Marathon Deployment has been a valued resource for many OEMs due to our quality installations and customer service practices. Our team of trained service professionals cover the USA coast to coast, including parts of Canada.
Our hardware specialty is directed towards the following markets: Kiosk, Point of Sale, QSR, Retail, Digital Signage and Health Care. We have performed 1000+ of Kiosk and Digital Menu board installations!
Marathon Deployment consistently meet or exceed the expectations of our OEM’s and end clients. With a full range of services including: Pre-installation Surveys, hardware installations, Project Management. We provide National Rollouts for 10 to 5000 locations, and it doesn’t stop there. Additionally we have gone on to manage those installations with our aftermarket field services which include the same day or next day service.
Our customer service rivals the best in the business. Our ability to achieve high QSR grades is mainly due to our experienced technicians and dedicated office personal.
Consider Marathon Deployment for your next project or onsite service request.
Reported by IPVM Aug2020 — By: Sean Patton and Charles Rollet,
The Baldwin County, Alabama public schools purchased a $1 million, 144-camera Hikvision thermal system to screen fevers at dozens of its schools when reopening tomorrow.
However, there is no indication blackbody devices will be used or that, more generally, FDA/international fever screening guidelines will be strictly followed. Instead, both school and integrator have touted violations of said guidelines, like screening 30 people at once or placing cameras directly at entrances with no chance for an adjustment period.
Our friends at IPVM have been at their testing and verification again. This time they looked at Aratek and they came unimpressed to say the least. Tablets from China (or Taiwan) are difficult to avoid. Many of these tablets will end up being repackaged or modified to a different format. The best advice from KioskIndustry is to buy from a credible and established US source. Insist on technical specs. This one for example says it is an infrared. Well, pardon us if we ask which one. Its like saying our computer kiosks come with a computer. Is it Rockchip? A Raspberry PI. An Intel i7 or one of the new AMD Ryzens (those look nice).
To learn more about technology like this, or to contribute your own point of view or expertise, KMA runs several collaboration working groups which you can participate at no charge. Interested? Contact [email protected]
COVID-19 has shifted the way we as a society views cleanliness and personal hygiene. There is a new importance placed upon these principles that many people are prioritizing over everything else in their day-to-day activities as evidenced by industries shifting to a mostly work-from- home -style schedule. When people aren’t in the safety of their own homes, it’s not uncommon to see them regularly applying hand sanitizer,; wearing masks in public areas,; and keeping an appropriate social distance from other people; and more habits that were not commonly seen before the global pandemic of 2020.
That begs the question as to how businesses can maintain regular operations while also keeping in mind the newfound importance of minimizing the spread of bacteria. A growing number of businesses is discovering that implementing a touchless interface to their self-service kiosks covers most of those bases. This is how a touchless kiosk interface does it:
1. A touchless kiosk interface allows for the same interaction without physically contacting the surface of the self-service device. Minimizing the amount of contact an end-user has with your self-service kiosk is one thing, eliminating it is another thing entirely. This can be accomplished by scanning a QR code to access a secure connection between the kiosk device and the end-user’s personal mobile device.
2. Maintaining a self-service kiosk option allows end-users to avoid person-to-person contact with your human workers. Over the past few months, researchers have narrowed down the most common way to transmit COVID-19: person-to-person. It is estimated that interactions between unmasked COVID-19 carriers and unmasked healthy individuals have a 90% chance of resulting in a healthy individual becoming infected. Masks greatly reduce the spread of infection but do not eliminate it, so providing self-service options to minimize person-to-person interactions where possible is essential.
3. Implementing a touchless kiosk solution helps the sanitization supply chain recover. Over the past five months, it has been extremely difficult to purchase cleaning and sanitization supplies. These products have been in such high demand to maintain a level of social cleanliness that suppliers have been operating on a perpetual back-order status since the start of the pandemic, and an alternate solution could alleviate some of that stress on the supply chain. Allowing people to interact with a kiosk through their own personal device will create a gap where products like hand sanitizer or sanitizing wipes would normally be used to reduce the chance of pathogen spread. That begs the question as to how businesses can maintain regular operations while also keeping in mind the newfound importance of minimizing the spread of bacteria. A large number of businesses have discovered that implementing a touchless interface to their self-service kiosks has covered most of those bases. Here’s how a touchless kiosk interface does it:
4. A touchless kiosk interface allows for the same interaction without physically contacting the surface of the self-service device. Minimizing the amount of contact an end-user has with your self-service kiosk is one thing, eliminating is another thing entirely. This can be accomplished in a number of ways, one of them is scanning a QR code to access a secure connection between the kiosk device and the end-user’s
personal mobile device.
5. Maintaining a self-service kiosk option allows for end-users to avoid person-to-person contact with your human workers. Over the past few months, researchers have narrowed down the most common way to transmit COVID-19: person-to-person. It’s estimated that interactions between an unmasked COVID-19 carrier and an unmasked healthy individual has a 90% chance of resulting in the healthy individual becoming infected. Adding masks to the two hypothetical people in those scenarios begins to reduce the chance of infection, but never completely eliminates it. While COVID-19 can still be spread by touching some surfaces contaminated with the virus, it is far less likely to infect a person compared to a person-to-person interaction.
6. Implementing a touchless kiosk solution allows resources that are being otherwise drained to maintain a level of social cleanliness to recover due to a lack of necessity. Over the past five months it has been extremely difficult for anyone, businesses and consumers alike, to purchase cleaning and sanitization supplies like liquid solutions and paper products. There has been such a high demand that suppliers have been operating on a perpetual back-order over the duration of the pandemic and an alternate solution could alleviate that stress on the supply chain. Allowing for people to interact with kiosk through their own personal device will create a gap where products like hand sanitizer or sanitary wipes would normally be used to reduce the chance of pathogen spread.
To address the issue of spreading germs via kiosk touch screens long before COVID, KioWare Kiosk System Software began development on a touchless interface. The impact of COVID-19 accelerated development, and last month, KioWare introduced Allow me to introduce KioTouch™ — the a touchless kiosk interface solution designed by KioWare Kiosk System Software. KioTouch allows for an end-user to interact directly with a kiosk via their personal mobile device by scanning a QR code that is displayed on the attract screen. At that point, a trackpad-style mouse is displayed on the end-user’s device, giving them complete control of the kiosk ’s screen functionsjust as they would have control during normal, physical interface. The trackpad is responsive to clicks, swipes, and all other normal mouse functions. When If a field requires text to be entered, a simple click into the text field ofusing the trackpad onto the field will bring up a keyboard on the end-user’s device, allowing them to enter text as if they were sending a text message or e-mail. At the conclusion of the user’s session, KioTouch can be programmed to display content of the kiosk deployer’s choosing such as, but not limited to, a website, loyalty app, newsletter, or simple “thank you” message.
If you would like to see KioTouch in action, click here .
KioTouch is compatible with any kiosk system software and can be installed on any self-service device, whether it be a full-sized kiosk unit built into a display or a smaller device that would normally be handheld for the end-user. KioWare is not required to run KioTouch, but it is integrated into the latest versions of KioWare for Windows and KioWare for Android and easily activated with a subscription license. and can be installed on any self-service device, whether it be a full-sized kiosk unit built into a display or a smaller device that would normally be handheld for the end-user.
The world around us is changing. People are viewing the world through a new lens, one that emphasizes the importance of reducing germ and pathogen spread. This new perspective means businesses are going to need to get be creative with accommodating the sanitary desires of its customers or continue to deal with closures and limited services due to mandates put in place by governments. Creating a touchless experience with a seamless interface on self-service kiosks without sacrificing a seamless interface will be crucial to thriving in this new era of limited human interaction and higher standards of cleanliness and sanitation.
Too often when projects requirements are detailed, ADA and accessibility considerations are often reduced to the simple phrase, “Must be ADA compliant”. This statement is open to definition and inevitably results in range of bids with widely different ADA “compliance”.
The Kiosk Manufacturer Association has looked at the various ADA regulations in the marketplace and distilled the “kiosk applicable” regulations. There are actually two sets the KMA provides.
Current regulations as stated. These are the currently mandated regulations. These have been reviewed by the U.S. Access Board. One of the main future objectives of the U.S. Access Board is harmonizing the U.S. regulations with the European regulations so there is one worldwide standard. The reference docs for this include:
ADA 2010
Section 508
DOT Air Carrier Access
Other standards to consider: Canadian standards, WCAG, European EN301-549 as well as EMV, state jurisdictional laws and supplemental regulations such as HIPAA, Medical, UL and more.
Code of Practice (Going Forward) – taking the existing standards and restructuring them along with adding in some new technology (voice command e.g.) the KMA developed the Code of Conduct going forward. The intent is to have this ANSI certified and referenced by the U.S. Access Board.
Definitions and Applicability – A note about other standards – certain kiosks may be subject to additional standards. Examples: Airport kiosks must comply with the standards defined by the Air Carrier Access Act. Kiosks procured for federal contracts (or purchased by some municipal and education customers) must comply with the Revised Section 508 Standards. ATMs 2010 ADA, etc.
Functional Performance Criteria
302.1 thru 302.9
Installation & Environment
Clear Floor or Ground Space
Closed Functionality
Biometrics
Privacy
Standard Connections
Operable Parts
407 Operable Parts
408 Display Screens
409 Status Indicators
410 Color Coding
411 Audible Signals
Software
General (501)
Interoperability with Assistive (502)
Captions 1.2.2
Audio Description 1.2.3
Contrast 1.4.3
Low Audio 1.4.7
No Background
Focus Order
Focus Visible
Pointer Cancellation
Target Size
On Focus
Error Identification
Labels or Instructions
Tactility, Voice Recognition and Speech Command
Visual Display Screens
Tactilely Discernible Controls.
Alphabetic keys
Numeric Keys
Audible Output
Voice Recognition and Speech Command
Recommendations for distribution
It is recommended that only ‘accessible’ kiosks be installed until 25% of the total kiosk population in any given location, grouping, common purpose or application meet Standards for Accessible Design
This minimum kiosk population density applies to owned, jointly owned, leased, shared use, controlled, franchised or operated kiosks or other ICT terminals deployed in public spaces, public amenities and in places of public accommodation or service.
To comply with the ACAA Standards for Accessible Design only ‘accessible’ kiosks should be installed until 25% of the kiosk population meets the requirements for Accessible Design.
To comply with the ACAA, 25% of the kiosk population, located together for a common purpose(s), in a group, line or other configuration, must be compliant by December 12th 2022
Acknowledgments –
Contributing KMA sponsors – Olea Kiosks, KioWare, Nanonation, Pyramid, Frank Mayer, Vispero, ZIVELO, KIOSK Information Systems, DynaTouch, TurnKey Kiosks, 22 Miles, Peerless AV, Parabit Systems, Qwick Media, LG-MRI, Lexmark, Intel Corporation, AudioEye, PROVISIO, Kiosk Group, OptConnect, CSA Self-Service, Storm Interface, Tech For All, Mimo Monitors, UCP Unattended Payments, OTI Global and Evoke.
Additional Consulted – IMPRESA, TouchPay, Acquire Digital, Self Service Networks, Panel Brite, TTCE, SEKO MedTec, Marathon, CUSTOM, TOKENWORKS, Insight Touch, Microcom, TECA, STEGO, Practical Automation, Ingenico, Esper. IO, Axiohm, TDS TOUCH, Evolis, BOCA Systems, URway Holdings, Alveni, Kiosk Innovations and Apriva. We also recognize multiple retailers, the RNIB (via proxy), NCR Dundee and the University of Maryland for their contributions.
For more information
The KMA provides this information in complete form to any and all companies looking to deploy a self-service kiosk project or having deployed a self-service kiosk project. For qualified deployers (state, local and federal agencies) a small administration fee of $249 is the only cost. For manufacturers and vendors there is a separate pricing structure based on company size. Contact [email protected] or call at 720-324-1837.
Editors Note: Peerless-AV has created new SmartMount® solutions for Microsoft® Surface™ Hub 2S and 2X! These new solutions include a cart and wall mount, and provide a low profile, connected option for corporate installations.
The new SmartMount® Cart (SR560-HUB2) was designed to safely mount, mobilize, and store the 50.5″ Microsoft® SurfaceTM Hub 2S and 2X. Also designed as a permanent mounting solution for the 50.5″ Microsoft® Surface™ Hub 2S and 2X, Peerless-AV’s SmartMount® Flat Wall Mount (SF640-HUB2) incorporates a circular design to perfectly match the rear of the Surface™ Hub.
For more information on these new solutions, see the press release below. You can click on the pictures for larger image.
Peerless-AV® Creates New SmartMount® Solutions for Microsoft® Surface™ Hub 2S and 2X
New solutions, including a cart and wall mount, provide a low profile, connected option for corporate installations
AURORA, Ill. – August 25, 2020 – Peerless-AV®, an award-winning designer and manufacturer of the highest quality audio and video solutions and accessories, is pleased to announce the newest generation of SmartMount® Solutions including the SmartMount® Cart (SR560-HUB2) and SmartMount® Flat Wall Mount (SF640-HUB2), both for use with the Microsoft® Surface™ Hub 2S and 2X.
The new SmartMount® Cart (SR560-HUB2) was designed to safely mount, mobilize, and store the 50.5″ Microsoft® SurfaceTM Hub 2S and 2X. The cart is load rated up to 65lb, holds the display at Microsoft’s recommended viewing height (55″), and offers vertical adjustment so the display can be positioned at incremental heights 48″ to 60″ from the floor. With the capability of display rotation from landscape to portrait without interference, the cart offers the flexibility users need. The cart also provides clearance to the removable compute cartridge so this can be upgraded without removing the display. The locking 4″ casters provide a stable foundation for touch applications and cable management channels completely hide the cabling inside the uprights. The cart’s robust feature set makes it an ideal solution for corporate, education, hospitality or any application that requires mobility with a seamless look.
Designed as a permanent mounting solution, specifically for the 50.5″ Microsoft® Surface™ Hub 2S and 2X, Peerless-AV’s SmartMount® Flat Wall Mount (SF640-HUB2) incorporates a circular design to perfectly match the rear of the Surface™ Hub. This design ensures direct access to the power and data connections, as well as complete access to the compute cartridge for easy removal and installation without interrupting the display. With a simple Hook-and-Hang™ installation, the mount positions the display close to the wall for a sleek, ADA compliant installation, creating a low-profile mounting solution for the Microsoft® Surface™ Hub 2S and 2X.
Peerless-AV’s SmartMount® Cart and Flat Wall Mount solutions for the Microsoft® Surface™ Hub 2S and 2X are available via Peerless-AV direct sales representatives and authorized distribution networks. For more information about these innovative mounting solutions, please contact a Peerless-AV Sales Representative: www.peerless-av.com/pages/sales-contacts
About Peerless-AV®
Driving Technology Through Innovation
For over 75 years, passion and innovation continue to drive Peerless-AV® forward. We proudly design and manufacture the highest quality products, including outdoor displays and TVs, complete integrated kiosks, video wall mounting systems, professional carts and stands, and more. Whether a full-scale global deployment or custom project, Peerless-AV develops meaningful relationships and delivers world-class service. In partnership with Peerless-AV, you are trusting an award-winning team of experts who will support your business every step of the way. For more information, visit peerless-av.com.
From LinkedIn we see entry from Tucker Lightsey on the release of KIOSKs’ new NoTouch Touchless mobile proxy
Tucker Lightsey
Director of Product Management at KIOSK Information Systems
I want to share something cool we have been working on – Touchless Kiosk!
Control your Kiosk from your smartphone.
– Does not require downloading an app.
– Does not require login or sign up.
– Does not require any modification to the existing kiosk software.
– Secure and encrypted.
– Supports iPhone and Android.
Simply scan and go!
Works on any Windows device (new kiosk, old kiosk, my kiosk, your kiosk, not-even-a-kiosk kiosk). Coming soon to Linux and Android.
Mimo Monitors’ Interactive Touch Controller Included in new Series One Google Meet hardware kit from Lenovo
Mimo Monitors’ sleek, AV-over-IP touchscreen controller provides easy installation and integration to ensure meetings are reliable and hassle-free — Mimo Monitors PR link
CHICAGO, IL—September 16, 2020— Mimo Monitors (www.MimoMonitors.com), the experts in small touchscreen displays, are pleased to share that their innovative Ethernet powered Series One Touch Controller is included in the new Series One Google Meet hardware kit from Lenovo. Designed from the ground up by Cloud and Mimo Monitors, this new innovative touchscreen controller is connected and powered over a single Ethernet (CAT5e) cable simplifying installation and adding elegance to any meeting space or huddle room.
“For the Series One Meet hardware kit we wanted to improve the conference room experience by including a touchscreen controller that was beautiful, lower profile on the table, easy to install, intuitive to use, and elevated the conference room space while providing a delightful experience for both those in the room and those working remotely, “ said TJ Varghese, product manager at Google. “We sought to develop a cutting-edge, power over ethernet solution and we knew Mimo Monitors would be the ideal hardware company to help us bring it to life using DisplayLink technology.”
Combining state-of-the-art software and hardware together to make conference rooms more interactive and seamless to use with sleek visual appeal, the Series One Google Meet hardware kit provides an ideal video conference room solution. Anticipating potential needs, no matter the size or scale of the conference room, each of the thoughtfully curated kit components are designed to work together, eliminating any conference room hassle while bettering the overall experience and increasing productivity.
This Series One Touch Controller, specifically designed for Google Meet in partnership with Lenovo to be a conference room interface, provides an innovative AV-over-IP solution that reduces installation costs and complexities while eliminating the need for an abundance of cables often found in typical conference rooms. Intuitive to use and beautifully crafted, this touchscreen controller is human-scaled and has a sleek low-profile design to maximize space and minimize clutter, enriching video conferencing.
“Conference rooms can be cluttered, costly, and unnecessarily complex. We’re proud to have collaborated with Google Cloud and Lenovo to create a completely new display architecture that eliminates the complication of extending PC interfaces beyond the distance that they were designed for”, said David Anderson, President and CEO of Mimo Monitors. “Ethernet is a perfect solution as we can send data and power over long distances on a single cable. It is an intuitive and simple solution that every IT person knows how to install, and it simultaneously eliminates the need for an electrical outlet at the table, making conference room set up much more flexible.“
The Series One room kits are available in two colors, charcoal, and chalk to integrate seamlessly into any conference room design. The kit will be available beginning at the start of November and range in price from $3,000 to $3,999.. You can learn more about the kit here: https://meetingdevices.withgoogle.com/seriesone
Dean Ward, founder and CTO at Evoke Creative, a design-led manufacturer of interactive digital solutions, which is backed by BGF, the UK’s most active investor in growing businesses, explains:
“Touchscreen technology has remained relevant across retail and leisure since it first emerged on the scene, albeit across the pond in the United States, in the mid-80s.
“It’s revolutionized the way in which we interact with brands and has helped to dramatically streamline operations – at times at the expense of physical manpower. As an increasing number of companies have adopted touchscreen applications to manage customer interaction, sales and achieve greater levels of automation, the technology has become more intuitive, rapid and accurate.
“Its place in the market is undeniable and seemingly infallible. But, when a global pandemic hits – and hits hard – how does its role and usage change in those relevant, yet battered sectors? Having laid dormant for months, as lockdown forced many providers to close their doors, the question is whether the technology will come under threat as we begin to open up again? The simple answer is no. Yes, there is a minority who are understandably reticent about using such devices – whether it’s to order food, book tickets, or pay for items – particularly when they’ve been touched hundreds, if not thousands of times, during the course a day. But brands are still backing touchscreen technology over a physical presence, with increased cleaning regimes and special antibacterial overlays being developed and introduced in branches and stores across the country. The thin film, with layers of silver nitrate, is placed over screens to kill bacteria and, in turn, helps to counteract any consumer concerns. However, it’s by no means 100% effective. Typically, it takes a few hours for the bacteria to be killed. This means that for premises that have a high footfall and an increased rate of screen usage the overlay cannot work fast enough. As such, it has to complement current cleaning regimes and act as a temporary solution to enable businesses to start back up again and provide customers with reassurance that their health and safety is paramount.
“While simple adjustments have been made to enable touchscreen applications to remain functional, other developments have been made in recent months to ensure that the general use of technology stays at an optimum level. One such advancement is the contactless user experience, which can be integrated into existing touchscreen systems. The contactless interface prevents the need for people to touch a screen. The intuitive piece of technology, which can be retrofitted over current self-service kiosks, allows a user to navigate the screen by waving their hand and hovering over buttons. Best suited for simpler applications, such as car parking machines and QSR systems, it helps to negate customer concerns about traditional touchscreen technology and provides extra confidence for users.
“In the current climate, confidence is key. Research and development in the kiosk sector have to be rooted in this principle, certainly in the short term. Customers need it; retail and leisure operators need it. One such development is contactless temperature checking, which can screen customers and employees on arrival. This is gaining particular traction in the gym and fitness industry. With multiple gym operators entering into administration in recent weeks, as a direct result of the pandemic, gyms are understandably placing confidence-inducing measures at the centre of their operations. This tactic is largely to retain memberships and fee income, while demonstrating that the health and wellbeing of their members is critical to a business’ survival.
“The advancement of contactless technology, in lieu of developments in touchscreen applications, has been borne out of COVID-19. The solutions may be temporary. On the other hand, they may develop further as we see future markets emerge, such as the health and wellbeing of customers and employees. However, what they both do is provide retailers and leisure operators with options in a world that has suddenly closed many doors.
“It’s clear that everything is evolving at an extreme rate. COVID-19 is not going away any time soon, and, as companies continue to reopen and assess what they need to do to remain viable, the self-service kiosk market has to step up to the plate, develop products quickly and try different approaches, in order to meet the changing needs of consumers – if not the world.
“The market is growing and will continue to be buoyant. As we emerge from the Coronavirus pandemic, many companies that are financially unstable will be looking at ways to cut operational overheads. Opening back up with fewer staff, means that self-service kiosks – touchscreen or otherwise – will become more important than ever before. Whether it’s virtual receptions, food ordering services, or payment terminals, businesses will be searching for solutions that maximise transaction conversion rates, improve customer journeys and reduce costs.
“It’s essential for brands to connect and communicate with employees and customers, but they need to find new ways of doing this safely. It’s by no means an underestimation that technology has a huge role to play.”
Led by founders Neil Clark and Dean Ward, Evoke prides itself on creating bespoke solutions and providing an end-to-end service for customers, with design, software development and product assembly performed in-house to ensure quality is maintained. Evoke has been voted as one of the 50 fastest growing companies in the North at the Northern Tech Awards for the past five years.
From Forbes Oct2020 — Article quotes new Australian research study on the effect of temperature on persistence of SARS-CoV-2 on common surfaces such as stainless steel, paper, glass, cotton, vinyl and polymer. The main point is that surfaces which are relatively cool are going to be more prone to harboring infection. 68 degrees F is comfortable for the virus and extends to 28 days. 86 degrees knocks the lifespan down to 2 days.
Several publications jumped on this report but for some reason singled out cash as the primary focus. That is probably good for clicks and traffic but not informative and educational as primary. For us the bottomline is first priority is clean your mobile phone.
Before we get to the Forbes excerpt here are some comments by Matt Sykes PhD
“COVID remains on banknotes for 28 days” – it’s a great headline, isn’t it? A pity the news article so poorly represents the research and pragmatic considerations. For example: – The research is in lab conditions. Highly controlled. Exactly as it should have been for research, but not representative of the every day. For example, it doesn’t seek to account for higher temperatures in wallets/purses – 28 days is the time for 100% certainty of the virus being gone. However, at 20 degrees, 90% is gone in around 6 days; at 30 degrees, 90% is gone in 2 days – The experiment was at a constant 50% humidity (again, the right decision for research). Depending on where you are in Australia, you’ll have humidity closer to 60-70%, which reduces the life of the virus – It is now commonplace for retail staff and consumers to hand sanitise before and after using cash, which clearly makes practical risk much lower, and will likely impact on the life of the virus on a note (hand sanitiser wiping on notes through touch)
It is frustrating and unfortunate that a publication such as the The Australian Financial Review runs to sensationalism. Great to have research, but interpret it correctly!
PM me if you want more details on interpreting the research.
These findings reinforce the importance of hand-washing or using disinfecting hand sanitizer after visiting an ATM or handling cash.
The researchers tested how long the coronavirus survived on both paper and polymer banknotes at various temperatures. They found that the coronavirus can survive “to at least 28 days” on both types of banknotes, which is significantly longer than the seasonal flu virus’s “demonstrated survival up to 17 days” at room temperature (20 degrees Celsius or 68 degrees Fahrenheit).
“Use drive-thru banking services, automated teller machines (ATM), or mobile banking apps for routine transactions that do not require face-to-face assistance as much as possible.”
“Use hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol after any deposit, withdrawal, exchange, drive-thru visit, or use of an ATM.
Excerpt From The Study
The persistence of virus on both paper and polymer currency is of particular significance, considering the frequency of circulation and the potential for transfer of viable virus both between individuals and geographic locations. While other studies have shown that paper notes harbour more pathogens than polymer notes [38], this data demonstrates that SARS-CoV-2 persists on both paper notes and polymer notes to at least 28 days at 20 °C, albeit with a faster rate of inactivation on polymer notes. Data presented in this study for banknotes is significantly longer than reported for other respiratory viruses such as Influenza A (H3N2) which demonstrated survival up to 17 days at room temperature [39]. It is also noted that prior to SARS-Cov-2 being declared a pandemic, China had commenced decontamination of its paper based currency, suggesting concerns over transmission via paper banknotes existed at the time [40, 41]. The United States and South Korea have also quarantined bank notes as a result of the pandemic [42, 43]. It is important to note that after 28 days, infectious SARS-CoV-2 was also recovered from stainless steel, vinyl and glass, suggesting survivability on paper or polymer banknotes was not very different from the other non-porous surfaces studied.
The persistence on glass is an important finding, given that touchscreen devices such as mobile phones, bank ATMs, supermarket self-serve checkouts and airport check-in kiosks are high touch surfaces which may not be regularly cleaned and therefore pose a transmission risk of SARS-CoV-2. It has been demonstrated that mobile phones can harbour pathogens responsible for nosocomial transmission [44], and unlike hands, are not regularly cleaned [45]. The data presented in this study correlates well with previously published data for Influenza A (H1N1) which recovered infectious virus up to 22 days at 22 °C and 7 days at 35 °C [37]. The persistence of SARS-COV-2 on glass and vinyl (both common screen and screen protector materials, suggest that touchscreen devices may provide a potential source of transmission, and should regularly be disinfected especially in multi-user environments.
If you are looking for a qualified kiosk solution then you should browse the Intel Solutions Marketplace for Intel-qualified kiosk solutions. Member entries include:
North America’s Largest Independent Service and Integration Provider for Payment and Transaction Technology
Burroughs, Inc. is the largest independent service and integration provider for payment and transaction technologies in North America with a 134-year history of innovation and support.
From the first adding machine to today’s most complex cash automation, they’ve seen and helped drive numerous evolutions in payment and transaction technology.
The Burroughs team has expertise and progressive thinking to help guide customers through decisions to ensure the best outcomes. They have experience managing over 100,000 devices, including kiosks, self-checkouts, smart safes, cash recyclers, ATMs, and other 4-wall technology, so customers get maximum uptime, security, and compliance while making sure they achieve greater accountability, insight, and efficiency with every transaction.
Recently, Burroughs announced a rebrand to its visual identity that reflects a commitment to delivering best-in-class service and solutions within financial, retail, gaming, and emerging markets through innovation, collaboration, agility, and service excellence. In addition, a newly updated website highlights the company’s OEM-agnostic technology approach and focus on providing integrated payment and transaction solutions to help customers get the most out of their technology investment.
The FDA issued new guidance on the use of thermal imaging systems, temperature check and fever detection. See here for full article.
As discussed further below, scientific studies support that certain telethermographic systems, also known as thermal imaging systems, may be used to measure surface skin temperature. These systems include an infrared thermal camera and may have a temperature reference source. In this document, they are referred to as thermal imaging systems.
Thermal Imaging Systems and COVID-19
When used correctly, thermal imaging systems generally have been shown to accurately measure someone’s surface skin temperature without being physically close to the person being evaluated. Thermal imaging systems offer certain benefits in that other methods need a closer proximity or contact to measure temperature (for example, non-contact infrared thermometers or oral thermometers).
Temperature-based screening, such as thermal imaging, is not effective at determining if someone definitively has COVID-19 because, among other things, a person with COVID-19 may not have a fever. A diagnostic test must be performed to determine if someone has COVID-19.
Thermal imaging systems have not been shown to be accurate when used to take the temperature of multiple people at the same time. The accuracy of these systems depends on careful set-up and operation, as well as proper preparation of the person being evaluated.
Thermal imaging systems have been used by several countries during epidemics, although information about their effectiveness as part of efforts to reduce the spread of disease has been mixed.
The FDA issued the Enforcement Policy for Telethermographic Systems During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Public Health Emergency guidance to help expand the availability of thermal imaging systems and mitigate thermometer shortages during the public health emergency. The guidance sets forth an enforcement policy that is intended to apply to all thermal imaging systems that are intended for medical purposes for the duration of the public health emergency related to COVID-19, and provides recommendations regarding performance and labeling of such systems.
Limitations of Thermal Imaging Systems
Although these systems may be in use for initial temperature assessment to triage individuals in high throughput areas (for example, airports, businesses and sporting events), the systems have not been shown to be effective when used to take the temperature of multiple people at the same time. They should not be used for “mass fever screening.”
These systems measure surface skin temperature, which is usually lower than a temperature measured orally. Thermal imaging systems must be adjusted properly to correct for this difference in measurements.
These systems work effectively only when all the following are true:
The systems are used in the right environment or location.
The systems are set up and operated correctly.
The person being assessed is prepared according to instructions.
The person handling the thermal imaging system is properly trained.
Proper Use of Thermal Imaging Systems
The person who handles the system should follow all manufacturer instructions to make sure the system is set up properly and located where it can measure surface skin temperature accurately.
The person who handles the system should be trained to properly prepare both the location where the system will be used, and the person being evaluated, to increase accuracy. For details, see the standards and scientific papers listed under References below.
Preparing the Area where You will Use a Thermal Imaging System
Room temperature should be 68-76 °F (20-24 °C) and relative humidity 10-50 percent.
Try to control other items that could impact the temperature measurement:
Avoid reflective backgrounds (for example, glass, mirrors, metallic surfaces) to minimize reflected infrared radiation.
Use in a room with no draft (movement of air), out of direct sunlight and away from radiant heat (for example, portable heaters, electrical sources).
Avoid strong lighting (for example, incandescent, halogen and quartz tungsten halogen light bulbs).
Preparing the Thermal Imaging System
Some systems require the use of a calibrated blackbody (a tool for checking the calibration of an infrared temperature sensor) during evaluation to make sure measurements are accurate. Check the manufacturer’s instructions to determine if a calibrated blackbody is needed. Some devices do not require one.
Turn on the entire system 30 minutes before use to warm it up.
Preparing the Person Being Evaluated
The person handling the system should make sure the person being evaluated:
Does not have any face obstructions before measurement (such as a mask, glasses, hat, headband, or scarf), the person’s hair is pulled away from the face, and the person’s face is clean and dry.
Does not have a higher or lower face temperature from wearing excessive clothing or head covers (for example, headbands, bandanas) or from using facial cleansing products (for example, cosmetic wipes).
Has waited at least 15 minutes in the measurement room or 30 minutes after exercising, strenuous physical activity, bathing, or using hot or cold compresses on the face.
Questions about Using Thermal Imaging Systems during COVID-19
Q: Are thermal imaging systems effective for screening people for fevers in places like nursing homes, airports, and hospital emergency rooms?
A: When using a thermal imaging system, it is important to assess whether the system will provide the intended results in high throughput areas. We understand that these devices are being used for initial temperature assessment and triage of individuals for elevated temperatures in medical and non-medical environments. They should not be used for measuring temperatures of many people at the same time in crowded areas, in other words “mass fever screening” is not recommended.
Based on where the system will be used, there may be more appropriate methods to initially assess and triage people, especially if there is a risk that infected people would not be identified right away. For example:
In a nursing home, inaccurate temperature measurement or a missed contagious person without a fever could spread infection among nursing home residents. So, in this case, other assessment options and following infection control practices may be more effective.
In airports, workplaces, grocery stores, concert venues, or other areas where you are trying to screen large groups of people for mass fever screening, diagnostic testing may be too difficult because of the time and costs needed to screen and get results. These systems will likely miss most individuals with COVID-19 who are contagious. Thermal imaging systems could be considered as one method for initial temperature assessment in these types of settings when used as part of a larger approach to risk management.
In a hospital emergency room, a thermal imaging system may help to quickly assess temperature and triage patients to determine who needs more evaluation or isolation.
Q: Are thermal imaging systems effective as the sole means of diagnosing COVID-19?
A: No. A fever or higher body temperature is only one possible symptom of a COVID-19 infection. Thermal imaging systems generally detect a high body temperature accurately when used appropriately. They do not detect any other infection symptoms, and many people with COVID-19 can be contagious without a fever. Also, a high body temperature does not necessarily mean a person has a COVID-19 infection.
All fevers measured by thermal imaging systems should be confirmed by another method and followed by more diagnostic evaluations for other symptoms, as appropriate.
Q: How can thermal imaging systems help with the COVID-19 response?
A: To help address urgent public health concerns raised by shortages of temperature measurement products and expand the availability of telethermographic systems used for initial body temperature for triage use during this COVID-19 public health emergency, the FDA is applying regulatory flexibility for certain telethermographic systems as outlined in its enforcement policy.
When a high body temperature is identified by thermal imaging, an additional evaluation should follow (for example, doctor evaluations or interview, laboratory testing and patient observation).
Q: Are thermal imaging systems used for body temperature assessment considered medical devices?
A: As discussed in the enforcement policy, telethermographic systems are devices when they are intended for a medical purpose. To determine if these products are intended for a medical purpose, FDA will consider whether:
They are labeled or otherwise intended for use by a health care professional;
They are labeled or otherwise for use in a health care facility or environment; and
They are labeled for an intended use that meets the definition of a device, for example, body temperature measurement for diagnostic purposes, including in non-medical environments.
Q: How does a thermal imaging system differ from a thermometer?
A: Both thermal imaging systems and non-contact infrared thermometers (NCIT) can measure surface temperatures without contact. An NCIT measures surface temperature in a single location, whereas a thermal imaging system can measure temperature differences across multiple locations, creating a relative temperature map of a region of the body. The enforcement policy in the guidance applies to use of thermal imaging systems to determine initial body temperature measurements.
Fast Casual Kiosk News – Inspire Brands Paul Brown
Nice article on/with Paul Brown, the CEO of Inspire Brands by Elliot at KMC. If you operate or manage restaurants register directly here for webinar today at 3:30 EDT.
Excerpt:
On Tuesday, attendees at the MUFSO virtual conference will have a chance to hear from a leader of one of the more innovative restaurant companies when Paul Brown, CEO of Inspire Brands, speaks on “Building a Culture that Sparks Innovation” at 3:30 p.m.
Brown, whose resume includes leadership roles at Arby’s, Hilton Worlwide, Expedia Inc. and McKinsey & Co., will offer his insights on how to stimulate innovation in a team. His presentation is sponsored by the Kiosk Manufacturer Association.
KMC was able to submit some questions to Mr. Brown and here are some the areas he talks about in the KMC article.
Enhanced online orders – Inspire Brands further enhanced its ordering capability by partnering with ItsaCheckmate, which integrates multiple online ordering platforms into POS systems.
Enhanced supply chain – On the supplier side of the business, the company has focused on its supply chain, tapping supply chain specialist CMX to improve its efficiencies.
How to inspire innovation – So how does a company achieve all this innovation?
Read the full article interview on/with Paul Brown, the CEO of Inspire Brands by Elliot at KMC.
In 2019 a study showed just how unsanitary quick-service restaurant kiosks are and how kiosks can put customers at risk for picking up a range of harmful bacteria. Shortly after this study was released the development team at KioWare began designing KioTouch, a touchless kiosk interface. Using KioTouch, the user of a kiosk would scan a QR code generated on the attract screen and then be empowered to use their mobile device as a trackpad-style mouse to interact with the kiosk’s program.
Moving out of development and into the release phase, KioWare was focused primarily on the features that made KioTouch unique as it related to the safety aspect of a touchless interface. However, we left the door open for this touchless tool to evolve and grow beyond its purpose as a more sanitary interface with shared devices and self-service kiosks. After a handful of demonstrations with prospective clients, we received feedback that allowed us to reframe just what KioTouch is and what it is capable of in real-world application.
For instance, because users scan a QR code to interface with the kiosk through a mobile device, they do not need to be directly in front of the kiosk. This means a company could implement a display that faces out of the building that customers could use even when the business is closed. This is beneficial on many levels because not only does it give customers access to some of the same information and services that they would have if the business was open, but it also alleviates congestion and overcrowding within the facility while it is operational. This is crucial in a society dealing with a pandemic-like COVID-19 and keeping people as socially distanced as possible.
That is just one alternate use though.
Suppose a business has digital displays, but they are static and unable to be used without adding hardware such as a mouse and/or keyboard or replacing the existing display with a touchscreen display. KioTouch requires no hardware retrofits of any kind. This means that taking a static display and installing KioTouch would effectively give it the same functionality as an interactive touchscreen display, without the physical interface. The benefits stack as not only is KioTouch more sanitary than using a touchscreen interface, but also it has the potential to save a company thousands of dollars in hardware costs related to replacing static displays with interactive touchscreen displays. KioTouch helps in lessening the spread of bacteria as well as helping to keep costs down while adding a new layer of convenience.
Here is a second alternate use for KioTouch.
Businesses that require staff working with customers on the same computer have a safety issue with both a staff member and a customer touching the same computer. Instead, the customer scans a QR code on the computer screen and uses their mobile device to work on the staffer’s computer. Problem solved.
KioTouch was designed and developed by KioWare as a tool to minimize physical contact with shared devices and self-service kiosks to lessen the spread of bacteria, but we are still learning just how capable and powerful KioTouch can be. If you would like to set up a demonstration of KioTouch, please e-mail us at [email protected]. The demonstration is quick and easy as we will share out our computer screen with a QR code displayed that you will scan and take over control of our computer screen. You personally will be able to harness the power of KioTouch through your own personal mobile device.
IPVM has found 40+ USA and EU companies relabeling fever tablets designed, developed, and made in China, identifying 7 main China suppliers, excluding Dahua and Hikvision, who supply the
overwhelming majority of western brands.
In this report we examine:
The 4 primary features differentiating tablet suppliers
The range in pricing offered
Common screening issues when using tablets
Breakdown of the 7 main China manufacturers
List of the 40+ USA and EU relabellers including 2M Technology, AlphaCard, Astouch, Atlantic, Aurora Multimedia, BlueSquare, Bolide, Canon, Certify SnapXT, Comelit, CP Plus, Creative Realties, Datamax, Diversified, Esprit Digital, Focused Technology, Groove Badges, Info-Motion, Injes, Invid, KJB Security, Ksubaka, Lamasa, LTS, Meridian, MyLobby, Native Gaming Services, OneScreen, Pacific Digital Signs, PopID, Popshap, River, Savance, Signfastic, Speco, Sperry West, Supearior, Touchrate, VisionLab
Fever tablet suppliers heavily rely on the accuracy and specs of medical-grade sensors, from Melexis and others, to elevate their tablet marketing and support their use.
We spoke with Melexis and in this report, examine:
Who is Melexis
What type of sensors do they offer
Are Melexis sensors accurate for medical applications
Read the full post at Nanonation website – Nov2020
Nebraska Army National Guard + Virtual Reality | Part 1
Excerpt
Nanonation is partnering with the Nebraska Army National Guard to bring a Virtual Reality (VR) experience to their recruiting efforts. Through the partnership, Nanonation has been able to understand the process in which young men and women are recruited to the Guard and are developing a VR game consistent with their training exercises. We are going to walk you through the project in the coming months and allow you to see how it is done! The first step – create the perfect character animations who we lovingly call Pete, Chloe, and Sergeant. The second step – record the perfect audio for each character and work through the kinks with in-person testing, which took place in our offices this week. See the photos below.
Read the full post and see the pictures at the Nanonation website
From LinkedIn post by Frank Olea CEO. Healthcare Check-in Kiosks on the line today. This is a special version of the Austin where the screen and camera can be tilted up and down by the user.
Enhancing the Visitors’ Experience with Omnichannel Retail Technologies
Powered by enhanced features, Acquire Digital’s Shelf-Edge, Endless Aisle, and Retail Wayfinding solutions are transforming the shopping experience in brick and mortar stores. From the AcquireDigital Blog —
During the initial months of 2020, retailers dealing with essentials were left with very little time to act and put in measures to safeguard the health of their employees and customers. On the other hand, non-essential retailers were making every possible effort to move from the traditional, physical environment to a digital one. With the arrival of June, e-commerce stores were way ahead of the usual brick and mortar stores with more than 4X sales.
While this pandemic posed many challenges for physical storefronts, technological advances are accelerating the digital transformation of the retail industry. These technologies power the enhancement of customer personalization, physical store shopping, and contactless service.
An interesting fact worth mentioning is that these experiences aren’t just limited to hyper or superstores or high-end retailers; midsize and small stores all need to change their focus and shift toward these next-gen technologies to serve their customers in a better way in the wake of a new normal.
Key Challenges for Brick & Mortar Stores For retailers, it is critical to understand that the traditional shopping experience is changing, and expecting things and businesses to return to ‘normal’ is futile. Even before this pandemic struck the world, traditional retail stores were already under attack, thanks to e-commerce giants like Amazon.
The pandemic has simply widened the gaps and has made the situation critical for retailers to adjust to market demands. With more and more consumers opting for online shopping, retailers are in no position to be in sit-and-watch mode. For the first time ever, more than a quarter of holiday sales will occur online.
According to Digital Commerce 360, online holiday sales are expected to surge to 43% in 2020.
Retailers looking to bridge the gap need to focus on improving the in-store experience to drive online sales. We’ve seen the emergence of retailers like Bonobos who use physical locations to increase awareness and allow users to try on, and touch and feel the products before purchasing online or through a ship-to-home purchasing model.
On the other hand, larger retailers should be taking a closer look at how consumers navigate their stores and make purchasing decisions. Utilizing the advancement in digital technologies can assist retailers with these changes.
A New, Redefined Baseline: Before anything else, traditional stores have to ensure that their operations comply with the necessary health-and-safety regulations while meeting the basic consumer expectations. This involves maintaining a proper physical distance, mask-wearing, controlling the number of customers in the store, enhancing the speed of service, initiating contactless transactions, and introducing self-service and eCommerce options.
Retail+Shopping+Solution
Rethinking In-Person Experience: Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, retailers have to ensure that the in-store experience they are providing to their customers is simply extraordinary. In other words, retailers have to give their customers a compelling reason to visit. Only such in-store experience would break the inertia of consumer behavior that they adopted during the early days of the pandemic.
Digital Technology is The Ally in Tough Times Similar to other industry verticals, digital technology has become the savior of the retail industry as well. Retailers are utilizing many existing technologies to elevate the customer experience while safeguarding the health interests of their employees.
With drive-thru seeing an obvious surge in popularity, is this now the blueprint for all out of town QSRs?
Fantastic to be working again with McDonalds on their latest Drive-Thru deployment. A huge part of their future business strategy and a massive benefit for their customers during this past year. — Dean Ward Founder of Evoke Creative
Today at the company’s first investor update in three years, McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski detailed a new long-term growth strategy that hinges in large part on machine learning and mobile software. That might sound strange for a company known more for its burgers than its bitrates. But given its recent investments—including its $300 million acquisition of “decision engine” Dynamic Yield last year—the Golden Arches can lay a convincing claim that it’s as much a tech company as anything else. And given its quick-service ubiquity, where it goes the whole industry will likely follow.
The dramatic changes wrought by the Covid-19 pandemic have made that transformation all the more critical. By mid-April, 97 percent of restaurants in the United States weren’t permitted to host in-person dining, according to market research company NPD Group. That makes the drive-thru—where 70 percent of McDonald’s sales have taken place during the Covid-19 pandemic globally in top markets—existentially important.
“It’s a must-do, now,” says Lucy Brady, who since January has led a new McDonald’s digital engagement effort. “It’s no longer optional.”
It’s no surprise that at McDonald’s, we’ve got a thing for Drive Thru. After all, that’s what happens when you have over 25,000 of them worldwide—the most of any restaurant company in the world. And when you know Drive Thru like we do, you can’t help but ask yourself: what should the future look like?
Already, we’re welcoming a new generation of customers. One that expects more features and convenience than ever before. Lucky for us, we know our strengths, and as we step toward the future we’re doubling down on each of them.
Because what our customers love about McDonald’s isn’t just the food or coffee with a smile on the side, it’s the speed, simplicity and consistency of their entire experience. Our desire to innovate starts here: By using new technologies to revolutionize the way customers pick up their food.
• Easy Ordering and Payment ID: We’ve been cooking up ways to make the ordering process easier and more streamlined with automated ordering and payments made by identifying customers at the display screen.
• Express Pick Up: New technology will alert crew to prep orders when customers are nearby, while dedicated parking spaces ensure fast pick up.
• Express Drive Thru: A new lane lets customers using the app skip the line and get their food even faster (that means less time waiting and more time enjoying delicious, hotter food).
• On-the-Go: A smaller restaurant footprint would focus exclusively on efficiency, featuring Drive Thru, takeaway, and delivery with limited or no dine-in seating.
Growth comes through innovation. After looking at both the landscape and our customer, we’re once leaping even further ahead by obsessing over what works best for everyday McDonald’s customers: speed, convenience, and ease.
Put it all together and you’ve got a McDonald’s experience made with the future in mind. One we hope reaches more than 10,000 restaurants worldwide and offers countless more opportunities for customers to have the experiences they know and love. Experiences we believe could be truly transformative.
At McDonald’s, we’ve been setting the standard for Drive Thrus for more than 45 years. We’re always testing new ideas, learning what our customers love, and exploring ideas that make the McDonald’s Drive Thru experience faster and easier for everyone. Stay tuned.
November 2020: POI devices must support one or more of four specified techniques for the loading of private or secret keys. Methods a and b are for plaintext key loading and methods c and d are for encrypted key loading. The requirement specifies that EPPs and OEM PEDs intended for use in an unattended environment shall only support methods a, c, and d. It further specifies that SCRPs shall only support the loading of encrypted keying material. Are there any other restrictions?
A Yes. For all new evaluations (i.e., evaluations that result in a new approval) of POI v5 devices, the POI devices must support at least one of the encrypted key loading methods for the loading of private or secret keys
Requirement A9 stipulates that the device must provide a means to deter the visual observation of PIN values as they are being entered by the cardholder. What methods are acceptable?
A The POI Security Requirements provide for several options that may be used separately or in combination to provide privacy during PIN entry. These options are: ▪ A physical (privacy)shielding barrier. Note that in case the privacy shield is detachable, a user’s guide must accompany the device that states that the privacy shield must be used to comply with ISO 9564. Optionally, the user’s guide can also reference PCI device requirements; ▪ Designed so that the cardholder can shield it with his/her body to protect against observation of the PIN during PIN entry, e.g., a handheld device; ▪ Limited viewing angle (for example, a polarizing filter or recessed PIN pad); ▪ Housing that is part of the ATM or kiosk, cardholder’s hand or body (applies to handheld devices only); and ▪ The installed device’s environment.
May (update) 2018: PIN entry devices may physically integrate in the same device other functionality, such as mobile phone, PDA capabilities or POS terminal. Handheld configurations of PIN entry devices may accommodate the attachment (e.g., via a sled, sleeve or audio jack) of a mobile phone, PDA or POS terminal, where the attached device communicates with the PED. Such a configuration appears as a single device, with separate interfaces for input by the clerk and cardholder. What considerations must be taken into account for either of these configurations?
May (update) 2018: PIN Entry Devices that attach to a mobile phone, PDA or POS terminal via a sled, sleeve, audio jack, or wireless connection are required to support SRED. Does this apply to PEDs that are integrated with other devices (such as a tablet or mobile phone) that appear as a single device?
A Yes. An integrated device is one where two physically and electronically distinct devices (e.g., a PED and a commercial off the shelf (COTS) device such as a mobile phone) appear as a single device through the use of the plastics to mask the connectivity. In such a configuration, there is a risk that the cardholder enters the PIN on the wrong interface. Furthermore, the communication interface between the PED and the integrated device may give the latter access to card reader functions without cryptographic controls, allowing skimming of card account data. In this integration model, then either: ▪ Both the PED and non-PED are assessed and validated as compliant to the PTS POI requirements, or ▪ The PED, which must also control the card reader(s), must implement and be validated against the PTS POI SRED module and be both physically and electronically distinct from the non-PED system (for example, it is not acceptable to have the PED firmware execute within the same processor as the non-PED firmware). The PED must enforce SRED functions for encryption of card data at all times. The PED is only allowed one state, and that is to encrypt all account data. It cannot be configured to enter a state where account data is not encrypted. The Security Policy must also state that the non-PED has not been assessed under the PCI PTS program and security guidance is required to ensure the secure operation of the solution. An additional note will be added to the portal noting that the non-PED has not been assessed under the PTS program.
October 2018: Are there minimum requirements for the version of Android to be used within a PTS device?
A Yes, it is expected that the Android version is officially supported with security patches, at a minimum. Any reports, including deltas, where the Android version is not supported with regular security patches will be rejected. Where these patches are not provided by Google, evidence of security patches (implemented at least monthly) provided by the vendor must be documented in the report provided by PCI; evidence for this is expected to be validation of the update code by the laboratory for at least two previous patches, as well as validation by the laboratory that these patches have remediated existing known vulnerabilities in the version of Android used. Vendors should note that this means that consideration for the future patch status of any Android version used must be made during the initial design stages of the device, to prevent unexpected rejection of devices after an Android version becomes unsupported during the development of a solution.
What vulnerabilities must be taken into account for a touchscreen?
A If the sides are accessible, an overlay attack utilizing a second, clear touchscreen could be a problem. The connection/path from the touchscreen to the processor (and any devices used for decoding the signals in between) needs to be verified to be secure. Bezels around the touchscreen are especially dangerous because they can conceal access to areas of concern that are described above. The API for firmware and applications (if applicable) needs to be looked at carefully to determine the conditions under which plain-text data entry is allowed. Example: It should not be possible unless under acquirer display prompt-controlled devices, for a third party to display an image (JPEG) that states “press enter when ready for PIN entry” and then have a plain-text keypad pop up on the next screen. The extra caution is warranted for touchscreen devices because of the desire to make touchscreen devices user-friendly and to run many different, unauthenticated, uncontrolled applications. This is especially true for the devices that are intended to be held because of the tendency to regard them as a PDA that can perform debit transactions.
February (update) 2014: Does the use of protective keypad overlays impact the approval status of a device?
A Yes. In general, overlays are not supported by the device approval program due to the potential for keypad tapping or hiding tamper evidence. Overlays may be used where they do not cover any portion of the PIN entry area. For example, in a touchscreen device where the touchscreen is used for both signature capture and PIN entry, an overlay may be used to protect the signature area from excessive wear. In this example only the area used for signature capture may be protected. The material used must be transparent, and not merely translucent, so as not to obstruct the key-entry area when viewed from any angle
Some devices ship with firmware that may be convertible into a compliant version but is not compliant as shipped. When is this acceptable?
A This is only acceptable where the conversion is one way and cannot be reversed. A device can only be converted to a compliant version. It shall not be capable of converting a compliant version to a non-compliant version. The conversion must be performed at the initial key loading of the acquiring entity’s secret keys. The transformation must result in the zeroization of any previously existing acquiring entity secret keys. The compliant version of firmware must be clearly distinguishable from the non-compliant version. Merely appending a suffix (one or more characters) to an existing firmware version is not acceptable. Rather the conversion must result in a high order version number that is clearly distinguishable to purchasers of such devices. Only the compliant version shall be approved and listed.
January 2015: There are a number of FAQs on the use of wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi. What is the intent of these FAQs, and does PCI have any specific requirements for other types of communications technologies?
A The intent of the FAQs on all wireless communications for POI devices is to ensure that the interfaces of the POI are protected such that: ▪ Card data cannot be easily intercepted. ▪ Command interfaces to the terminal cannot be easily accessed, intercepted for attack (such as MITM), or used as an attack vector into the device. ▪ Compromise of the interface does not lead to, support, or facilitate further compromise of security assets of the POI. PCI does not mandate or require the use of any specific communication technology, but any implementation must meet the above requirements through some aspect of the physical or logical layers of communication. Physical or direct wired communication often achieves this through the nature of its physical interface. Wireless communications cannot rely on this and therefore must rely instead on security at the link or application layers through use of a Security Protocol to establish a trusted path for all communications over the wireless link. This Security Protocol must have been tested and approved under the open-protocols module of the PCI PTS evaluation of that device, and examples of acceptable Security Protocol implementations include WPA2 (implemented at the link layer), or VPN encrypted tunnels (implemented at the application layer)
December (update) 2016: Can a PTS device be used as a beacon (iBeacon or BLE beacon) transmitter?
A Beacons for any version of BLE (e.g., 4.0, 4.1) are allowed providing the following conditions exists and are validated by a PTS approved lab: ▪ The beacon is listed as a device interface in the PTS POI report. ▪ Over the Air (OTA) provisioning is not allowed at any time. Provisioning and updating of beacons must be consistent with existing PTS standards. (i.e., Section J, B4 or B4.1) ▪ Must be referenced in the security policy. ▪ Beacons are transmit-only. The lab must validate that BLE communication cannot be used to respond to any external requests, connect, pair, or otherwise provide two-way communication to any other device. ▪ The vendor provides documentation on the secure use and provisioning of the beacon and that the documentation clearly states the beacon is used for transmit only, and that OTA provisioning is not allowed. ▪ The vendor will document the purpose of use of the beacon functionality⎯i.e., its intended use. The documentation must include what data is transmitted and ensure that no sensitive data can be transmitted. ▪ The PTS device is never allowed to receive beacon transmissions.
Retailers who offer contactless payments have a lot to gain.
New research shows that nearly two thirds of consumers globally prefer shopping with merchants who accept contactless payments!
Future-proof your income while lowering vending downtime, cash handling costs, theft and security concerns. Take TRIO-IQ, an intelligent, modular combo platform that works with all Payment options: QR Codes, custom app (mobile/closed loop), EMV Contactless, Contact, and Magstripe. Indoor or outdoor, Trio IQ is a single piece of hardware that can handle any job. Includes: payment readers, controllers, and cloud-based management systems for kiosks, automated retail, laundromats, vending machines, micro markets, EV charging stations, games, digital air and vacuum machines, transit, and more.
Datacap and Dash Now enable Text-to-Pay (eCommerce transactions) alongside card-present payments for any Point of Sale via Datacap’s NETePay Hosted™ platform. No hardware or mobile app required.
Editor Note: This type of transaction is very common. Calling into order is likely the most common way of ordering. We order food regularly from restaurants and unless you are a loyal customer and have bothered to load their app and sign in to their loyalty program (and released all of your personal information to them along the way), its very problematic. Even the new Google Pay works and then it doesn’t work. We have a loyalty account at Paneras e.g. Ordering via the mobile and their website doesn’t link my phone number and rewards to my account, unless I use the Panera app and logged in.
Gaining new customers would seem to be ideal first priority. Putting barriers in front of those customers “trying” your restaurant is counterproductive.
How Text-To-Pay for Restaurants works:
Text-to-Pay for To-Go Orders
Send a text message to your customer allowing them to pay for their order remotely and receive a real-time notification when the customer arrives to pick up their order.
Datacap develops processor and hardware agnostic payment solutions for any Point of Sale regardless of industry vertical or operating system. Our industry-standard solutions are utilized by hundreds of Point of Sale developers in North America in an array of vertical markets.
DATACAP FOUNDED IN 1983
Datacap becomes the first to provide cash registers with integrated payments and data capture/movement capability, sold through a network of retail systems developers and their dealers.
NETePay Hosted™
NETePay Hosted is a comprehensive payments platform that consolidates payments and tokens across brick-and-mortar, eCommerce, mobile and unattended environments, all managed via Datacap’s portal.
NETePay Hosted supports the following product integrations:
Enterprise-focused visitor management software provider iLobby has raised $100 million in a round of funding from Insight Partners.
Despite the rapid push to embrace remote working in 2020, many — if not most — businesses will likely return to physical office spaces in some capacity once it’s safe to do so. And, of course, some businesses are not well-suited to fully remote work.
Founded out of Toronto, Canada in 2013, iLobby offers a number of automated tools, including mail management, which uses computer vision to streamline incoming and outgoing letters and packages. For example, front of house or mailroom staff can snap a photo of the label on each piece of mail using the iLobby app, which automatically matches that photo to the intended recipient and sends an alert. However, the company’s core focus is in the visitor management realm, as it allows companies to track and manage everyone who enters and leaves a facility, from employees to contractors, couriers, and guests. The company’s clients include Boeing, FedEx, Hershey, Pepsi, Nikon, Pearson International Airport, Scotia Bank, and LG.
First time for everything. Here is another example of business taking the transaction to the consumer. A variant on home delivery.
From outside the US (that figures…) — Mobile branch #Instant#Card#Issuance is the hottest solution on the market helping onboard and issue any financial EMV, Telco Sim and National ID cards in real-time.
This brings a new angle to RMUs (Remote Merchandising Units) such as cellphone, sports, cosmetics and our favorite, chocolate kiosks that you used to see at airports (when we actually went to airports)
We were/are having a discussion on LinkedIn about this and implications application in world markets. We see the Underbanked as a potential big user of mobile payment — mobile as a payment mechanism that goes to the consumer. Hard to spend time on millennials that buy lattes at Starbucks on their iPhone. They have their solution. Thanks to Justin Henry in Dubai for bringing this to our attention.
Says QSR sector has been quickest but that is not true. QSRs always toyed with the idea with most of them watching McDonalds experiment while patient check-in and ticketing at Disney went right ahead.
Kiosks for self-order in Vita Mojo
Pyramid Computer makes the kiosks and notes that some of their customers are seeing a 60% rise in average customer spend
Obligatory nod to Intel Core processors injected.
Intel quote that Intel is used in all kitchen screens, kiosks, menu boards and drive-thrus. Tell that to Paneras or Appetize.
The article moves on to Intel bringing in Acrelec to help them with touchless kiosk. Intel recently did a promotional whitepaper on touchless and it wasn’t very helpful. We are a tough audience for sure.
Hovering hands are called out as ordering mechanism. We agree anything is possible. I use to point at food walking thru Furr Cafeteria and someone would hand me that plate I pointed. Early gesture technology.
They get into intercommunication of data to help the kitchen. Kitchens are going thru a renaissance by the way.
Several more handouts to Monk conveyor belts, Vita Mojo EPOS, Deliveroo delivery platform, Fourth stock management, Toggle for gift cards and Yumpingo for consumer sentiment.
Let’s face it, the retail and shopping experience is changing at lightning-fast speeds to keep up with changing consumer habits and technology innovations. Nowadays, everything we want is at our fingertips, whether it’s groceries, new shoes, or a new car. We no longer need to visit a store; our devices and other technology advancements are our outlets. As consumers, we have tons of options to buy products regardless of if it’s online, offline or a combination of both.
The combination, often known as Omnichannel, is where we are seeing many retailers going.
What is Omnichannel Retail?
As stated on Bloomreach.com, “Omni-channel retail is a multichannel approach to sales that focus on providing a seamless customer experience whether the client is shopping online from a mobile device, a laptop or in a brick-and-mortar store.”
According to Harvard Business Review, 73 percent of all customers use multiple channels during their purchase journey. Only when the customer has gathered as much information as possible from a variety of sources to support their purchase decision, will they decide to buy from a retailer.
How do in-store digital experiences fit-in with the Omnichannel experience?
Omnichannel retail increases the comfort of consumers and we’ve seen many examples of these experiences across many retailers. Within digital signage ‘type’ solutions, Acquire Digital has been ahead of the curve with many industry-leading solutions such as:
Store Wayfinding: allows consumers to set a shopping list at home and calculates the best route to take to pick up all their items while in-store. Combining data from the retailer’s inventory management system and planogram allows for a seamless shopping experience for customers combining the online experience to in-store.
Endless Aisle Kiosks: extend the digital experience to allow for online shopping for additional products or ship-to-home capabilities for larger products. Watch the video.
Digital Pricing Label Displays: provides the ability to show dynamic product pricing, and additional content about products or allows users to scan QR codes to see additional content via their mobile device. Acquire’s Shelf-Edge solution is truly a first of its kind when it comes to an omnichannel experience.
Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR): Using the Acquire Vision platform data collection and analysis play a vital role and help shape the entire experience. While ‘big data’ pulls together the solution and shapes the role customers play in the shopping experience, other interactive solutions like Interactive Advertising and Virtual Try-on experiences provide other ways to increase engagement and ‘Omni-Channel’ outlets.
In today’s retail climate, data collection is everywhere.
This can be seen with ‘cookies’ when you visit a website or provide your contact details for retailers’ loyalty programs. The data collection is to enhance the experience, but it also helps tailor the shopping experience to what a customer is looking for. It gets fun when you can personalize the in-store experience to the level of personalization that a user gets online.
As the enhancements continue, we will see the Omni-Channel experience evolve, and Acquire Digital is here to bridge the gap from the online to the in-person experience.
Let’s talk about Omnichannel in Retail. Every time I open LinkedIn, I see a new post about how companies like Target or Walmart are introducing new Omnichannel experiences. I started to draft a quick post, but I realized I had much more to share about how in-store digital solutions can help with the Omnichannel retail experience. Check-out my thoughts about the omnichannel experience and learn more about some of the solutions Acquire Digital has developed to help bridge the gap.
McDrive – McDonald’s Germany Using LG High Brightness
McDrive McDonalds Germany — Click for full size image
The almost 1,000 McDonalds restaurants with McDrive in Germany will be equipped with LG High Brightness Displays by the end of the year. Almost all drive-thru locations receive the new wind- and weatherproof, sunlight-compatible digital signage displays. March 17, 2021 by Florian Rotberg
In total, more than 4,000 LG full outdoor screens of the XE4F series with full HD resolution in 16: 9 format will be installed by the end of 2021. At least three 55-inch devices are installed per restaurant, which are set up in portrait format directly next to or behind one another in the entrance area. There is also a stand-alone 49-inch device that is also installed vertically. All displays dynamically present the McDonald’s menu offerings.
According to LG, the anti-reflective IPS displays show a brilliant picture with a luminance of 4,000 cd / m² even in the direct midday sun – thanks to the viewing angle of 178 °, even when the guests are looking at it from the side. The slim frame makes it easier to place the screens next to each other in a visually appealing way. Outdoor screens have to be extremely robust, so protection class IP56 should guarantee protection against dust and strong water jets. The hardened laminated protective glass with the highest IK10 certification prevents mechanical damage. LG also supports HDBaseT, a technology that has so far been little used in professional digital signage, which sends all data, signals and power over a single cable.
“LG Electronics convinced us with high-quality technology and a great team,” says Giovanni Gallo, Department Head Restaurant Innovation at McDonald’s Germany. “Together we have found an ideal solution for the further digitization of our McDrive restaurants in Germany.”
“Our team was able to convince McDonald’s through first-class cooperation across all disciplines and with great support from the entire company management”, emphasizes Frank Brühne, head of the business development team at LG Information Display in the DACH region. “We worked closely with external partners.”
Invidis Insight — The role of DriveThru sales has changed significantly outside of North America since the pandemic broke out. While 80% of guests in North America use the DriveThru, it was the other way around in Europe and Asia: 80% of guests ordered directly in the restaurant. But the trend is clearly towards DriveThru, too, and here digital signage plays a decisive role in the ordering process; dynamic AI-controlled content enables an optimal customer journey.
Kiosks Benefit Assisted Living Facilities and Nursing Homes
In a recent survey of senior housing professionals, 80% of the respondents indicated their facilities increased their tech budget to help address issues caused by the pandemic. This number is expected to increase in 2021. Investing in telehealth kiosks, check-in technology, remote patient monitoring and more can go well beyond the pandemic, though, offering staff, residents, and guests conveniences and efficiency.
With numerous features and style options, we have kiosks that fit your unique needs and aesthetics. See below for our full line, and read further for ways to best use senior living kiosks in your center.
Increase efficiency and improve satisfaction with senior living kiosks.
Much has changed in the past year as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. AV/IT managers, systems integrators, and facilities managers alike face a heavy set of expectations as they navigate new opportunities and challenges in supporting the return to normal across enterprise, higher education, retail, healthcare, and other industries. Typical building operations that managers had planned for are now accompanied with new public safety initiatives, and from accommodating the ever-adapting COVID-19 safety regulations to ensuring peace of mind and safety for building occupants, there are many new logistical considerations to be met. Nevertheless, there are also prospects for new innovations in facilities amid the mandated public health shifts: immersive and interactive technology is defining a new standard for safety and interactivity.
Recent advancements in management software introduce new digital signage applications and checkpoints for meeting spaces and facilities to keep safety at the forefront. By upgrading or installing digital signage solutions within a facility, businesses can leverage access control, room scheduling solutions, and interactive wayfinding to regulate and maintain a safe environment.
Let’s take a look at three innovations changing the way business managers approach digital signage, content management and wayfinding to improve the entirety of the visitor experience:
Assisted Drive-Thru Kiosk Selling – Menu Board with Live Video Insert
assisted drive-thru selling
From NRN — Bite Ninja lets foodservice companies dole out drive-thru shifts to trained salesperson freelancers working remotely in an Uber-like system. Editor Note: Putting Gig workers to work in advisory order-processing mode onscreen is a first. Normally this is addition to guided selling or customer service app.
Excerpt:
Bite Ninja — founded by Memphis Meats cofounder and restaurant operator William Clem and entrepreneur Orin Wilson in 2020 — uses a gig economy model to allow restaurants to outsource their drive-thru operations to freelance “ninjas” working from home. Although the Uber-like system is only available right now at Clem’s restaurant Baby Jack’s in Tennessee, it will be rolling out soon to 5-6 unnamed mid-sized restaurant chains.
Much like Uber Eats, Bite Ninja matches up gig workers working from home with a restaurant operator in need of someone to work the drive-thru, virtually through their own computers and proprietary software. Workers can sign up for shifts, and there is even surge pricing for restaurant operators that need workers at short notice and during peak hours. When a customer pulls up, they’ll see a friendly (remote) face on a screen to walk them through the ordering process. The customer gets clear and consistent customer service, and the restaurant gets to outsource a pain-point for their in-person employees, Clem and Wilson say: it’s both a staffing and software solution.
Walmart Ghost Kitchen Kiosks Now Offer Restaurant Kiosks
Updates to the story:
8/19/2021 – Hospitality Ghost Kitchen Expansion — Butler Hospitality recently added the Canopy by Hilton Washington DC Embassy Row to its list of 100+ hotel clients. Ghost kitchen for hotels specializing in virtual room service and catering for hotels.
Post on NRN March 2021 — Locations will offer kiosk-based ordering on-site and third-party delivery of restaurant and CPG food brands
Click for full size — ghost kiosk kiosk walmart kiosk
Wendy’s News 8/11/2021– Wendy’s on Wednesday also unveiled an ambitious update to its global development plans. It now expects to have between 8,500 and 9,000 locations worldwide by 2025, up from a previously forecast 8,000. That growth will be aided by three new initiatives:
A new $100 million build-to-suit development fund is expected to result in 80 to 90 new franchised units.
Lowered liquidity and net worth requirements for prospective franchisees.
Cloud Kitchen Factoids
Top 500 players is around 230,000 units in US.
Figure another 500,000 independent restaurant operators
Percent of units offering delivery — now around 90% (Dairy Queen is 89)
RTN June 2021 — Market surveys indicate that half of enterprise brands will launch some form of ghost, host or cloud kitchen concept in 2021, and that the global cloud kitchen market size, estimated at $43.1B in 2019, is forecasted to reach $71.4B by 2027.
Numbers from Restaurant Dive as of Oct 2020 — The U.S. currently has 1,500 ghost kitchens, putting it ahead of the U.K. market (750), but behind China (7,500+) and India (3,500+), according to Euromonitor estimates from July.
Excerpt:
The new service will allow shoppers in those locations to select items from the menus of about 15 national and regional restaurants and CPG food concepts, including Quiznos, Saladworks and others, combined in a single order. The on-site kitchens, meanwhile, will also serve as delivery hubs for those brands via third-party delivery services such as Uber Eats.
Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc. teams with the Illinois-based cannabis dispensary on a self-service marijuana kiosk program for the business’s multiple locations.
See Marijuana Store 3D Tour hyperlink below store location listing
Editors Note: Currently there are 7 operational stores (4 IL and 3 MI) and will be opening up two more locations in Michigan this summer. The marijuana self-order kiosk model is Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc. Connect Series
GRAFTON, WI – Consume Cannabis Company, a cannabis retailer that operates seven dispensaries throughout Illinois and Michigan, partnered with kiosk designer and manufacturer Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc. to produce self-service kiosks for the company’s many locations.
The interactive kiosks allow customers to browse the store menu and place orders while learning more about the products available. Return customers have appreciated the faster transaction time, and Consume Cannabis has saved on costs and improved the customer experience since implementing the program.
Click for full size image – Cannabis Kiosk Frank Mayer & Consume Cannabis
The stores’ kiosks are Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc.’s Connect model that includes a 22” screen as well as a small footprint to save space. The software shows inventory in real-time and can be managed from a central location.
“When we were looking to update our self-service options, the custom kiosks from Frank Mayer and Associates offered the best experience for both the customers and our team while fitting our stores’ aesthetic,” Dan Scheidt, Director of Marketing at Consume Cannabis says. “I can view and manage all our kiosks remotely, which is crucial as it’s a high-volume part of our business.”
“We’re thrilled Consume Cannabis has had success using self-service technology,” Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc. President Mike Mayer adds. “The dispensary industry has really embraced kiosks, and innovative companies like Consume are proof of the many benefits self-service provides both stores and shoppers.”
Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc. is a leader in the development of interactive kiosks, in-store merchandising displays, and store fixtures for businesses nationwide. The company helps companies, retailers, and brands utilize the latest solutions and technologies to create engaging customer experiences. Visit https://www.frankmayer.com for more information.
Consume Cannabis opened in January 2020 with the purpose of providing a better cannabis experience. They pride themselves on education, quality, and teamwork to succeed in achieving that purpose. Education is at the heart of everything they do, and all the products sold at their dispensaries are grown and manufactured in-state and must pass rigorous lab testing to ensure it meets the highest quality. Read more at https://www.consumecannabis.com.
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CONTACT: Cheryl Lesniak, Director of Marketing
Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc.
1975 Wisconsin Ave., Grafton, WI 53024
(262) 834-1489 | [email protected]
Mimo Monitors’ sleek, AV-over-IP touchscreen controller provides easy installation and integration to ensure meetings are reliable and hassle-free — 
