise as there older brother magnetic cards our now being replaced at a farily astoingishing rates in 2005 4.5 percent per years which in 2007 will reach 15 percent rise which is marked increase, the article goes onto say that the rise is slower in the States but without a doubt with new regulations being effectived in january for card payment kiosks in Europe set to start January 2008 with smart chip kiosks the rise will undoubtly increase sharply, certainly a technology which not only in payment but in a host of other sectors rfid is on the growth.

Read more and source from eweek

Kiosk Growth is on the RISE

2007-11-11T11:09:00.000+02:00

I always read these articles with some sceptism, but that it first comes from one of the global leaders in anaytical data, Frosts and that I myself have been in the kiosk self service industry since the past 6 years I have seen a considerable growth for interest and deployment of kiosks in almost every type of sector, be it private, governmental or even NGO.
Kiosks our helping all in a way that our forefathers had never even appreciated us, and gives us all that extra bit of freedom, privacy.
The article although albeit heavily advertising the services of Frosts, more then an financial analysis piece of information, does show us industry professionals that there has never been a better time to be in an industry which is surpassing itself in expectations. and the global trend and growth is also positive that the rise of deployments our set to continue at least until 2014 at phenominal rates and growth. Alone in 2006 there was a staggering 968.9 million dollars generated from kiosks and it is set to increase to 2.67 billion in 2009 from kiosks alone which our used as payment mechanisms. There is without a doubt some serious players on the global markets of brand names we all know, such as Wincor Nixdorf, NCR, IBM that our well known on an international scope, but there our global pockets of companies dotted around who specialize in developing such solutions and our winning newer and bigger contracts every year, a recent business investor survery shows that there has never been a better time to get into self service if you have a good idea and the means to make it work.

Read More Here

Source Tradingmarkets

Shell tests Biometric fuel paid stations

2007-11-11T10:55:00.000+02:00

Shell the Dutch oil and fuel petrol station giant have started trials in and around Chicago in 10 locations for allowing consumers to pay by means of biometric finger print id systems.
The consumers will have to first register there biometric finger print id on the kiosks provided, and fill in the all important registration, and have that id registered to a form of payment in most cases this is based on including for example your favourite card.
Once you have pre registered it allows consumers not to have to interact in the store, or if they prefer not to even carry there plastic around with them as they simply scan there finger print id on the verifyer and in an instant our approved for buying fuel. The article does highlight that the cumbersome pre-registration, only being able to buy fuel and few other small nasties as reasons why this may never really see the daylight across international or even national borders.
But the concept of Biometrics is being certainly integrated into more of our daily lives, with either payment or security being two of the major industries which have in recent years begun more use of personal identification. On final note as the article points out, what about crime does this mean we will see more consumers being robbed of there small pinky for that all important finger print id.

Read More Here

Soource Tech Digest

York City may lose there payphones

2007-11-11T10:43:00.000+02:00

According recent developments York City, a historical town based in the North of England have rejected an application by the main UK public phone provider British Telecom, BT have recently applied to install new payphones which on one side offer the traditional pay phone service, and on the flip side have integrated a massive outdoor digital signage screen to display advertising.
The arguement is apparently based on that the city council our against the idea that the streets become filled with new advertising screens dotted arund the city centre, and therefore our refusing the BT application to install these new style revenue generating kiosks, BT have argued that for them to sustain the public phone service they have to find new methods to generate revenues to sustain and offer a public phone service, and this is one method they see as being ideal in light of the increasing usage of mobile phones which they say have decreased the popularity of public phone boxes.

Interesting enough a dozen or so comments underneath the article in which the public have offered there opinion to the news release it seems that the arguement goes both ways, many citing there arguement for the pros and cons, this just constitutes as a general opinion that there doesnt seem to be a clear convincing arguement for either party, one side note many do although ask BT to bring back the famous red telephone box citing its historical heritage to the UK.

Read More Here

Source The York Press

Importance of choosing the best application software

2007-11-11T10:28:00.000+02:00

In a university campus, a site of installed kiosks have been giving rise to several problems, the apparent problem has been the choice of a Kiosk browser, which was prone to either freeze or shut the system down, according to the press release the system was so insecure and unstable it affected most of the installed kiosks, until recently when the ITS computer department which manages the kiosks changed to a different kiosk browser system.
In many aspects this is not uncommon, the attractiveness of either a low license cost, or a savy salesmen make many unsuspecting kiosk deployers invest into technology which is simply not finished or beta tested correctly.
Paramount for any developer launching a new software application is to be able to show to investors and users that they have initially beta tested there system, and found all the small minor bugs which a system generally if its brand new inherently will have. Why is that many new public domain user sites go under such long and ardeuous beta testing is for that fact, because before they can charge for there services they realize the paramount importance that the system does not hold any glitches so they our ensure that these our tested.
The word of the day is test, do some more testing and finally whack it out to the unsuspecting public and let them test it some more.

Source The Wesleyan Argus

Instore kiosks for job applications

2007-11-11T10:22:00.000+02:00

Town and Country Food Stores a chain of food supply stores located in Texas and New Mexico have deployed 150 kiosks from Phoenix kiosks, a Tempe based kiosk manufacturer. The kiosk allows in all of the Town and Country Stores for walk in visitors to make online applications for job vacancies.
The chain of stores felt that it attracted a new source to find employees, and the system allows job applicants an easy and smart method to go through of applying in an easy electronic format and is then automatically forwarded to the right personal division for that application.

Source PR news wire

Fraudulent Internet Kiosk Scams

2007-11-11T10:04:00.000+02:00

Fraudulent Internet Scams

In an recent undertaking by the US districts attorney office have filed mail fraud law suits against a Miami based company trading under the name of “transnet”, the owner of the company faces a lengthy prison term and hefty fines if convicted.

It seems another scam within the kiosk industry is flourishing, marketing companies and “transnet” is not the only such firm who have been accursed of scams which involves selling internet kiosks with advertising facilities to unsuspecting investors, typically mom and pop consumer our lured into investing typically $14.000 dollars into such an investment were they promised lucrative returns on there investments. According to the article a substantial $18 million dollars were raised from more then 800 individual claims.

There seems no end to creativity of some unscrupulous businessmen on what lengths they will go to try and scam themselves to large fortunes and pass these ideas onto unsuspecting small time investors who typically invest a portion of there life savings in the promise of healthy returns. It proves once again that the importance of checking and double checking your suppliers and investment opportunities our paramount. Much of this detective work can be done with a small amount of effort and a healthy reality check. Therefore its of vital importance that if you our approached with offers of an investment which sounds to good to be true, then do the necessary homework and find out who it is you your suppliers our, in many aspects people wanton belief for easy money is there own down fall.

Read more here

Source The Law News

Kiosks and Instore go hand in hand to assist in sales

2007-10-16T09:20:00.000+02:00

Many of us have all tried walking in to a store and while we browse through the selection of products on offer, we see something but simply because its missing that one thing, it may be colour, size or a visualization thing the store misses out on the all important sale, kiosks have come a long way from its early start as just a mechanism to go online to browse or check mails, nowadays it has become a tool to assist sales personal to how they our able to utilize the ecommerce site as a means to close deals.
For example imagine couple A walk into a wedding specialist store, the couple want to order some wedding invitations, the sales staff can use the kiosk to personalize the invitation there and then to the loving couple who then automatically place the order on the kiosks, and our happy to do so as they were able to see both that special font and message visually in front of them, which then made them decide to purchase.
Kiosks our great aids for sellers, be it a wedding store, or even a car showroom dealership they work. Mazda have for many years in the states used the Vroom kiosk system to assist sellers to upsell extra features on new Mazda cars, and the developers Nanonation saw that the concept proved so popular as sales mechanism.
I am sure that more retailers will see the use of a kiosk, be it a speciality store, or a large retail supermarket chains the idea of the sales staff doing all the leg work with tatty old brochures our gone, nowadays we go digital to lift the instore experience.

Source DMnews

Scams using kiosks as shop fronts

2007-10-16T09:03:00.000+02:00

I am sure all of us who own an email address know of the infamous Nigerian mail scams were locals send mails pretending to be an important relative of an deceased VIP and that they offer us a percentage of some huge sum of money which they want us to provide our banking details in return for a percentage of the so called millions, really all these people our trying to do is wangle some hard earned dollars from some poor chump and I still reel when i hear of folks who actually fall into the there traps, and thus is also why we still receive those scam mails, but here is a story of a new type of scam, it relates to kiosks in that the scammers have become aware of local police authorities in Nigeria have actually started criminal preceedings against such gangs and therefore they have moved from private pc so internet kiosks which our of course less possibility to actually trace the mail senders.
The scam has also altered to product hoaxes, the way it works is simple. The scammer setups up a public email account, and from here they send countless thousands of mails out using the identity of a major company, but altering the contact details, to fit there profile, secondly they request for example the shipment of 400 hard disks to a destination which then in some cases actually receive the goods which they immediately from that location ship onto address in Nigeria or Ghana, apparantly according to the article they have become so successful at this that there own local markets our flooded with cheap priced hard drives, and the scammers our now forced to sell these into neighbouring countries as there is less demand due to the sudden influx of goods. I also still am mostly bewildered that major pc suppliers fall for such scams and ship out on such poor managed requests, when even the mail address used is a gmail or yahoo account for example that they dont do a little more research, i can only but think that the sales person obviously becomes enticed by the number of drives. So be wary of mails which just seem to good to be true, as they probably our.

Source Channel Web

Self service money acceptance kiosks goto the Big House

2007-09-19T21:27:00.000+02:00

There our many services which a kiosk terminal is able to provide, and all of them our based on making our hectic lives that inch easier then before, and not all of them our your run of the mill concept. Here is a release which I thought was mentioning as its both idea which I have not heard of before, and comes from an area of society where most of dont think kiosks our traditionally used.
The news wire story concerns about placing a kiosk in a prison, so that inmates our able to receive deposits of cash payments in the form of credits, similar to paperless cash the families of inmates can go to the kiosk which is located in the reception of this prison based in Vancouver and from there they our able to deposity cash or pay by credit card and deposit credits into the inmates account. The inmates our able to pay for extra medical services, and medications as well as few choice items from the menu such as snack bars, beverages and a few select items.
Now there is a featured idea which sounds both practical, useful and easy to fulfill, and from a point of serving the public these consumers may be restricted in there access to the free world but they have been served by a machine which I suppose in some way helps there troubled lives on a basis which most of us cannot nor want to envisage.

Source Clark County Washington

Biometrics trials at Air France

2007-09-14T15:03:00.000+02:00

There is much to be said about the airline industry and kiosks, even i can see that using a kiosk to check in when all the others stand in cue to wait to check in, especially here in my 2nd home in Istanbul I have noticed on occasion at the main international terminal that ques can be very long indeed, and so when I spotted this small story about Air France introducing the next level of self service by allowing passengers to use Biometrics to print boarding cards, and even use it to enter into gates I was interested, and a few poignant questions came to mind.
How in the world with all the physical security check through passengers have to go through will this assist us passengers to speed through the airport to catch our planes, I mean will these new smart cards which hold personal data be treated as a vip card for those who have access to them, or will it be just another way for us to stand in more ques and have more time to listen to our mp3 players or read the next best selling book which just bought at the duty free while we wait at the kiosk que to be served.

Source ATWonline

Unattended Shopping by Virtual Customer Personal

2007-09-14T14:27:00.000+02:00

An interesting insight to tomorrows world, the author goes to explain how and I am sure those of us who our in the self service industry have either seen or at least heard of the completely unattended shop or bank describes in his articles on how many manufacturers of IP video and providers of bandwidth and other related products our gearing up to the next step into a unattended shop.
In highlight it seems the banking world has once again shown to spear head new technology into there banking practices, I say once again as many of you might recall that some of the very first machines which we now call ATM's were in fact some of the very first kiosk machines installed into business and retail sector, and ATM's have been common place long before we say photo kiosks or the Internet kiosk took form or shape.
He goes onto describe how banks might use a virtual teller at bank to accept payments, possible up sell new products such as a home loans or insurance, and that consumers can make deposits by using pneumatic installed tubes to carry cash and cheque payments to a central internal storage facility, already preprocessed by the virtual teller and credited to the consumers bank account, or if we take the idea of virtual retail shop, say for example Home Depot may install virtual sales assistants to assist consumers to locate specific goods or items and show them how to locate the goods, and whether they have them in stock and of course the all important price. Now I cant help to think that although kiosks and self service our being deployed in every conceivable location we might imagine, and of course from a retailers of bankers point of view that the bottom line for them to make such a large step into the futuristic world of self service unmanned shops is to save on costs of labour but did anyone stop to think although we can save on human resources, can we improve possible on service at the point of interaction between staff and consumer, by that I mean can you imagine getting annoyed with a virtual screen person, it just doesn't seem to invoke the same satisfaction of tyring to impress our complaint to a real life person but most of all I still worry for us as mankind. What will our children and there children do in the future for jobs, it would be of course any parents dream that there child may be the next President or Doctor, but we must agree that not all born to the world will amount to more then being another store clerk. This is also alright its not to look down at these folks but more that they do provide a certain human touch to our every day lives for shopping or getting what we need when we need it. The store owners also provide an invaluable service to the local city or town by employing people, and as well all know the world is not getting any smaller, oh contrey we our booming and all these new mouths to feed have to find an income to sustain themselves. If those in power decide to replace us with man machines, then what chance do we stand to combat poverty and will that not just lead more to the social welfare cue and greater social divide. If at worst it may even lead to the next world revolution.

Source Technewsworld

Contactless payments for self service industry

2007-09-11T18:54:00.000+02:00

I thought I would comment more on the actual story then the market trend of contact less payments, as yes sure i can see huge benefits for the consumer and retailer on using a contactless system then a traditional based solution in which you have to either swipe or insert your card into a reader.
But what struck me here was the very poor background that the author had placed into his press release, they quote an awful allot of statistical figures to try and impress upon us the importance of the new style payment but not once in any of the data provided do we know where this data was sourced and who and which organisation provided it. As a company which wants to impress upon us the relevant importance of contactless payments what good is if we go on to say, and I quote A recent study reported that 71% of consumers cited speed at checkout as their primary reason for using contactless in the extremely broad statement they claim that a very large percentage of consumers have reported that they cite speed as there primary reason for wanting to use contactless payments, but where has the author sourced that information, I mean if he could say that the information was provided by the main retailers association of America then I would be impressed by that statement but instead I find myself somewhat deliberating that is this just figures someone is pulling out of a hat because it sounds good.
We as authors of any kind of literature must provide valuable data, but even more important we must be able to back this up with proof and facts. otherwise its both worthless and useless.

ATM Webcams go intelligent

2007-09-11T18:38:00.000+02:00

I read this recent article regarding intelligent webcams which a indian based firm have recently launched at the GITEX expo, it seems that the world of ATM and banks have been facing a issue of ATM security webcam management. At present the standard practice is to film a whole day x 7 x 30 x 365 a year which as I am sure you our aware of can be very strenous on both bandwidth, hdd disk storage and purely playback as well.
It seems now that Intellvisions software proposes changes which will allow webcams to simply switch on and off on facial recognition, not sure exactly what the results our like for statistical purposes but even I can see the huge benefits that banks could save in space, time and simply workload from having use of such a system. But does the technology have glitches, and how accurate is facial recognition will only be something that at the end of the day the banks can answer once they have tested and spent thousands, maybe even millions before they can say it works or before we read the demise of another concept and product.

source itp.net

This months quirky story

2007-09-08T17:17:00.000+02:00

I like to bring my readers at least one light hearted or interesting story every month from the world of self service or kiosks, and this month I think is one of those that really outshines how tech and frustration can result in a hard blow for the machine, and I might add hooray for that in this instance.
It seems a chap went up to a self service check out desk at his local Home Depot, and wanted to buy a hacksay and pry bar, while trying to work the check out system he accidentally pushes the button for Spanish language the ensuing result was the man got so frustrated with the machine speaking to him in Spanish he decided to take the pry bar and give the system a good whack, which resulted in a smashed screen and him running off from the scene of the crime.
It just proves that although all of us manufactures like to brazenly say to our customers that our products our anti vandalic and robust, if you take it to extreme then there is no system on the market that is 100 percent non breakable, or at least no yet.

India E-government kiosks success

2007-09-08T16:39:00.000+02:00

I have been reading several articles related to the kiosk self service industry and India, with one of the largest populations on the globel India deals with a large divide between both cities and rural areas, and the wealthy or the flip side the imporvished.
But if you look at this article press release, and read between the promotional lines by the company issueing the press release, they our fast becoming one of Indias largest ICT kiosk providers Comat Technologies, the basis is that of deploying kiosks so that the huge masses of Indias population, both those who live in cities and rural landscapes can access egovernment services, such as land records, electoral identity cards, social welfare as some of the given examples.
I like many of my colleagues in the self service industry on a broad scape in western countries have seen the tests done by various governments in Europe and US with voting kiosks, job vacancy kiosks and some egovernment systems but I am still amazed that a nation which in many areas is still considered 3rd class can ripely pull the carpet under us western democracies and show how it should be done. They our fast out performing us in offering new technologies to its base of citizens, and the citizens from what I can read use these services with a zest which makes us look like a bunch of newbies.
Technology and more specifically self service, is one of the growing IT market sectors which as many specialists forecast has not even reached the top of the mountain, why is then that countries where us in the west outnumber home owned pc by 5/1 can demonstrate a sure fire demand while our own governments still haggle on its use, and if and what to offer. While I am told by many business and government associates that our western democracies our far advanced when it comes to stream lining our services, and i agree if we compare ourselves to countries like Turkey or Bulgaria, but in retrospect countries like India and China seem fast to take on new technologies, and not hold back. If only our own governments would actually sit down and rethink some of there egovernment procedures, its not that we dont provide them but we do so without the thought of future and how that may look. But from a manufacturers point of view that can only make me pleased as then there is still more fish to catch in the sea of self service.

Internet Cafe Kiosk Owner gets Blacklisted by Google Adwords

2007-08-19T11:39:00.000+03:00

I subscribe to Google search word listing, and therefore get a weekly update on keywords which match my interest and I do this simply because its a great way to keep updated on what is happening around the self service and kiosks industry, but once in a while I read a story which happens up by chance and gets picked up by the radar which is more trivial news if anything but unusual and interesting from the aspect of a small niche idea for kiosks.
The article I found was posted at search engine roundtable but originally sourced from a forum where the individual involved had posted his comments and background story on at webmaster world.
Apparently the individual who had made the original forum posting had written in because his IP had been blacklisted by Google adsense, I am sure most of you our familiar with Google Adsense and the service it provides to web content owners allowing them to make possible at best a couple of bucks a month on click through adverts posted on there sites. In this case the person involved had and I might add in my opinion quite geniously come up with adding a core website for his 60 plus Internet cafe pc to use the adsense links as means of finding local services to the Las Vegas areas where his Internet cafe is situated. He goes on to explain that he had written into Google explaining the reason for only one IP address showing for all the clicks through he was receiving, as he wanted to show that he hadn't been abusing the system by entering false information. He goes to write that Google had apparently written back to him that it wasn't problem he shouldnt concern himself with. Then a month later he was blacklisted, and now he cannot get a response from Google on why even after they had commented on the matter positively that they proceed to blacklist him anyways.
I thought that here was a story of a individual showing entrepreneurial skills, and offered something which his clients wanted to use, and although as he states it wasn't due to the large increase of income he derived, he mentions about 150 monthly click through which gave him an estimate measly $10 - $20 dollars but that both his clients were pleased with the service, and he did it to service his customers while still making a little change. My own comment is that although from Google point of view sure I can understand that everything must be above board, but when someone honestly informs you of there intentions, then why punish him and his customers by not looking further then a legal notice which they post about the T/C, instead they should have investigated the matter, and seen the opportunity which he had derived as providing a local service and nothing more. I mean seriously I doubt many solid business owners will try to solicit illegally a mere extra $20 dollars because they intend to perform the service illicitly. I have added the forum site link as I think this shows real skill and a entrepreneurial attitude which if any firm should appreciate then it should be 2 start ups like Google founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

The Gaming industry gone wacko

2007-08-15T22:30:00.000+03:00

I just recently read an interesting article from Joystiq
The article goes on to talk about gaming console manufactures Sony and Nintendo who install gaming kiosks in some rather unusual settings, and of course the rhetoric of comments that our posted all wonder does it work, now I think hey why not put a kiosk that allows a user to try the new ps3 in a bank, I mean anyone who can dish out the cost of a ps3 also needs a bank to pay for the largish price tag they have placed on the ps3 although I read recently Sony intend to decrease the cost. As a kiosk veteran I know that one thing that is key to any successful launch is location, location, location said of course 3 times to underline its importance, apparently the most recent stunt was by Nintendo who placed a wii kiosk system outdoors, I additional add a link so all of you who want to can actually see that the marketing team at Nintendo has obviously gone slighty around the twist and left them out in the cold London night for passers by to test, and as the author rightly points out they must think that Londoners are trustworthy people. I wonder how many more sets they sold because of that ploy, possible all of 10.
It is true to say that the kiosk industry, brings out some of the wackiest ideas, and it will be with great zeal and pleasure to keep reading these stories or listen to the customers who dream up there madcap schemes to get more business and stir more attention. Whatever next!

Kiosks GO Rural

2007-07-10T13:45:00.000+03:00

It was with real interest and also a good feeling of being part of an industry that works on developing mankinds self service need that I read with interest of how kiosks are playing an important role to rural India commerce and daily lives, the India Times had this piece they printed in there online edition from 8th July 2007 which is short piece on how kiosks are being deployed in small community village sites to assist the villagers with actually being able to sell and buy products via an ecommerce site.

I am sure many of us are aware of the extremely poorer regions of India, and so when a techno phobe like I read an article which I can think truly is an innovation I like to commend those behind the scenes to make a good job into a brilliant business success. The company who is making all this happen United Villages has developed software which allows a wifi enabled kiosk to be used as the means of contact, then as these areas are now equiped with telephone lines, and mobile and satellite being to expensive option the company has designed a smart wifi box to pick up each time it comes to the village as part of the bus route. In this way by means of a inexpensive method the messages sent are easily picked up, and when the bus arrives at it central location it reverses the process bying dumping the messages at a wifi enabled kiosk to further delivery to its recipiants.

The service has proved extremely popular and is rapidly expanding its network of users. Although apparently not the only unique scheme available in India it is demonstrating that services can be offered not only to the high paying west but also to the developing 3rd world imporvished nations which in many cases relay on kiosk technology much more then there counterparts do in the west, where the main self service solution which most today would say they could not live a day without was the ATM.

Self service demanded by consumers

2007-06-26T17:36:00.000+03:00

I have recently read an interesting article which although it was requested and paid for by NCR corporation, the company who prepared the market research results Buzzback Market Research , the result showed that primarily customers wanted to increase of self service operations within retail stores, this covered a broad aspect of sectors.

The findings went on to define the following, which is a en excerpt from the article printed at insider retailing

"More than three out of four (77%) of the 633 US and Canadian consumers polled said they were more likely to do business with organisations that offered self-service, and 92% value combining mobile devices – like mobile phones or PDAs – with the internet and self-service kiosks or ATMs to improve their overall service experience. "

This shows a marked increase of willingness from US and Canadian consumers who both appreciate, use and want self service to be part of there daily lives, interesting enough and somethnig which KT Technology a European kiosk technology provider has always understood is that it must be a mix between self service and customer orientated services. The article highlights this by going onto to explain

"Proper deployment of self-service will allow business to focus personal assistance where consumers find it most valuable,” said Nuti. “Companies that want to remain competitive in the future will need to understand how to deploy self-service to maximise convenience and provide the flexibility required by consumers.”

There is a fine line that technology providers must find working with the retail sector, and only those firms who understand this synopsis will win the orders and develop there business. We shall keep a marked eye on the reports that follow on this subject.

Demise of the Big Boy Players

2007-06-10T14:05:00.000+03:00

2007 is fast approaching to be a year in which already in the first half of the year we have seen 2 big sized kiosk manufacturers go out of business and into liquidation. The demise of both Slabb and Ceroview both registered in North America, and having attained considerable reputation in the field of kiosk manufacturing, there is a definitive response from customers and deployments that success on a global scale is not always the fast track key to being a solid reputable supplier or partner.
I am confident that there are several other companies which have had to close there doors as well this year, and without a general body to monitor such events its both difficult and quite literally impossible to measure the failure stories throughout the kiosk market place, if you take one example that I am aware of my own country of origin “Denmark” has produced several firms in past history which felt they had a unique business approach but still did not manage to make the cut, most recently Denmark oldest and one of the principle founders in Denmark of kiosk manufacturing was First Impression. There uniquely styled kiosk frame who many expressed its shape as beauty and personification of an information terminal finally closed its doors this year 2007, but its roots date way back from the early nineties. Several others include such well less known names as Ceboline, Dreamvisions but to name a few more for the statistical record.

Slabb in instance is a truly ironic story, of a firm who started out with well meaning intentions and good solid sales abilities, with several successful ventures Slabb grew enormously quickly and in terms of media coverage Slabb had considerable efforts to be placed in the forefront of both customers and competitors who envied and spoke quite considerable therefore there was always going to be a large crowd of crows squalling when the death quite literally overnight turned up and knocked quietly at the corporate doors of the management of Slabb. But what is surprising is the quite open scuttle of ex. employees of Slabb which have in small regions of the globe formed new corporations to carry on the lifeblood of the products and started to produce the existing range of Slabb models. It has been with quite considerable interest how I have seen several new ventures start, Asia seem to be the place were most have dived into having these models manufactured with having seen likeable reproductions of the favourites x5 and x6 series models cropping up on several Asian manufactures. I must also admit to secretly wonder what the former CEO Cy Birg is reacting to his former cohorts and there apparent lack of support to a firm who had created a marked impression in the industry, un-doubtly we have not heard the last chapter of the on going Slabb saga. There is still the impending court cases of unhappy customers who have claims against the firm, possible several suppliers and marketing associations who feel that Slabb have abused there trust from its commitment to purchases. One example of this was Kioskcom Europe which premier sponsor for the event being namely Slabb, even when I attended on the first day the rumour around the exhibition hall in 2006 was not a new model or application but that of Slabb who had pulled out of sponsorship and I clearly remember the story line of several varying versions of Slabb being in harsh economic problems, low behold some 4 months later the facts came to light.
The business of selling, operating and proving yourself in the kiosk industry is tough, there is not an ounce of doubt I think any company cannot say. Although as many experts will say it still being in its infancy, many firms simply take either to large advancements before they can walk and underestimate that kiosk business is one of steady growth, and there also of course several that simply don’t do there homework nor listen to the veterans on what and how is achievable when relating to success or failure within an industry which has become not only cut throat but also extremely competitive to say the least.

Interesting Vista Article

2007-04-26T08:30:00.000+02:00

Althought the article is a year old, I found it interesting to read from the perspective that it sources apparently was part of the crew of developers that worked on the development of Vista, and if you relate to news media coverage of Vista being late to roll out you understand know more what actually goes on behind on the scenes of a company like Microsoft and its product label Windows.
The article is listed at Craig Keefner site, and although I have never personally met Craig he is well known in the kiosk industry and a veteran, having had several posts in few different companies he has landed himself a while back a position in the mighty Kis Kiosk, now called Kiosk. If you are like me and are somewhat addicted to the kiosk industry, Craigs site is a relaxed place for information and news updates.

Device and peripherals for kiosk terminals

2007-04-08T15:08:00.000+02:00

The importance of mapping out and choosing the right device manufacturing components is an all too easy misconception, many customers and even kiosk manufacturers who are not skilled make the suggestion that by choosing the cheapest, or the solution which is first sourced through investigation is the right one. But in many instances there are small changes or additional features which require the attention of the manufacturer in there choices.
I was recently on a trip, which included passing through Heathrow Terminal 3, here while waiting for a contact to show up I decided to check my mails and utilized a internet kiosk which had been installed and there was choice of payment of either by coin or by card.
When I had inserted my £1.00 pound I moved onto moving the cursor the search bar facility, what I immediately noticed was that the trackball, although they had choosen a metal keyboard they obviously had not choosen well. Fro 3 areas.

1. The trackball was so tight, which meant it required a immeasurable amount of work just to move it a few mm, and while the kiosk browser happily ticked my seconds away I was getting more frustrated.

2. Once finally I had moved the cursor to the search facility, I found that the actual characters were imprinted into the metal so weakly it required a microscope to guess what characters were where, and as it had been arranged into a different setup manner then our traditional keyboard layout it was becoming guess work

3. The buttons when depressed were ery slow to pick up on the text push, and therefore writing a physical email was practically becoming a head ache, and then finally to top if off the time ran off.

I walked away annoyed, disilliusoned and basically thinking I had been ripped off by the people who placed the kiosks there. These types of installation bring only users to think that was is suppoed to be a machine which makes our lives even more easier, actually brings just frustration and annoyance.

There are many points when choosing devices, and kiosk manufacturers must be wary not to just choose a device because it is cheaper or because its the first they find. Then and only then will they make kiosks which are really redy for the unattended areas like airports.

KT Technology launches new internet CYBERSTATION phone kiosk terminal

2007-03-16T11:47:00.000+02:00

KT technology a pan European based kiosk terminal manufacturer were recently awarded a prestigious manufacturing contract to supply a complete functional internet terminal which also allowed airport visitors to make low cost international calls by means of using the internet VOIP technology.

The contract initially is to supply units which will be installed into the new airport terminal “Nene Tereza” located in Tirana, Albania. The kiosk will be based on our award winning T5 kiosk design and will offer users to surf the internet, and by means of either electronic or cash payments to make cheap inexpensive calls across the VOIP internet.

KT technology have partnered with there application developer to design a unique internet surf browser which will have all the standard facets of being able to brose the internet by means of paid services, but will also integrate a internet phone service which will allow users to make inexpensive calls from the kiosk by using the integrated phone handset and touch screen interface. Payment will be made in either euros, or alternatively by electronic cards such as credit or debit cards.

Ken Larsen General Manager at KT Technology had this to say about the venture “We are extremely pleased to be partnering together with Crystal Touch on this venture which will demonstrate that the KT Insight RKM solution is as durable, scaleable and robust as any other product within kiosk platforms available. The product has been skilfully designed to ensure that it can easily be integrated into Microsoft new “Vista” operating system, and demonstrates that in simply a matter of a few weeks we have been able to both develop a powerful but easy to use kiosk application, using the skilled functionalities of Insight RKM. It truly underlines the capabilities of the 2 companies, and also our marketing commitment to our customers and partners to bring new technology at its forefront of self service.
KT Technology has strengthened its position in the sector by expanding its core kiosk terminals to have a total line of solutions. As in InSight Cyber Station demonstrates our versatility by further enhancing a solid successful concept of internet kiosk into a more 21st century by integrating phone and chat services into its Browser “Cyberstation” kiosk terminal to increase the ROI per installation which will also surely start a push for lower international call rates.

KT Technology launches New Flexible Wall Mounted T3 Kiosk Terminal

2007-03-03T12:35:00.000+02:00

Istanbul, Turkey March 2007 KT technology a pan European based kiosk terminal manufacturer were pleased to announce today its first point of sale interactive wall mounted T3 kiosk terminal.

The T3 was designed to be a wall mounted kiosk enclosure, its style is similar to its big brother T2 kiosk and has the same unique defined shape and form, ensuring that it continues in appearance with its larger version T2 kiosk. The terminal is produced from grade A 1.5 mm steel which makes it extremely robust and secure to be placed in unsupervised areas.

The first wall units will be rolling out into European retail forecourts as a interactive point of sales terminal, with its flexible modular housing the terminal has ability as one of the few wall mounted terminals to host a full device system for accepting electronic payments, bill acceptors, print receipts or vouchers on demand and will be offered with a choice of 3 display sizes.

The system cabinet is designed for easy secure access, by means of unlocking the top cylinder lock, the terminal is mounted so that service personal can easily pull the complete front side vertically down to gain access to its inner chamber, which ensures that quick easy maintenance, such as refilling the print paper roll, or simply to collect the days cash takings from its safe which is internally stored in a locked chamber.

Ken Larsen General Manager at KT Technology had this to say about there newly launched wall mounted T3 kiosk terminal. The unit demonstrates KT innovative approach to designing and fabricating both an aesthetically designed terminal, but more importantly the unit is easy to mount, simple to service and maintain. The demand for space saving terminals is on the rise due to the high cost of retail floor space, by listening to our partners & customers KT Technology is creating a new range of terminals which keeps in tune with retailers wishes for alternatives to free-standing enclosures as well as delivering a terminal which unlike other wall mounted kiosks offer a flexible modular enclosure so as to ensure that the exact specifications of requirements are upheld.

At KT technology we don’t just produce kiosks, because of a need to increase our product catalogue, but do so due to wishes and demand by customers for exact specifications which will fit into a unique kiosk self service concept, with the importance of keeping a competitive price we ensure that our full range of kiosks are designed modularly which allows us to kit out the enclosure exactly how the retailer or customer wishes it, unlike our competitors we take the time to create a terminal on a list of requirements and specifications, thereafter we research the views of our customers on design and ease operation, by doing so our industrial designer is able to create a kiosk terminal after specified market needs.

KT technology is a pan European kiosk terminal manufacturer, with offices in Istanbul, London and Copenhagen, the company is establishing itself into the self service retail market by means of developing exciting new solutions for the European retailers.

Differences in Touch Screen Technologies

2007-02-28T22:00:00.000+02:00

There are currently 6 main touch screen technologies available on the current global market, but there are countless of companies offering a solution. The manufacturers are somewhat of a jungle on what is on offer, and prices vary in great degress. Some of the 2 best companies around are ELO and 3M, they must be considered also some of the most expensive but they are directly involved in why we have touch screen technology at our finger tips today. ELO invented the first touch panel, and 3m was closely followed. Below I have decided to reprint an article written by IDAT Consulting as they seem to have summed it up correctly. Although I will add the point of thru glass technology by Zytronic was not included in there product synopsis which I felt was either an oversight by them or a mistake.
We certainly at KT are users of ELO touchscreens as we feel they offer the best solid stable solution available for kiosk integrators.

Transcript was taken from Link

How They Work
Resistive -- this technology uses two layers of conductive material to create an X/Y grid (vertical lines on one surface, horizontal the other). When pressure is applied to the flexible top layer (typically Mylar), the grid surfaces come in contact and allow current to flow. The presence of current in a vertical and horizontal line gives the X/Y coordinates of the touch.
Because the screen itself supplies all current, workers with heavy gloves can work this type of screen.
The drawback to resistive screens is that they are subject to scratches, burns and other types of damage. To protect against damage, companies such as DynaPro apply an additional Mylar overlaminate which can be replaced if damaged

Capacitive -- a conductive laminate is applied to a glass screen. Current is applied to all four corners of the screen. When a conductive surface (such as a finger or special stylus) is applied to the surface, the current flows through the conductive surface. (The electrical current is so low that a user doesn't feel it.) By calculating the relative draw from all four corners, the controller can determine the location of the touch.
Because capacitive screens are glass, they are resistant to abuse and damage. These screens are used in gaming applications where burning cigarettes are often left on the screen.
The disadvantage is that workers wearing thick gloves don't register on these screens (although thin surgical gloves do register). Grounded styluses can be used in applications where gloves would interfere with operation.

Infrared -- is similar to resistive, infrared screens project horizontal and vertical beams of infrared light over the surface of the screen. When a finger or other object breaks those beams, the X/Y coordinates are calculated.
These screens can also be used by workers with gloves and are relatively impervious to damage. Dirt, flies and other objects, however, do offer the possibility for registering stray touches or blocking the light emitting or receiving apertures. Workers who "cruise" with their fingers before touching the screen can also trigger a false response.

SAW -- high frequency sound waves are transmitted through vertical and horizontal axes on the screen. When a finger touches the surface, it shortens the time for the "echoes" to reach receivers, giving the location of the touch. SAW technology can also register on the Z axis, determining the amount of force exerted on the screen.
Gloves are not a hindrance to operation and these screens are relatively impervious to stray touches. In addition, if an application requires measurement on the Z axis, SAW is a good choice.
A new variation, guided acoustical wave (GAW), directs the signal through the panel itself, not over its surface. This allows the screen to be completely sealed.
SAW and GAW provide the brightest images since there are no overlays to diminish the image.
The disadvantage to SAW is that it's not as well supported and is more expensive than the three more popular technologies.

Strain Gauge -- the screen is spring mounted on the four corners and strain gauges are used to determine deflection when the screen is touched. This technology can also measure the Z axis. Advantages and disadvantages are the same as SAW with the additional consideration that, since the screen must be free to move, it is much more difficult to completely seal the unit.

Google sued by Belgium news assocaited press

2007-02-17T14:52:00.000+02:00

I have recently been following the news on the award by the Belgium courts to the associated press orgranisation which represent the press companies, they are obvioulsy pleased with there winning the case that Google are no longer to show extratcs of there printed articles in there news section of web results.
But my first thought was that for the freedom that each journalist has with copyright protection on editorials, but if you consider that Google makes no bones of who owns ownership lies with, nor does it try to charge for the service it provides, but what it gladly does it provide the ability that readers may find these editorials by easily searching by means of Google, and lets face it Google are here to stay and there are also the core net search facility that most people use, be it in USA or accross in Belgium. Therefore my own thought is, that although the journalists walk away with a victory, it may be that there victory will be short lived. If you imagine the power that Google weilds, which I might add is scary in itself it does mean that they bring to us in todays world news and what we want to read right in front of our pc at work, or a kiosk terminal at the airport while we wait for our next flight.
You can read more on the actual ruling at the link provided in the title of this blog post.

Crazy mouse touchscreen syndrome

2007-02-13T10:11:00.000+02:00

KT We recently worked on a kiosk touch screen enclosure which when we assembled and integrated the touch screen kiosk that we experienced what we can only term "crazy touch screen syndrome". After we had calibrated the monitor for accuracy, and OK the settings of the kiosk terminal touch screen mouse calibration the system begun what we can only call the wildest dance of the mystic mouse pointer. Which although entertaining at the time was a concern.
We further tested the sytem for a day, without or no change in the mysctic pointer dance, we began looking at the integration, which we were sure was correctly installed, which it was. After having a discussion internally we had no apparent reason, we constantated that we needed to look elsewhere within using more obscure theologies. The next few days saw us, speak to several others, and then at the end of the 2nd day we sourced the problem. The kiosk enclosure had been manufactured in stainless steel, therefore when using a specialised thru capacitive touch screen the electronic waves ommitted from the screen had created a magnetic field within the electronics of the monitor by reacting with the metal. We resolved the problem by using a thin steel pole which was connected to the screens bezel and then afixed to the internal section of the enclosure. Thus creating a powerful earthed connection, eliminated the magnetic field, and stopped the dance of the mystic mouse pointer. It was I might add a problem which few we spoke to had ever heard of the problem, but a source a engineer colleague of ours who works in the oil industry assisted us with resolving the problem. The kiosk terminal is now successfully servicing customers.

DVD Kiosks

2007-02-10T09:59:00.000+02:00

There is at the moment allot of hype, and talk regarding the movie industry and the use of kiosks and vending machine technology, and rightly so. If you study the facts from the DVD vending kiosk market there is no question of the importance that these forms of self service machines are playing for the retail market and those involved in it. Example is Redbox a string of venidng kiosks under the brand of "Redbox" have been rolled out in a massive 1700 locations in North America, owned and operated by the McDonalds chain of fast food stores is a great concept. Allow customers of the chain store to buy a burger and as well rent a movie is proving extremely popular, in the case of David Orin from SelfService association certainly proved the concept by renting in one state a few movies, and then returning them half way across the country at another store. Makes the days of old when I remember having to make sure I made it back to the local video store, located some 5 miles away by closing hour or they would charge us a extra £1.00 per late night, nowadays with competition is rife late charges, what are they?? or stores that are closed now that vending machines are cropping up just about everywhere.

The question is which technology will win the battle of the consumer, will it be the Netfix store which posts your next rental title, the vedning kiosk in McDonalds and thus in all intent and purposes will reep new stream of customers for McD and they certainly need them. Or will it be the on demand kiosk which stores movie titles digitally onto a HDD and then when a customer chooses a titles they are burnt to disc, such as the KT Technology system which is launching presently. There has been allot of sepculation on which idea or business model works best, and each category claims to have the successful key, there are also other market concepts such as in home entertainment set top boxes which download movies, or of course the old style Blockbuster store which you visit to rent. But there is not question that with technology bring new concepts and my wage is that it will be a mix of the first 3 systems. Watch this space.

Equiping Self Service Kiosks for Chip & Pin payments

2007-02-03T13:15:00.000+02:00

KT Technology like allot of other firms who either directly or indirectly work with self service kiosks have had to face the inoxious problem of dealing with chip and pin. The financial bamking industry regulators, have served up new regulations which require further escure measures to deal with receiving payments via smart terminals of all types and sizes, and of course this includes the self service kioskterminals as well.

In recent months KT launched its first real payment terminal, the T5-D was designed and developed as payment terminal, and includes as part of its optional devices a chip and pin mechanism. What most customers do not realize is the complexity of sourcing a supply partner as well as finding a reliable financial systems provider which are able to bring to the table both equipment that is technological able to be integrated into a kiosk, but and here comes the deal blower a reader which has its approvals in order, or can be approved for use. We spoke to several firms who claimed they were able to provide a secure approved pin pad, but when it came to supplying the necessary written documentation most fell into a group of "we are still checking on that", but 2 firms did finally manage to provide these approvals. One was Sagem which had the INT1217-4210 pin pad for unattended, ATM, Kiosk use the other alternative which we sourced at the time was all the way down in South Africa at Prism with there SPM model. Both these versions come with preapproval for EMV levels 3.1.1 which in laymens language means that they have some preliminary approvals, but you are still required to address the approval from the banking partner which can be anywhere between 4 weeks to several months. But there is good news, as it seems there are those firms who see a niche in a market sector and attack that with vigour. Recently we located a global firm, global is USA and Europe at the moment who can provide a total solution, or near as. Credit Call provide both the transactions, can source there OEM preapproved Secura Dione pinpad and card reader product and the final layer on the transactional cake a partner in the form of the bamking sector, in which they have formed relationships with major bamks who can perform the transactions without you the integrator, or customer having to go through long waited approvals.
In hindisght, I can of course understand the importance of security, white collar crime is rife and the card companies had to establish with there banking sector partners a level of conformity, but like any market which is still in its infancy which both the kiosk terminal and secure encrypted pin pad markets are there will be a period of required stabilization and product development, but we found also a tangled web of miscommunication, general lack of knowledge with those firms who you had thought should be in the know how which can only attract confusion.

Next generation of computers and super minds

2007-02-02T17:35:00.000+02:00

Here at KT we not only want to bring value to our own self service concepts and solutions, as well as providing insight information into the kiosk self service world, but on occasion also to bring technology news bits which we feel our worth a mention, and by golly we were interested to read about a chap who has been working with a clever new touch technology, what you could call a super 3d dimensional display PC.

The story without wanting to reproduce its entirety, can be read at the following link, its is a good read and make sure you have a steaming hot cup of coffee or a nice ice cold glass of something, as it can be thirsty work reading. Enjoy.

KT Technology collaborates with South African Kiosk Software Developer

2007-01-30T19:53:00.000+02:00

Istanbul, Turkey January 2007 KT technology a pan European based kiosk terminal manufacturer have signed recently a partnership agreement with local South African newly established “Crystal Touch” to develop a cross platform software suite specialized for the self service kiosk market.

The agreement is structured that KT technology will formally partner with Crystal Touch who have been appointed to develop a suite of kiosk software applications which will include a kiosk content management system, remote monitoring application and a control panel suite which will manage overall kiosks deployed in the filed. The products are to be launched throughout 2007 as part of KT Technology drive into solidifying itself as a total solutions provider for kiosk concepts.

The first application due in March 2007 will be a remote monitoring application and control panel, the product will be launched under the brand “Remote Kiosk Medic” and will be part of standardization in all kiosk terminals manufactured and sold by KT Technology. It is expected in that in the autumn the finalized version of kiosk content management system under the brand Insight Kiosk Software will be launched to market.

Ken Larsen General Manager at KT Technology had this to say about the venture “We are extremely pleased to be partnering together with Crystal Touch who have demonstrated to us that there technical development team headed up by Richard McIntyre have both sound knowledge, a fantastic understanding and a healthy interest in kiosks and self service we are confident that we will have a group of products which will spearhead both KT technology and our partner Crystal Touch into becoming a complete total solutions provider for any type of kiosk concept, whether it be a stand alone internet terminal or a full transactional kiosk”.

KT technology who recently received funding in the form of a new investor partner, is quickly establishing itself, and in 2006 saw it open its first satellite office in Copenhagen, plans to open our new offices in London are already in the pipeline and this solely coincides with our introduction of kiosk software and support services”. Mr Larsen concluded by saying that it is KT Technology goal to push itself into a driving position and by means of investment and product development our reaching for high set targets it has for the following year.

Kiosk Design

2007-01-28T20:48:00.000+02:00

The importance of having chosen the right design to befit the kiosk application, and underlying its environment that it is being placed into is paramount. A kiosk enclosure is much more then just a metal box or cabinet, and yet it is also much more then just a simple "cool" piece of furniture.
I can quote several others who will agree with me, not least the selfservice association itself, check out the link which allows you a free special report to download from those great sponsors at Olea. No but seriously I have walked past to many obtrusive kiosk designs that it still astounds me that there are customers who are willing to place there hard earned dollars into a metal box which has had no design integration or thought behind it. Certainly KT Technology would immediately bin any design or enclosure which we did not feel lived up to the golden rules which are Environment, Components, User interaction, Design aesthetics these are some of the most important elements, there are others such as Branding, Form, Ease of Access which also are secondary important for a designer to think through.
The result of having a badly designed kiosk, is that the success of the project will adversely result in failure. as users or consumers will not approach the kiosk to inspect it, or even worse the design is so bad that it will effect the use of the components and fault and we all know what that will result in "The dreaded black screen syndrome" which results in no use what so ever.
The materials when working with a designer can play an important role in how the outcome will result in the success of a kiosks deployment. Example if you are to install a outdoor kiosk would you consider using steel as part of the enclosure, YES possible but only if it was treated and coated with the right substances to withstand the elements. But most probably you would be guided to either use Aluminium or Stainless Steel as these metals are not prone to degradation or rusting. Example 2 would you consider using a heavy structure cabinet if you were to place it in a already aesthetically environment, no as it would appear as an isor and therefore not attract the user to it. whereas if you chose a well designed slimline unit to appease it surroundings.
That is why we kiosk specialists always encourage customers and investors to adversely listen to those that have experience and knowledge with designing and choosing the correct design, which will result in a successful venture. Remember that we all are basically have the same keen eye, and we glance at those things which we see as pleasing, and look away at those things which we see as isors. Its a natural reaction, and something that should be consider with great importance to any kiosk deployment.

KT Technology launches New Flexible Transactional Retail T5-D Self Service Kiosk

2007-01-24T16:28:00.000+02:00

KT technology a pan European based kiosk terminal manufacturer were pleased to announce today its entry into retail transactional kiosk systems with its new flexible T5-D kiosk terminals.

The newly designed T5-D was developed on behalf of the increasing demand for kiosk transactional systems in retail settings, and the first T5-D kiosk terminals will be shipping shortly to locations throughout Northern Europe in retail consumer locations as part of a newly launched kiosk product concept which KT Technology developed on behalf of one of its Pan European customers.

The Kiosk terminal T5-D consists of a curved aesthetically designed robust enclosure, which stands upright as a free standing terminal. The enclosure has been manufactured so as to incorporate a flexible approach to installation of a mixed match of components dependant on the application or store concept. The unit can be supplied with printer, barcode scanner, electronic EMV card slot, cash and coin payment devices, smart card readers, chip and pin pad, product dispenser, which are all items which KT customer line have requested in the past as part of there mixed match requirements.

Ken Larsen General Manager at KT Technology had this to say about the new kiosk terminal T5-D. We are extremely pleased that the kiosk terminal has been developed due to an overwhelming demand from our customers for an affordable kiosk terminal which has a multitude of mix and match component possibilities. The self service retail kiosk market is extremely competitive and there is considerable competition from other manufactures, and KT Technology has been able not only to launch a new kiosk terminal design but also manufacture the terminal to extremely cost effective means thus making it a salient affordable self service kiosk terminal, but has been able to do so from demand by our partners and customers, and therefore expect to see our new kiosk terminal T5-D already being placed into several high profile retail locations by summer of 2007 as we already have orders well into the hundreds for this model.

KT technology is a pan European kiosk terminal manufacturer, with offices in Istanbul and Copenhagen, the company is establishing itself into the self service retail market by means of developing exciting new solutions for the European retail markets in connection with several partnerships it has formed with venture capitalists and established entrepreneurs.

Google Advertising New Markets

2007-01-23T14:51:00.000+02:00

KT Technology has been keeping abreast of forthcoming press releases and news related stories to how Google is making waves to want to enter into television media advertising and kiosk digital advertising. These recent news stories talk about Google making plans to launch new services which would allow them to enter the lucrative television advertising market by means of auctioning adspace on CBS space spot availability. Although this news is unconfirmed by both CBS and Google it would mean that business who wanted to advertise on CBS channels would be bidding by auction for television advertising spots, this would bring televised adverts to the home by way of the highest bidder, an interesting concept which we would be interested to see how growth or demise could result but certainly Google would source a attractive new stream of revenue, the question is if it would be a market viable concept!
The second area speculates that Google is planning to diversify its adwords to kiosks deployed in the field which would by all intent be by means to link consumers to adwords displayed on signage and kiosk screens alike whose owners wanted part of the click revenues earned. A interesting concept which we here at KT are luke on whether it would prove successful, but we will certainly keep abreast of this new concept and if it goes live.
Is there no stopping Google, not that there is anything wrong or detrimental about wanting more new streams of revenue, but the fact is that Google has demonstrated like other new media giants that they will take it upon themselves to compete with new business ventures, and in many cases unfortunately take there business or simply just offer a buy out process. Now for new entrepreneurs who are so fortunate to be bought out like "YouTube" there can be no argumentation that it makes complete sense, but it will also make the job for other startups that job more difficult to compete already in a very difficult market place. Lets hope there are others out there who come up with even more specialised concepts which bring them new value.

Friendly Ways enter US Markets Again

2007-01-13T17:33:00.000+02:00

According to Selfserviceworld and a recent press release from giant Friendly Ways AG there intention for 2007 is to relaunch themselves into the largest self service market which is of course North America.
I add once again as they had done so back in 1999 which then evolved that a group bought themselves into the Friendly Way concept representing the German manufacturers products.
It now appears that there exlcusive agreement is dropped and the German parent company is to re-launch itself and compete with its rival in a market which is also considered one of the most lucrative but also competitive, Friendly Way will have to compete with other domestic giants as NCR, IBM, Kis-Kiosk but to name just a few of the firms who will compete for the all in important "Big Deals". For those of you veterans who like myself know that several European and other international firms have tried the same without result including Friendly Ways I am confident that the battle will both be long and extremely hard.
There is no doubt that friendly Way AG have an exceptional product line, and have also degressed into providing total solution concepts, but it is also well known that there prices are less competitive then some of the other players such as NCR and Kis. Let the battle commence!

Design Infringements on Kiosk Terminals

2007-01-12T12:35:00.000+02:00

KT Technology As a company who prides itself both on futuristic designs, good solid reliable workmanship and a zest to be the best, we should have known that it would have only been a matter of time before another firm would try to copy us. When we first started out in the summer of 2005 we were but a microbe of a firm, and we fighting to make an impression, as at that time we didnt have the finances to manufacturer ourselves we sourced offers from OEM manufactures. One such firm we approach has responded with an attractive offer, but after we had emailed our designs to them, for price and technical clarification we noticed a few months afterwards that they had duplicated our design as there own.
As we had no design registration, there was very little else to do but "bite the bullet", it is now 2 years later and we have moved on from those early days, but I personally have never forgotten how a firm who are one of the largest in there own domestic market, simply thought it was alright to duplicate our work. But one thing we were of course pleased with was that our ingenious designer had struck "oil" as the firm sells many of these every year, even if they dont pay us commission as they should.

Bill payment self service

2007-01-11T11:03:00.000+02:00

KT Technology http://www.kioskterminals.eu
The development of self service applications, are creating oppurtunities to streamline the ease of facilitating our ever complex lives. One such application has been the amalgamation of interfacing a kioskterminal that will allow the average customer by means of cash or electronic payment to in one fail swoop pay all there monthly invoices which nearly every houselhold the world over is required to do every month.
Imagine no longer the need to stand in long ques, at power, gas, telephone etc.. providers to pay a single invoice, but instead each bill can be paid at the same time, on the same terminal and without the need for a member of staff having to wait on you. Idealistic!! but a reality now for several countries.
When living in regions were many do not have the means to open a bank account, this becomes even more so as this offers them a chance to ease there hectic life, while still freeing up more time to pursue free time or work activities. An example was the recent deployment by Wincor Nixdorf, at banks spread throughout the capital Lima and after initial feedback, the popularity of these machines have once again proven to be overwhelming. In a country such as Peru, there are many customers who have no banking facility, by providing a kioskterminal which can accept cash increases the useage quite considerably, and introduces the individual to using electronic payments. This type of solution should be deployed in more regions such as Peru, when if you look statistically at the world populations, more then half have either no banking facility of very little interaction with a financial institution, self service is providing therefore a service for all by this means.