The Good Times Burgers & Frozen Custard at 2095 South Broadway is using an artificial intelligence system to take drive-through breakfast orders, according to a news release. The artificial intelligence company, Valyant AI, is based in Denver and said their deal marks one of the first in the world for this type of business-focused technology. The new system will help Good Times during peak hours when speed is a priority. Quick-serve restaurants earn nearly 70 percent of their business from drive-through customers, the release stated. If a line of cars stretches too long, potential customers are likely to drive away. That is where Good Times hopes artificial intelligence can step in.
NEW YORK — Facial-detection technology that Amazon is marketing to law enforcement often misidentifies women, particularly those with darker skin, according to researchers from MIT and the University of Toronto.
Amazon’s website credits Rekognition for helping the Washington County Sheriff Office in Oregon speed up how long it took to identify suspects from hundreds of thousands of photo records.
Mystery Facial Recognition and Taylor Swift Solved
Brian Becker, head of marketing at ISM Connect, told Gizmodo in an email on Friday that Swift’s tour used the company’s tech. When asked if ISM Connect had supplied its kiosk to Swift’s Rose Bowl show, Becker responded: “Yes, Taylor Swift’s tour used ISM Connect technology to improve the fan experience and the safety and security of the event.” Becker also detailed how the surveillance system, called FanGuard, worked:
“We positioned large screens at each of the entrance points in the venues that hosted Taylor’s tour. We were contracted to support security for the tour and on-the-ground venue teams. Each screen also included smart cameras designed to identify only those individuals who present a security risk based on pre-existing information. The cameras are used to reliably identify persons of interest and improve safety. This included known stalkers who might threaten Taylor Swift or present a threat to fans attending the event.”
Antimicrobial and antibacterial solutions for touchscreens and kiosks have been around a long time and there has been improvements over the years. Important in the self-service terminal that the treatment does not affect the touchscreen
The primary difference between antibacterial and antimicrobial substances is the types of microorganism they act upon. While antibacterial products prevent the development of bacteria, antimicrobial agents such as alcohol-based hand sanitizers prevent the spread of bacteria, fungi, and some viruses. This is a much broader scope of protection than the protection found in antibacterial products.
Cleansing wipes are one type of product that is available as both an antibacterial product and an antimicrobial product. Antibacterial hand wipes kill bacteria, while antimicrobial wipes kill bacteria plus other microorganisms that can cause human illness. Both antibacterial and antimicrobial wipes can be a component of effective hand hygiene.
• Features the power of 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) • Fast-drying, No residue, Anti-fogging, Anti-streaking • Rapidly cleans dirt, grime, fingerprints, and smudges • Compatible with touchscreen healthcare equipment, including Corning® Gorilla® Glass (3 and 4)1, Sapphire glass, Aluminum silicate, Acrylic Glass, Etched glass, Stainless steel, and more! MSDS Sheet.
Sanitech Information
SurfaceClean is a hospital-grade cleaner disinfectant that kills 99.9% of germs and bacteria on hard, non-porous surfaces.
SurfaceClean- enhances the effectiveness of our antimicrobial coatings by properly preparing surfaces for antimicrobial treatment
SurfaceClean is designed for use prior to the application of long lasting antimicrobial products. It is also recommended for regular maintenance cleaning.
SurfaceCleanis a cost effective and easy to use solution. SurfaceClean is available in 32 ounce spray bottles and 1 or 5 gallon containers.
SurfaceClean Disinfects and Eliminates:
99% of Germs and Bacteria
Healthcare associated MRSA
Community associated MRSA
H1N1 Flu Virus
SARS
Avian Influenza
Hepatitis
Mumps
Rhinovirus
Rotovirus
For how long?
SurfaceAide XL delivers durability, safety and affordability to protect vital surfaces from the growth of bacteria, mold and fungi 24/7 for up to 90 days.
SurfaceAide XL
Generates an environmentally friendly, non-leaching antimicrobial barrier on surfaces that is non-toxic and non-sensitizing
Promotes long-term reduction of harmful bacteria, mold and fungi on surfaces
Minimizes the presence of microbes on touch points that can serve as transfer routes for bacteria from surface-to-skin
One application effectively fights the growth of bacteria, mold and fungi, non-stop on surfaces for up to 90 days
Proactively and continually prevents odor, staining and deterioration caused by bacteria, fungi, mold and mildew
Can be safely and easily applied without affecting day to day operations
Invisible, odorless and will not affect the appearance or performance of treated surfaces
Since SurfaceAide XL does not leach, the organism cannot emerge as a new resistant microbe or “super bug”
Fast contact time allows for a quick room turnover
Compatible with a broad range of surfaces and equipment in healthcare
Meets CDC, OSHA and CMS Tag F441 guidelines
Bactericidal, Tuberculocidal, Virucidal
55% Alcohol and dimethyl benzyl ammonium chlorides
Effective against 30 microorganisms in 2 minutes including the following MDROs, bloodborne pathogens and viruses:1
Acinetobacter baumannii
Klebsiella pneumoniae
Candida albicans
ESBL producing E. coli
Influenza A
MRSA
VRE
HIV
HBV
HCV
Clorox Professional – Link – competes with PDI. Using “Quat Alcohol”.
Here is the Clorox info. Same as PDI but percentages are not revealed. Price is different I am guessing.
AEGIS INFO
Treated vs. Untreated Surface — The unique AEGIS Microbe Shield is a fabric enhancement that gives the treated surface active antibacterial action. The germ-killing action is the result of a micro polymer coating, which mechanically destroys bacteria, mold, fungus and their allergens on contact. AEGIS contains no chemicals, is not consumed by microorganisms, and remains effective for the life of the product.
COPPER AND ALLOYS
Copper alloys have the advantages of not only killing “bad bacteria” but they continue to kill it. Chart compares copper, brass and stainless.
And yes copper has an ROI model based on cost savings.
UV-C Antibacterial Light
Another antibacterial tool is UV-C light. It however has many cautions.
What Are Germicidal Lamps?
Germicidal lamps emit radiation in the UV-C portion of the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum, which includes wavelengths between 100 and 280 nanometers (nm). The lamps are used in a variety of applications where disinfection is the primary concern, including air and water purification, food and beverage protection, and sterilization of sensitive tools such as medical instruments. Germicidal light destroys the ability of bacteria, viruses, and other pathogens to multiply by deactivating their reproductive capabilities. The average bacteria may be killed in 10 seconds at a distance of 6 inches from the lamp. The wavelength with the greatest effectiveness is 253.7 nm, which defines the germicidal lamp category with optimized wavelength for maximum absorption by nucleic acids. Germicidal lamps that generate energy wavelengths shorter than 250 nm (particularly 185 nm) are very effective in producing ozone, which is required for certain applications to oxidize organic compounds.
Hazard and Risks from Germicidal Lamp UV Radiation
UV radiation (UVR) used in most germicidal bulbs is harmful to both skin and eyes, and germicidal bulbs should not be used in any fixture or application that was not designed specifically to prevent exposure to humans or animals. UVR is not felt immediately; in fact, the user may not realize the danger until after the exposure has caused damage. Symptoms typically occur 4 to 24 hours after exposure. The effects on skin are of two types: acute and chronic. Acute effects appear within a few hours of exposure, while chronic effects are long-lasting and cumulative and may not appear for years. An acute effect of UVR is redness of the skin called erythema (similar to sunburn). Chronic effects include accelerated skin aging and skin cancer. UVR is absorbed in the outer layers of the eye – the cornea and conjunctiva. Acute overexposure leads to a painful temporary inflammation, mainly of the cornea, known as photokeratitis. Subsequent overexposure to the UV is unlikely because of the pain involved. Chronic exposure leads to an increased risk of certain types of ocular cataracts. Working unprotected for even a few minutes can cause injury. It is possible to calculate the threshold for acute effects and to set exposure limits. It is not possible, however, to calculate threshold for chronic effects; therefore, because no exposure level is safe, exposure should be reduced as much as possible.
Craig is a senior staff writer for Kiosk Industry Group Association. He has 25 years of experience in the industry. He contributed to this article and even accepted an award for UV-C. Craig is also a senior manager for Olea Kiosks Inc.
Antibacterial Kiosk Touchscreen Wipes Coatings was last modified: February 14th, 2019 by News Editor
If you’re anything like me, you’ve visited that magical, wholesale warehouse Costco with good intentions to pick up the necessities – paper towels, cheese, yogurt, the like.
Fast forward an hour and you’re now walking out with an economy size bag of Tootsie Roll pops, a jug of raw honey, and a party-size serving of chicken salad for your young family of four.
Whoa. What just happened?
We’ve all seen the silly memes about Costco, Target, and the other big box stores, gently teasing the point that there’s no way to shop these retailers without deviating from your list.
But it turns out there’s a lot of psychology behind encouraging you to go rogue during your shopping trip, and below we detail a few of the insider tricks retailers use to inspire the impulse buy.
The Science of Discovery
Much has been written about Costco’s “treasure hunt” approach to in-store merchandising, a strategy that involves constantly shuffling staple items to different locations in the store. The science behind this is simple. Rearranging items forces shoppers to walk by tempting triggers in the search for their usual goods.
Ever notice the lack of signage above the aisles at Costco, too? Chalk that up as another element of the treasure hunt, designed to encourage exploration.
But wait a second. Every article written about retail in the past few years has the word “frictionless” in it. Why is Costco so popular, consistently scoring high on the American Customer Satisfaction Index, if it’s constantly making shoppers jump through hoops to find their favorite products?
It boils down to science.
When humans discover unexpected items or experience something new, our brain releases the same chemicals associated with joy and love. So, in essence, stumbling upon the row of smart lighting solutions on my way to buy diapers makes me feel happy because my brain is programmed that way. And the fact that Costco changes up their endcap displays in addition to rotating store merchandise means I’m always entering the store subconsciously anticipating the thrill of discovery.
FOMO and the Impulse Buy
The fear of missing out, or more commonly referred to as FOMO, is another hardwired human trait that brands and retailers use to their advantage.
In the book “The New Rules of Retail: Competing in the World’s Toughest Marketplace” by Robin Lewis and Michael Dart, the authors write, “Neuroscientists have proven that the anticipation of rewards – or the potential of not getting what you want – will produce dopamine, which actively drives behavior.”
They go on to use fast fashion retailer Zara as an example of a business model that draws shoppers to its stores more often than the average retailer. Why? Because Zara releases new clothing lines constantly.
As Lewis and Dart state, “Customers visit Zara seventeen times per year, compared to only three or four times for traditional retailers, because they are afraid of missing something new and exciting. The connection is so strong that customers are compelled to buy in fear of the item’s being bought by someone else.”
It’s why marketing messages like “Act now!” and “Hurry! While supplies last!” trigger our knee-jerk decisions. We appease the FOMO anxiety and release that good-feeling dopamine when we keep from missing out.
Tell Me About Yourself
Marketers have become hip to how millennials, now the largest consumer demographic, want to interact with a brand. Not only is this generation hit with traditional marketing in their everyday lives, but these digital inhabitants are also bombarded by a whole different wave of brand messaging online. And because access to product review information, pricing, and more resides at the tap of a finger, they’re known for seeking out authentic experiences to cut through the information overload.
While companies regularly use online platforms like social media and websites to share organic content and brand stories, it’s just as alluring to shoppers when done well in-store.
Merchandising displays and interactive kiosks can play a big role in helping to paint a brand picture to customers. A sleek free-standing display with a monitor featuring a video loop of a runner wearing her fitness tracker draws in the person who identifies with that woman. A shoe display with signage detailing how proceeds go to charity gives potential buyers the warm and fuzzies. Predictably, these little details help people feel more invested in your brand.
Interactive displays that allow shoppers to test a product are equally effective. Just ask the crowd of children waiting their turn at the video game demo at Best Buy. These displays are magnets, drawing in the customers and promoting the products while people eagerly test drive them in the store.
The Grocery Game Plan
It’s not just big box stores that employ consumer psychology to encourage shoppers to buy. Grocery stores follow their own set of guidelines to persuade additional purchases.
Your journey to impulse buying starts before you even step foot in the door. In an interview for a Today.com article, “Supermarkets wage war for your dollars,” marketing consultant Martin Lindstrom details an experiment of doubling the size of a shopping cart. The results? People ended up purchasing 40 percent more. So grabbing a cart the size of a Cadillac has already primed the customer to fill it.
On entry, grocers like to promote the seasonal treats that are hard to pass up. And if you manage to do so, you’ll see them populated through the store as tempting reminders.
Produce often comes next and for good reason. When you feel good about buying healthy items, you’re more likely to cave down the line when faced with junk food temptations. With all that healthy food in your cart, surely you deserve a treat.
And what about those staples like milk and eggs that brought you to the store in the first place? You’ll find those in the back of the building, forcing you to walk down an aisle or two of enticing food shelved at eye level.
Finally, just as you roll to the checkout line, congratulating yourself on avoiding the lure of snack food, you’re left waiting while staring at the array of chocolate bars and candy thoughtfully organized on the row racks.
Okay, fine. Just one candy bar won’t hurt.
The New Hip Spot to Hang
It’s no secret that, in the current market of online competition, retailers have had to get creative to get feet through the door.
It’s why there’s been so much buzz around experiential retail – the practice of offering an experience during what would normally be a traditional shopping trip.
We’ve seen it at places like Target stores that often have Starbucks coffee shops and retailers such as Tommy Bahamas that offer restaurants within some of their brick-and-mortar stores.
Even generous sampling can attract a crowd, as Costco knows all too well. (In fact, Costco’s sampling has its own fascinating psychology.)
Brand retailers are taking experiential retail even further. There’s been big buzz around Nike’s Live concept that not only offers services like style consultations and the ability to try out products, but also curates collections based on where stores are located. Nordstrom, REI, and countless other brands have jumped on the bandwagon as well, realizing that engaging with customers and “activating” their shopping experience leads to increased sales.
Us humans are a simple bunch when it comes down to it. We’re often driven by emotions, which means when retailers can capitalize on this fact, they’d be silly not to. So the next time you find yourself in an aisle seriously contemplating taking home a fancy juicer you didn’t know you needed, consider the neuromarketing behind what’s driving your behavior.
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We’re big geeks about retail! Did we miss other strategies that brands and retailers use to delight shoppers and encourage more purchases? Let us know in the comments or on social media.
Northern Quest Resort & Casino, located in Spokane, Washington, offers luxurious accommodations, Vegas-style gambling, a spa, and over one dozen restaurants, bars, and lounges. One of the most popular spots in the resort is EPIC Sports Bar, a comfortable sports bar featuring upscale pub fare.
Open daily at 7 am, EPIC’s guests can enjoy viewing sporting events at any time of day – breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Like all sports bars, EPIC’s crowds and varying event types make high quality displays a must for patrons. However, constructing and maintaining a large screen was a challenge. The bar originally relied on an old TV screen, which was then upgraded to a movie screen and two sizable projectors that would play content. However it was difficult, if not impossible to clean the screen and when the HVAC system was in use, the screen would shake. Further, the projectors proved to be quite noisy and replacement costs were astronomical.
The Solution
With these issues in place, Northern Quest Resort & Casino decided to seek out a digital signage option for EPIC that would best showcase sporting events and entertainment, while meeting the resort’s high aesthetic standards.
Click for full image
In summer 2017, the resort began conducting research, turning to its longstanding installation partner, YESCO, for help with the project. YESCO next sought to find a display and mount that would best meet EPIC’s needs. Based on past experience and a strong partnership, YESCO selected Samsung for its IFH LED displays. With trusted recommendations, along with video wall expertise, quality hardware, and a comfortable price point, YESCO chose Peerless-AVas the mount manufacturer for the project.
An additional benefit of working with Peerless-AV was SEAMLESS by Peerless-AV ® , the company’s LED video wall integration program that provided start-to-finish support throughout the project. Peerless-AV’s dedicated SEAMLESS LED Solutions Team sets the bar for high quality design, incorporating a dynamic group of structural and mechanical engineers, product managers, project managers, installers, and sales and service personnel, which were all available to YESCO and Northern Quest Resort & Casino.
Delivery, kiosks and other digital efforts are taking more prominent roles at Yum! Brands, moves that serve as a good reflection of overall trends in the quick service restaurant (QSR) space. Yum operates the Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and KFC chains, and the company’s fourth-quarter results, released Thursday (Feb. 7), provided details about where those […]
Kiosks, too, are another area of innovation targeted by Yum in 2019. By 2020, Gibbs said, “our goal is to have 5,000 restaurants with kiosks.”
Indeed, according to that PYMNTS research, “larger chains are more likely than smaller ones to have in-store kiosks, and they’re also more likely to offer their own mobile apps.” That said, only 3 percent of QSR managers said that self-service kiosks stand as the most common method for placing orders.
Loyalty, too, is another feature that QSR customers want more of, with nearly 80 percent of them saying such programs are important to the future of success of QSRs. That compared with about 48 percent of QSR managers who said the same. Yum, according to its Q4 conference call, seems to be increasingly tilting toward those customer perceptions.
Yum Kiosks – Pushing Forward QSR Technology was last modified: February 16th, 2019 by Kiosk Industry
Preface – We’re at an inflection point in physical retail experiences:
2019 may very well be marked as a turning point. For the first time in five years same-store sales are stable (versus declining), break-out e-commerce brands continue solidify their positions of growth by opening physical stores, and as retailers turn to their previously under-capitalized fleet of stores (after-all, they were investing in the big growth of ecommerce when 90%+ of their sales still happen in stores).
Click to see full image
Success stories like Target, which invested $7BN in 2017 into capital improvements, are encouraging other retailers like Ulta, Home Depot, and more to follow suit. (For any haters/mathematicians, while the absolute square footage of retail closures is still closing at a notable pace because of big brands like Bon Ton, Toys”R”Us, and others shuttering their doors – it’s the continued results of a consumer flight to quality).
So, now that it’s come to it, what do you do? How do you revamp your stores? Many times when we sit down with retail executive teams considering building out the future of their store fleets, the words on the board begin to look like a TechCrunch word cloud. “AR! VR! Chatbots! A.I.! Drones!”
Seriously.
But the reality should be, well, different. When considering deploying retail technology your team’s decisions should center around one singular ideology: human interactions have to come first, and technology should come second. And that technology, by the way, should beautifully integrate into authentic store experiences. Consumer expectations are still out-pacing a lot of the retail experience of today.
The retail market itself is on the cusp of massive change as it sprints to meet these demands. In this white paper, discover ways to thoughtfully execute retail-technology solutions that enable experiences that delight customers, empower associates, provide unprecedented analytics, and measurable sales growth.
Aberdeen, NC – February 4, 2019 – Meridian, an industry-leading kiosk manufacturer and software developer recently teamed up with technology giant, HP Inc., once again. This year, the pair combined their technological expertise to create two different innovative digital retail solutions, which they introduced to the market at the National Retail Federation’s (NRF) 2019 Big Show in New York City.
The two retail solutions included a freestanding kiosk with a 32” touch screen and a countertop kiosk with a 14” screen. While aesthetically different, both kiosks function as a three-in-one solution—with self-checkout, endless aisle, and digital signage capabilities.
While the solutions were designed and manufactured by Meridian, both kiosks were designed to incorporate HP’s hardware. The freestanding unit was powered by the HP MP9 and the countertop unit was powered by the HP Engage One All-in-One. Both units also incorporated barcode scanners, contactless NFC payment devices, and touch technology—enabling users to make in-store purchases, browse available inventory, order online, and indicate shipping and receipt preferences, all from the kiosk.
“To excel in the fast-paced kiosk technology industry, you need forward thinking partners with creative ideas and proven expertise in the kiosk field—organizations that can propose and implement not only traditional solutions, but also innovative applications,” said Meridian’s Marketing Manager and NRF attendee, Stephanie Mewherter. “Meridian and HP have this kind of relationship. Together, our relationship provides end-to-end solutions, from consulting and designing a kiosk, to the integration of the hardware, software, and security monitoring.”
Meridian joined forces with HP at the Big Show last year as well—unveiling an retail-focused automated smart locker system.
Held at the Jacob K. Javits Center, the annual event is the world’s largest retail conference and expo. This year’s event attracted more than 37,000 attendees, 16,000 retailers, and 700 exhibitors.
There are few familiar places in the regular life of a consumer other than the grocery store, and that familiarity can breed a type of trust, a sense that nothing too weird or threatening will happen there. That doesn’t mean they can’t be about innovation. Supermarkets are home to some of retail’s major and ongoing […]
Not sure I see the worth and payback either. Grocery stores still use Redbox DVD dispense. Coinstar reminds me of digital signage (in search of an ROI).
Bitcoin ATMs & Grocery Stores? was last modified: January 26th, 2019 by Kiosk Industry
Xtreme™ High Bright Outdoor Displays and Indoor and Outdoor Kiosks to be demonstrated in Hall 12, Booth H90
Peerless-AV Indoor Outdoor Solutions at ISE 2019
AURORA, Ill. – January 17, 2019 – Peerless-AV®, an award-winning designer and manufacturer of the highest quality audio and video solutions and accessories, is excited to announce its showcase for ISE 2019. Products including Xtreme™ High Bright Outdoor Displays, along with a range of fully integrated, indoor and outdoor kiosks will be on display in Hall 12, Booth H90.
Debuting at ISE 2019, Peerless-AV’s Xtreme™ High Bright Outdoor Displays (XHB432, XHB492, and XHB552) will be put to the test in various impact and water demonstration scenarios, highlighting the resilient, all-weather capabilities. The outdoor displays offer full HD 1080p resolution for a bright, crisp picture and color accuracy up to 178°. Featuring a fully sealed IP68-rated design and an operating temperature range of -31°F to 140°F (-35°C – 60°C), there is no need to change filters or service the display, creating a maintenance-free solution for year-round use. Available in 43″, 49″, and 55″, the Xtreme™ High Bright Outdoor Displays include IK10-rated cover glass for the ultimate screen protection, remote and local monitoring functionality, 2500 nits of brightness, an updated input panel/compartment and cord cover, and IR control and button board lockouts.
In addition to the Xtreme™ High Bright Outdoor Displays, Peerless-AV will also be showcasing its new Smart City Kiosk(KOP25-XHB, KOP25-OHF). With a focus on functionality and aesthetics, the Smart City Kiosk is designed to be modern, approachable, practical, and endure the rigors of everyday use. To accommodate a variety of displays, the Smart City Kiosk can incorporate a 49″ or 55″ Xtreme™ High Bright Outdoor Display, or a 46″ or 55″ Samsung OHF Display. The all-weather rated Smart City Kiosk is ideal for sharing community information, travel, and weather details, as well as advertising, entertainment, and more.
Peerless-AV will be exhibiting its range of AV solutions at ISE 2019, Hall 12, Booth H90 from February 5-8, 2019. To schedule a booth interview, contact Beth Gard, [email protected].
For over 75 years, passion and innovation continue to drive Peerless-AV forward. We proudly design and manufacture the highest quality products, ranging from outdoor displays to complete kiosk solutions, digital signage mounts to wireless systems. 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.
Chick-Fil-A Now at School Campus with Self-Order Kiosks
New to the nation and new to the APSU campus, Chick-fil-A order-taking kiosks were officially debuted to students on Monday, Jan. 14. The kiosks are located in the Morgan University Center food court. Lauren Fladger, Senior Leader of Chick-fil-A’s Service and Hospitality team, said “[Austin Peay] is the first college campus that Chick-fil-A has been really involved with the implementation of kiosks.”
Construction for these kiosks began in December and was completed just in time for the Spring semester. There are a total of three kiosks and customers can easily navigate the touch screens when fulfilling their orders.
The kiosks will automatically change menus depending on the time; properly formatting to breakfast, lunch and dinner options.
Upon completion, students or guests will be shown an order confirmation on the kiosk screen and receive a printed receipt. After that, customers can get into line to receive their order from Chick-fil-A’s counter.
Craig is a senior staff writer for Kiosk Industry Group Association. He has 25 years of experience in the industry. He contributed to this article.
Chick-Fil-A Kiosks Installed on Campus was last modified: January 17th, 2019 by News Editor
Press release NTS Retail and Pyramid Computer at NRF 2019: Presenting new self-service solutions for telco retail Leonding, New York:
At this year’s NRF Retail’s Big Show in New York City – a key event in retail every year – NTS Retail and Pyramid Computer will be showcasing two innovative self-service prototypes, specifically developed for consultation-driven retail.
Both systems have been designed as interactive kiosk solutions and serve to enhance the experience at different stages of the customer journey: Efficient customer service operations thanks to smart queue management and self-service workflows for typical telco scenarios, such as purchasing a prepaid SIM card.
Thanks to NTS self-service, customers are able to top up prepaid plans, pay bills or purchase vouchers autonomously right at the kiosk. For the presentation at NRF 2019, a SIM card dispenser has been added to complete the picture.
Additionally, the customer’s ID (e.g. a passport) can be scanned automatically using a document scanner. This way, the complete onboarding process for new customers can be performed autonomously using a self-service touch interface. Service can thus be provided outside of store hours or in high-traffic environments like airports or train stations.
The queue management solution NTS welcome manager enables smooth store operations by setting smart priorities. Visitors can select a consultation topic (e.g. new subscriptions), enter their name and take a picture. The consultants can then call them up personally and address their needs right away. The showcased solution introduces a token dispenser to replace paper tickets.
The small, puck-shaped receivers are highly portable and vibrate as soon as it’s the customers turn. The tokens are distributed at the kiosk and the system handles the notification process automatically.
The hardware required to create these prototypes was provided by the Freiburg based company Pyramid Computer – a leader in innovative self-service IT solutions. Together, Pyramid Computer and NTS Retail will be demonstrating the results of their cooperation at NRF 2019 from January 13-15.
At NRF: booth #4545, hall 3A
Further information: https://www.ntsretail.com www.pyramid-computer.com/polytouch
About NTS Retail: NTS Retail is a global retail software and consulting company with an international network of partners. They offer CSPs a practice-proven retail solution with highest-quality local service.
About Pyramid: Since 30 years Pyramid manufactures high performance computer systems with its factories in Germany and Taiwan and sales offices in Germany, UK and North America. Opposite to most kiosk manufacturers, Pyramid builds its own PC technology and touch screens.
This high level of component manufacturing enables us to create very slim and elegant, highly integrated, designs, still remaining extremely flexible and easy to maintain. Our screen focus sizes are 24″ and 32″ and the Pyramid “polytouch®” named kiosk designs are successful in Europe in retail, hospitality and QSRs.
Standard and custom Pyramid polytouch® kiosk solutions are sold via OEM or sales partners, as a bespoke work. Pyramid has been certified to EN ISO 9001 standard since 1997 and is regularly successfully audited by large industrial customers. Pyramid was established in Freiburg in 1985 by managing partners Frieder Hansen and Niko Hensler, who still run the operation.
Paris, Thursday 10 January 2019 Ingenico and Pyramid blend their expertise to distribute the ultimate connected kiosk Ingenico Group (Euronext: FR0000125346 – ING), the global leader in seamless payment, and Pyramid, leading integrator and kiosk solution provider, today announced their partnership for the distribution of Think&Go connected kiosks. These combine Ingenico’s expertise in secure payment acceptance and Pyramid’s know-how in kiosk design.
Connected objects have followed an exponential growth over the past few years worldwide and multiplied potential interactions between consumers and brands. Connected screens, especially, bring along new opportunities for retailers. DOOH displays featuring contactless payment acceptance, they form a new sales channel – screen commerce, which complements businesses’ traditional online, mobile and in-store operations.
Present in the street, in public places or in-store, connected screens contribute to the digitalization of the physical world and create a ubiquitous shopping experience. These can serve as points of sale prompting impulse purchases, as well as interactive digital signage supporting loyalty programmes and electronic coupon schemes,to increase footfall in-store.
Ingenico and Pyramid have joined forces to produce the ultimate connected kiosk, suitable for large-scale roll-outs, offering a seamless consumer experience, and addressing numerous retail use cases and verticals.
How does it work? This Think&Go solution builds on a Pyramid touchscreen and an inner layer of Ingenico readers integrated behind the touch panel. The screen, therefore, supports interactions or transactions made with all NFC devices consumers have at hand nowadays, including NFC bank cards, smartphones, travel cards, ID cards, loyalty cards. One of the kiosk’s distinctive features is the capacity to offer several amounts and several products simultaneously. It only takes a single tap of an NFC bank card or wallet on the selected product zone to complete a purchase.
Given the NFC payment limit in many countries, this Think&Go kiosk is particularly suited to quick-serving restaurants (QSR) and cinemas, for self-ordering and booking purposes. However, it can be tailored to all sorts ofretail needs and verticals, using its software development kit (SDK). Ingenico and Pyramid will demonstrate some of these use cases – including loyalty programme enrolment, lottery ticket sale and e-coupon schemes – at NRF on their respective booth (Ingenico booth 2137, Pyramid 4545).
‘We are pleased with this very fruitful partnership with Pyramid. Their superb and truly seamless integration of our NFC payment acceptance technology into their interactive kiosks is a first. This bodes well for the development of payment acceptance across existing screen estates.’ said Michel Léger, EVP Innovation at Ingenico Group. ‘We take pride in enabling Pyramid to enhance their product offer with a connected kiosk that creates new consumer experiences and helps retailers grow their business.’
‘With its track record in integrating payment into IoT, Ingenico was a natural partner for Pyramid.’ said Patrick Hagemeister, International Account Director at Pyramid. ‘We were excited to discover how simple it was to add NFC payment acceptance to our screens, with the Think&Go solution developed by Ingenico. And we are looking forward to serving many industries together.’
LOUISVILLE, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Bitcoin ATM pioneer Bitstop has partnered with KIOSK Information Systems (KIOSK), the largest custom self-service solution provider in North America, to create an innovative Bitcoin ATM platform enabling customers to easily buy and sell digital currency on the spot. KIOSK will be featuring the newest Bitstop ATM model at the 2019 NRF Big Show in booth #3755.
“We’re excited to partner with Bitstop on this Bitcoin ATM solution. They have a great reputation in the Bitcoin space and are one of the premier operators in the Crypto ATM industry.”
Bitstop’s innovative software platform paired with KIOSK’s industry-leading hardware sets a new standard in the Bitcoin ATM Industry, an industry that has grown from nothing five years ago to over 4,000 Bitcoin ATMs in 2018 (coinatmradar.com). Growth projections for this new niche ATM category are expected to exceed 10,000 installations world-wide in the next two years alone.
Retailers in the US and Internationally are taking notice because these ATMs are a great way to monetize existing floorspace while driving in-store foot traffic. Bitcoin ATMs are popping up in mainstream retail storefronts such as supermarkets, malls, convenience stores, gas stations, as well as hotels & airports.
Bitcoin is a digital currency which has seen hyper growth in recent years due to a surge in demand for the scarce digital asset by retail customers who want to invest. It’s still early days and access to Bitcoin can be complicated or confusing. Bitcoin ATMs solve this problem by making the process simple. In four easy steps, you can buy Bitcoin instantly. Customers don’t have to wait days for their Bitcoin or deal with complicated exchanges that provide little or no education.
On the solution partnership announcement, Bill Butler, KIOSK CEO, said, “We’re excited to partner with Bitstop on this Bitcoin ATM solution. They have a great reputation in the Bitcoin space and are one of the premier operators in the Crypto ATM industry.”
Andrew Barnard, Bitstop’s Co-Founder, states, “Our goal is to sell thousands of Bitcoin ATMs globally over the next few years. While the market is currently still in its infancy, we predict that within five years, it will be normal to see a Bitcoin ATM when you’re out shopping, traveling or pumping gas. To get to that point, we know it must be incredibly easy for the consumer to use, and for the retailer to operate. This solution partnership combines Bitstop’s four years of experience developing and operating a fleet of 100 Bitcoin ATMs with KIOSK’s 25+ years of industry leading design and engineering experience. The end result is a simple, secure, and reliable Bitcoin ATM exchange platform that is beneficial to both the consumer and the deploying retailer.” NRF demonstrations in KIOSK booth #3755.
About KIOSK Information Systems: As the Market Leader in Self-service Solutions, KIOSK provides proven expertise in design engineering, application development, integration, manufacturing, field support, and managed services for even the most sophisticated self-service platforms. A deep portfolio of standard and custom KIOSK designs are deployed among Top 100 Retailers and Fortune 500 clients in virtually all self-service vertical markets. www.kiosk.com, 800.509.5471.
About Bitstop: Bitstop is a Bitcoin infrastructure development company based in sunny Miami, FL. Founded in 2013, Bitstop is an early pioneer in the Bitcoin ATM industry whose mission is to build tools and services which make Bitcoin more accessible.
KIOSK Information Systems and Beabloo to Demonstrate Targeted Facial-Recognition Advertising Through Digital Signage at NRF 2019
Real-time data intelligence through Digital Signage.
January 09, 2019 12:00 PM Eastern Standard Time
LOUISVILLE, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Beabloo, a pioneering company in Active Customer Intelligence solutions that improve retail customer experience, is collaborating with KIOSK Information Systems (KIOSK), an industry leader in self-service solutions, to showcase a digital signage display with active customer intelligence. The combined solution will be demonstrated at NRF in New York City, Booth #3755, January 13 – 15, 2019.
“Beabloo can help companies improve advertising content effectiveness and reduce costs, ultimately leading to a higher return on their signage investment.”
The unit is uniquely built to demonstrate the intelligence-enabled offering Beabloo and KIOSK provide. The digital signage kiosk has three screens – one to display customer-facing ad content, plus two additional displays to demonstrate Beabloo’s Dynamic Signage and Audience Analytics solutions for the Retailer. By illustrating the facial recognition and related content analytics simultaneously, users can easily grasp the value of the real-time data intelligence provided within the Beabloo platform.
The customer-facing digital signage kiosk has an integrated camera to anonymously analyze the audience in real time, thereby respecting the shopper’s privacy. It detects when a person looks at the digital signage and records information such as gender, impressions or attention time, and relates the attributes to drive the appropriate ad content. This content can include product information, recommendations, offers, promotions and interactive content. Shoppers can also scan QR codes from the screens to take the information or promotions with them when they leave the store, enabling them to complete the purchase any time through any channel.
“Implementing intelligence-enabled digital signage allows Retailers to improve the efficiency of their marketing campaigns by segmenting messages according to the profile of the visitor, optimizing display content and improving the customer shopping experience,” said Jaume Portell, CEO of Beabloo. “Beabloo can help companies improve advertising content effectiveness and reduce costs, ultimately leading to a higher return on their signage investment.”
Beabloo’s Digital Signage solution provides a simple analytics dashboard to facilitate smarter advertising decisions. Dashboards include shopper demographic data, content preferences, sales metrics, and store inventory. Accurate data is leveraged to optimize business operations in real time. Dynamic Signage solutions can be further integrated with Beabloo’s stock management module, Minerva, leveraging real-time stock system data to prioritize ad content tied to in-stock products.
Bill Butler, CEO of KIOSK adds, “KIOSK is thrilled to partner with Beabloo. The unique show demonstration illustrates what the Beabloo Active Customer Intelligence Suite adds to digital signage interactions. Grabbing the attention of customers in their buying journey entails bridging digital interactions to physical spaces. Beabloo is an important KIOSK Digital Signage Ecosystem Partner. Their technology adds genuine value to the interactive customer experience while boosting in-store engagement and sales.”
Following NRF, the digital signage solution will also be presented by Beabloo at the ISE fair from February 5-8, 2019, in Amsterdam, Booth 8-C440 and by KIOSK and their parent company Posiflex at the EuroCIS event in Düsseldorf from February 19-21, 2019, Booth #C42/Hall 9.
About KIOSK Information Systems
As the market leader in self-service solutions, KIOSK provides proven expertise in design engineering, application development, integration, manufacturing, field support, and managed services for even the most sophisticated self-service platforms. A deep portfolio of standard and custom KIOSK designs are deployed among Top 100 Retailers and Fortune 500 clients in a wide array of self-service vertical markets.
About Beabloo
Beabloo is a pioneering technology company that develops omnichannel solutions to personalize the customer experience in the retail space and improve the impact of marketing campaigns. The integrated solutions of their Active Customer Intelligence Suite (ACIS) leverage the benefits of artificial intelligence to optimize and automate processes. The company was founded in 2008 and operates in over 20 countries, with headquarters in Spain and offices in China, England, Turkey and the Middle East.
KIOSK Information Systems and Beabloo to Demonstrate Targeted Facial-Recognition Advertising Through Digital Signage at NRF 2019 was last modified: February 16th, 2019 by News Editor
Chrome kiosk operating system lockdown is now available with KioWare for Chrome OS.
Easily create a secure public facing kiosk.
ORK, Pa., Jan. 8, 2019 /PRNewswire/ — Analytical Design Solutions Inc. (ADSI) has released a new product to secure the Chrome™Operating System. KioWare for Chrome OS™ is a kiosk application used with Chrome OS Kiosk Mode to secure the Chrome Operating System and activate additional interactive kiosk features.
KioWare for Chrome OS Configuration tool provides an easy set up with attract screens, restricted access, session management, and more.
Users with the Chrome operating system activate “Chrome Kiosk Mode” on their device. They then add the KioWare for Chrome OS kiosk application to provide additional features and security not available using Chrome OS kiosk mode alone. Learn more about setting up a Chrome OS device with KioWare for Chrome OS.
KioWare Lite for Chrome OS includes features such as:
Attract screens
Popup window control
Domain/Page list blocking
User session management
Tabbed browsing
File download blocking
Clear private browser data
Custom toolbar skins
… and more.
KioWare kiosk software products lock down a device into a secure interactive kiosk, turning a tablet into a kiosk or purposed device for self-service, digital signage, or mobile device management deployments. Now available for Windows®, Android™, & Chrome operating systems. KioWare for Chrome OS is not to be confused with the KioWare for Windows application, which secures the Windows operating system and uses a Chromium-based browser.
KioWare for Chrome OS
KioWare for Chrome OS is available in a free fully functioning demo. Download, configure, and test, then license by purchasing an annual subscription. One license is needed for each deployed kiosk running KioWare for Chrome OS. Volume discounts are available.
KioWare has been providing OS, desktop, and browser lockdown security for the kiosk and self-service industry since 2003 and Android software since 2012.
About KioWare
KioWare kiosk software secures an application or website on Windows or Android devices, restricting user access to approved behaviors and protecting the user and network data. KioWare is fully customizable and offers solutions ranging from browser lockdown to full server-based kiosk management. From simple out of the box configurations to more complex integrations, KioWare is trusted by developers, IT professionals, marketers, Fortune 100 corporations, and small business owners. The KioWare team is based in York, Pennsylvania, with an office located in Reading, UK. Choose the best KioWare product for any self-service project and download a fully functioning free trial at KioWare.com.
kioware-for-chrome-os.png KioWare for Chrome OS KioWare for Chrome OS Configuration tool provides an easy set up with attract screens, restricted access, session management, and more.
KMA Kiosk Manufacturer Association Booth at NRF 1725
See Kiosk Association at booth 1725 with top-tier kiosk software and kiosk enclosure companies from around the world. Come and visit 1725!
PRESS RELEASEUPDATED: JAN 8, 2019 07:00 MST
WESTMINSTER, Colo., January 8, 2019 (Newswire.com) – Come and meet the Kiosk Manufacturer Association (KMA) at NRF in booth 1725. Over 350 companies represented including Olea Kiosks, KioWare, Pyramid, Kiosk Information Systems and Intel Corporation. The client list includes McDonald’s, NIKE, FAO Schwartz, IKEA, Kaiser Permanente, AMC Theaters, MoneyGram, the Veterans Administration, Hertz, FedEx, UPS and many more. Learn more about kiosk software, kiosk hardware, devices, services and support from the largest group of companies dedicated to self-service around the world.
In addition KMA supports regulatory efforts for ADA, Accessibility, and EMV. Harmonizing U.S. and European standards in ADA is the major goal in KMA workings and meetings with the U.S. Access Board.
At NRF, KMA is launching a new Industry Advisory Council to assist in developing the standards used and the self-service industry as a whole. Companies interested in self-service are invited to join and become the KMA “working” industry board. There is no cost and a “safe harbor” is maintained. KMA has a wealth of research, past and current, which can help gauge the market as well.
Highlighted in KMA booth
Get a firsthand look at Appetize’s modern, enterprise point of sale software on Olea‘s Austin countertop self-service kiosk at NRF! With the Kiosk Manufacturer Association, Appetize brings cutting-edge self-service technology to the retail industry. Make sure to swing by Booth #1725 to meet the team and get a demo of the product!
F.A.O. Schwarz, an iconic toy store, has kiosk-like stations equipped with iPads with an engaging user experience that allows guests to build their own model car. From choosing the body, paint, wheels, and accessories, to the accompanied auto body shop sound effects, the interactive experience is the first part of a two-stage process. In stage two the guest works with the team in the F.A.O. garage to put together the model car they just designed — the collaboration between Nanonation and F.A.O. Schwarz is experience retail at its best.
On-hand for information will be KioWare and CEO Jim Kruper. New EMV and facial recognition options have been released in the industry’s first affordable software suit (less than $100). Stop by and learn about the latest in kiosk software from an expert.
Sponsors and Member Also At the Show
Pyramid Computer UK Ltd — For 30 years Pyramid has been manufacturing high-performance computer systems at its factories in Germany and Taiwan with sales offices in Germany, UK, and North America. Screen focus is on 24″ and 32″. Pyramid “polytouch®” branded kiosk designs are leading in European Retail, Hospitality, and QSR markets. See booth 4545.
Press release originally published on BusinessWire
KIOSK Information Systems & NRF 2019 Showcased Technology
KIOSK and Posiflex demonstrate new technology and new designs with Bitcoin ATMs, BOPIS, Digital Signage, Remote Monitoring, and Omnichannel IoT at NRF (Photo: Business Wire)
LOUISVILLE, Colo.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Together,KIOSK Information Systems (KIOSK) and parent company, Posiflex will showcase a wide array of new connected retail solutions for self-service, point of sale, and digital signage at the 2019 NRF Big Show, Booth #3755. The team will demonstrate advances in hardware, software, and service technologies that bridge digital and physical spaces to facilitate connected consumer transactions.
Posiflex’s recently appointed Global Chief Strategy Officer, Hans Peter Nüdling, states, “I’m thrilled to introduce the Posiflex Group at NRF. ‘The Posiflex Group’ references the collective brands of Posiflex, KIOSK, and Portwell computing. It encompasses a strategic blend of world-class POS, self-service, industrial gateway/computing technologies under one virtual corporate roof. At NRF, the Group will be illustrating Omnichannel IoT applied in Retail, Hospitality, and Digital Signage product applications. Our Group mission is to leverage the leading-edge technologies and earned domain expertise of each brand to collaboratively drive new product innovation and global market growth. Further, uniting the vast global Engineering, Operations, and Distribution infrastructure elevates the Group’s strategic IoT solution portfolio and value proposition for our global customer base.” Mr. Nüdling will be building up a major European presence, supplementing primary design and manufacturing facilities in the US and Asia.
Inside the booth, the Group will debut two new standard kiosk offerings. The TK Series (designed by KIOSK and manufactured by Posiflex in Taiwan), are modular platforms with a 32” or 21” display. The new Paragon TK3200 Series kiosk features a sleek 32” PCAP display with componentry purpose-built for quick serve and fast casual restaurant order automation (wall mount, single/dual sided pedestal). Further, the existing Stellar TK2100 Series kiosk has been re-designed as an innovative modular unit with mainstream component options common to most self-service transactions (pedestal or countertop). Both TK models are built with highly reliable Posiflex components, pairing superior life-cycle and supply chain advantage with attractive pricing. The TK kiosk series is built in Taiwan and stocked regionally for final configuration, providing best-in-class lead-times.
KIOSK will proudly feature two new partner platforms. Beabloo and KIOSK have collaborated on a digital signage platform empowered with active customer intelligence. The demo simultaneously shows customer facial recognition and related engagement/demographic analytics, illustrating how real-time customer insight data helps retailers optimize ad content. It provides scannable digital QR codes empowering consumers to carry store offers, promotions, and product information to complete purchases anytime – through any channel.
A second KIOSK partner collaboration is with Bitstop, a pioneer in Bitcoin ATMs. This platform enables instantaneous cash to bitcoin purchase transactions with a simple kiosk UI. This fast-growing cryptocurrency ATM category helps retailers monetize floor space and increase foot traffic.
KIOSK will also feature their own licensed product platforms. Demos include sophisticated licensable bill payment hardware and software, freeing up Store Associates to focus entirely on closing new sales and driving store profits. Additional retail self-service solutions include loyalty/gift registry platforms automating in-store signup, promotional offer presentation, and self-service gift registry management. Standard locker demonstrations for BOPIS (buy online pick up in store), illustrate secure online sales transaction pick-up, driving customer convenience and security, bonused with additional in-store foot traffic/secondary purchases.
In booth, Posiflex – best known for reliable POS solutions – will feature their award-winning RT Series POS terminals (slim standard and widescreen displays), and MT series POS tablets. MT Tablets represent the next-generation in mobile POS with durable Gorilla Glass and optional EMV L2 chip and pin options.
Advanced deployment management software product demonstrations include real-time IoT alerting software to monitor connected POS, kiosk, and signage end-points in real time and at scale. A feature rich remote monitoring dashboard displays the overall health of POS, kiosk, and signage platforms down to the peripheral and component level. This end-point automation visibility is the gold standard for managing uptime and controlling field service costs.
Please stop by booth #3755 to explore the latest offerings or discuss your specific project with the Global (multi-lingual) Posiflex Group team.
About Posiflex
Founded in 1984, Posiflex Technology, Inc. has designed and manufactured its own-branded and world-class POS solutions. Since 2016, Posiflex has determined to grow beyond the POS business and further expand itself into self-service solutions (KIOSK), and to a few more vertical markets serving B2B IoT platforms empowered by embedded PC. Posiflex’s offices are in the USA, Germany, Netherlands, UK, China, India, Singapore, UAE, Malaysia, Japan, and Korea along with the global distribution networks to provide direct and timely support to its customers around the world. For more information, please visit www.posiflex.com or use the contact information below.
About KIOSK Information Systems
As the market leader in self-service solutions, KIOSK provides proven expertise in design engineering, application development, integration, manufacturing, field support, and managed services for even the most sophisticated self-service platforms. A deep portfolio of standard and custom KIOSK designs are deployed among Top 100 Retailers and Fortune 500 clients in a wide array of self-service vertical markets. www.kiosk.com
Contacts
KIOSK Information Systems Press Contact: Cheryl Madeson, +1 720 984 8270 [email protected] or Posiflex Press Contact: Brad Chou, +886 2 2268 5577 [email protected]
KIOSK Information Systems Posiflex Showcase Interactive Self-service & POS Innovations Enabled with IoT Monitoring at NRF Big Show 2019 was last modified: January 10th, 2019 by News Editor
Jury Verdict Against NCR For Misappropriation of Confidential Information
January 7, 2019 – KT Group a Hong Kong based kiosk manufacturer obtained jury verdicts in the Southern District of New York in its nearly 4-year quest for vindication against NCR Corporation, a publicly traded Fortune 500 company, with assistance of its New York based law firm Garson, Segal, Steinmetz, Fladgate.
The case centered on the design of the SelfServ 90 or SS90, NCR’s award-winning flagship card only self-checkout kiosk which can be seen in Tesco stores in the UK, Muji in Japan, Globus in Russia, SPAR in Europe and airports all across the US.
The jury found that NCR was liable for using or disclosing the mechanical drawings provided by KT under the presumed blanket of confidence provided by the non-disclosure agreements and used it for its own benefit.
Moreover, the jury also found NCR liable for misappropriating the mechanical drawings of KT and in so doing, GS2Law proved to the jury that the NCR team, led by Dusty Lutz, the head of NCR’s retail store transformation division, acted with bad faith i.e. with malice, wilfulness, a dishonest purpose or fraud.
NCR advanced its multiple defences including that the non-disclosure agreements permitted harvesting of information for its own use, and that standard terms and conditions in NCR’s purchase order in it’s supplier system superseded the agreements. GS2Law demonstrated that the defences did not hold water.
This is a rare case where a small company has not only managed to bring a large corporation to task but also to show that a company like NCR and its senior executives had done so willfully and dishonestly.
KT Group has for past four years had to wait for its decision but finally came the day said Kenneth Larsen CEO and we can finally share our success based on the jury verdict which in basis supported what KT Group knew from the onset that its theory that NCR knowingly continued to misappropriate confidential information and breached mutual non disclosure agreement signed by us in good faith from the get-go this further goes to demonstrate that small yet dynamic companies like KT Group are able to set standard for its work high enough that the likes of NCR felt the need to continue using our manufacturing intellectual property even though they breached non disclosure of it which further supports our testament of quality manufactured kiosks.
Kiosk Lawsuit Litigation – KT Intellectual Property and NCR Self-Serv was last modified: January 9th, 2019 by News Editor
The Mobile Phone Charging kiosk is helping venues head off a growing health hazard.
By Richard Slawsky contributor originally published 7/24/2016
Click for full size image of Olea designed JCDecaux & Verizon charging and signage unit for airports & more
We’ve all felt it. It’s that feeling of panic deep in our gut when we realize our cell phone batteries are on the verge of dying.
A study by mobile phone maker LG Electronics dubs that feeling “Low Battery Anxiety,” and nine out of 10 people in the United States feel it when the charge on their phone battery drops to 20 percent or lower. Symptoms of the affliction include asking a total stranger to borrow their phone charger, ordering something at a bar or restaurant just to use their power outlet or arguing with a significant other or romantic interest because of unanswered calls or texts.
Fortunately, innovative kiosk manufacturers and deployers have
Click image for full size view of Bridgestone Charging Towers designed by Frank Mayer & Associates, Inc.
introduced a cure, rolling out units in airports, retail locations, sports arenas and other venues that allow consumers to charge their mobile phones and obtain quick relief from the dreaded condition.
A growing health hazard
There is little doubt that mobile phones have penetrated nearly every aspect of our lives, and increasingly those phones are of the smart variety. A February report by research firm comScore indicates that nearly 199 million people in the United States own a smartphone, or more than 79 percent of the overall mobile phone market. People are choosing smartphones not just for personal use, but to help them run their businesses.
And the use of tablet computers is growing as well, with research firm eMarketer predicting the number of tablet users around the world will grow to 1.43 billion in 2018, up from 1 billion last year.
With Charging Stations deployed in 25+ airports globally, Parabit helps aviation and numerous industries engage customers, transform physical environments and showcase resources through a diverse range of indoor & outdoor products and features, including branding options often leveraged to help monetize projects. For more information call 516.378.4800 or Email Us
With such incredible growth, it’s no surprise that Low Battery Anxiety is becoming a significant health problem, and that kiosk companies are rising up to meet the challenge.
Because the market is relatively new it’s difficult to pinpoint specific numbers, but a Google search of the term “phone charging kiosk” indicates dozens of players, with units deployed in thousands of locations around the world. The field is served by established manufacturers including Olea Kiosks, KioWare, KIOSK, Parabit Systems and Frank Mayer & Associates Inc., along with younger deploying companies including ones like ChargeItSpot, goCharge, Brightbox, Veloxity and ChargeTech.
Baltimore-based NV3 Technologies was one of the earliest entrants into the market. The company is now the largest player in the market, with thousands of kiosks across the United States and in three other countries.
“We saw early on that the need to charge your phone was going to become a big problem, and we were right,” said NV3 co-founder Ryan Doak.
Phone charging kiosks operate in a number of different ways. Many feature an assortment of charging cords that fit most popular phone models, while some feature Qi, or wireless charging. That method delivers a charge inductively, with the user simply placing their phone on a pad to receive a charge. Still others rent portable battery packs that users return to a kiosk when they’re through.
And those units are popping up everywhere. In 2014, Olea Kiosks was approached by outdoor advertising firm JCDecaux Airport Inc. to design and manufacture a digital charging station kiosk. The end result was a sleek, eight-foot-tall unit that features four wireless charges, eight 110-volt outlets and six USB ports. The partners have deployed more than 250 kiosks in seven major airports around the county: Miami, Newark, JFK, LAX, Houston, Boston and Orlando.
Chromebook charging another growing opportunity
With many schools faced with the dilemma of needing to provide digital tools to students while at the same time seeing budgets cut to the bone, the Chromebook has emerged as a solution of choice.
Chromebooks are laptop computers running Chrome OS as their operating system. The devices are designed to be used primarily while connected to the Internet, with most applications and data residing in “the cloud.”
Chromebooks are sold mainly by Google and its retail partners, with schools its largest customer category. Google also markets the low-cost devices to first-time computer users and those seeking a second, backup computer.With
Google also markets the low-cost devices to first-time computer users and those seeking a second, backup computer.With Chomebooks becoming increasingly prevalent as a teaching tool, schools are looking for ways to charge a large number of devices at the same time.
That has led to the development of the Chromebook Charging Cart, a mobile unit that can charge as many as 36 Chromebooks, Ultrabooks or Netbooks at the same time while keeping them secure in a locked cabinet. Others are looking at NV3 Technologies hightop table to charge Chomebooks and laptops.
And the need for Chromebook charging solutions is like to remain strong for the foreseeable future. Chromebooks for educational use rose from 38 percent of device sales in 2014 to more than 50 percent in 2015, according to research firm FutureSource, topping 56 percent by the fourth quarter.
“The momentum behind Chromebooks continued to be driven by the need for districts to implement online assessments and Chromebooks have provided a cost effective way of doing this, as well as providing efficient device management both inside and outside of the classroom,” according to the FutureSource report.
In May, fashion retailer Neiman Marcus announced plans to deploy 37 ChargeItSpot phone charging kiosks in 30 of its stores. The kiosks allow users to charge their phones in a secure locker while they shop.
And when Clark Kent visits New York, he may end up changing into his Superman outfit at a phone charging kiosk instead of a phone booth. In June the city rolled out the first of 7,500 planned LinkNYC kiosks, designed to replace outdated pay phones with kiosks that offer ultra-fast Wi-Fi, a tablet for web browsing and two USB ports for charging mobile devices.
Increasingly, venues such as bars, restaurants and theaters are partnering with kiosk makers to deploy custom solutions as a free amenity for their customers
“There is immense potential for deployment of custom device charging station solutions,” said David McCracken, CEO of York, Pa.-based kiosk and digital signage software provider LiveWire Digital.
“The technology is already developed,” McCracken said. “Custom projects should begin popping up in short order, particularly given the endless ways to tie this into customer data collection, engagement, retention and experiential advertising.”
A choice of business models
Of course, although it’s clear that phone charging kiosks offer great benefits to consumers, for the technology to be successful in the long run it needs to offer a benefit for the deployer as well.
There are currently a number of models by which companies are using phone charging kiosks to promote their brand and boost their bottom line.
“We sell and straight-lease our units,” said Billy Gridley, CEO of New York-based phone charging kiosk provider Brightbox.
“The venue chooses whether to offer the charging amenity on a complimentary or pay-per-charge basis,” Gridley said. “Almost 80% of our globally deployed units are offered as a free amenity; brands and sponsors customized the kiosks with on-panel and on-screen content.”
Brightbox’ kiosks include several secure charging compartments, accessible by swiping a credit or debit card or by entering a code on the screen. The customer simply plugs in their phone, closes the compartment and walks away. A light glows green on the door of the compartment when the charging is complete, usually in about 35 minutes.
Brightbox’ Mark3 kiosk can be wall-mounted, table-top counter-mounted or freestanding stand-mounted. The company has more than 700 units deployed around the United States and in six other countries.
While Brightbox and others are targeting the pay-per-charge, advertising-based and brand-building models, others are finding success targeting a specific niche. New York-based ChargeItSpot, for example, targets retailers who want to offer phone charging as an extra service to their customers.
NV3 Technologies manufactures a variety of kiosks from lockers to solar-powered, but the most popular by far for the company is the hightop bar table, Doak said. The table fits into many environments from the obvious bar to tradeshows, events, universities and corporate lounges, allowing users to carry on a conversation while they charge their phones. The table can operate from a standard outlet or from a proprietary battery configuration allowing you to cut the cord.
ChargeItSpot’s kiosks also feature multiple secure lockers, each with a number of charging cables. The kiosks can charge about 98 percent of the phones on the market today. The company offers its kiosks in the United States and has recently expanded into Canada, partnering with retailers including Bloomingdales, Nordstrom and Urban Outfitters as well as a number of casino operators to locate kiosks in those venues.
“People can lock up their phone and continue with their shopping,” said Sheri Tate, senior vice president of product strategy with ChargeItSpot.
Customers access the lockers by entering their 10-digit phone number and choose a secondary security image on a 17-inch touchscreen on the face of the unit. Those screens are customizable with content provided by the retailer.
In exchange for a free charge, customers agree to accept a single text message from the retailer, allowing the retailer to build a database of the customers already in their stores.
The devices can also be accessed via a loyalty card, encouraging customers to sign up for a player’s card if they don’t already have one.
“Casinos have been one of our most successful partners,” Tate said.
“They receive thousands of visitors every day, with many of them staying on the gaming floors for long hours,” she said. “We wanted to give those customers a free amenity that would ensure an all-day connection. Our casino partners love how the charging kiosks encourage their customers to stick around and play longer.”
And that ability to capture customer data is proving to be one of the key benefits for retailers and other venues in providing charging services as an extra amenity. ChargeItSpot, goCharge and others offer the ability to capture email addresses, conduct customer surveys and gather mobile numbers via the attractor screen in exchange for a free charge.
“It’s the wave of the future, because you can interact with the customer,” said Bill Landau, senior vice president and director of sales with goCharge. The company has kiosks deployed throughout the United States and is expanding into Canada. It has also leased units for use in Mexico and Europe, and recently introduced what it terms “intelligent units,” specifically designed to trade a charge for customer info.
“The ability to gather than information can be very valuable for a business seeking to capture new business and build a customer database,” Landau said.
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
Bridgestone by Frank Mayer and Associates, Inc.
Verizoon Decaux with Olea
Quotes
BrightBox – we have a kiosk product connected to and supported by a robust “open” Linux platform with web portals for: fleet management, content management, and data management and reporting (usage, survey data, email and SMS address collection, and audience measurement via our BrightEyeQ software and the on-unit camera. We permission our venues and partners to go onto our platform to run their businesses. Our operators (Brazil, Mexico, UK, Canada, Sweden, Chile) manage their connected kiosks on the platform; our clients manage their ad content and interactivity campaigns. No competitor does this for clients.
Kiosk Solutions Magazine Writeup on Charging Kiosks
We recommend the recent writeup in Kiosk Solutions Issue 2 which covered phone charging. See the online magazine here.
If Ian Hobson has his way, your phone will never run out of power again. Using an innovative charging service he aims to deliver secure, free charging in public places around the world. ChargeBox in UK.
Modern life relies heavily on smart devices, in particular mobile phones. With a pocket-sized device offering quick and easy access to the Internet for socialising, entertainment, good old fashioned phone calls and more, it’s no surprise we use them so much. We could live without them, of course, but when the power runs it can sometimes feel like the world is about to end. And that’s exactly where ChargeBox comes in…
1. How did you come up with the idea for ChargeBox?
It all started before the smartphone revolution, when battery life wasfantastic. Because of this people often went out without their charger, But when the battery finally did run out, it was difficult for people to charge their phone again. We wanted to solve this problem. Our initial success was with travellers who needed to charge their phones when in transit.
Once smartphones came along people began carrying their charger with them more because battery life was significantly reduced. But even with a charger to hand it’s not always possible to access a power outlet, and this is where we come in. And since charger connections have been reduced to just two main types – Apple and Micro USB rather than a unique charger for almost every phone, this side of the service is now much simpler than it was when we first started.
2. Why offer free charging?
Adoption of a free charging service parallels the way free WiFi proliferated a number of years ago. Public WiFi has been around for a while now, but in the early days it was expensive to use and the uptake was extremely limited. Now it’s even more readily available, and most importantly, it’s often free. The result, as you’d expect, is increased use and we think charging will follow the same path. In the run up to the Olympics Westfield Shopping Centre wanted to begin providing free WiFi to visitors.
They also wanted to offer free phone charging, and approached ChargeBox for a solution that would work in this type of location. A charging box that was secure was essential to this, along with a simple service anyone can use. Our goal is to make as many charging stations as possible around the globe free. Making them free relies on sites paying for the service themselves, or using sponsorship in some form. Retailers will often skin the units to keep them in-line with their brand.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Alphabet Inc’s (GOOGL.O) Google unit won approval from U.S. regulators to deploy a radar-based motion sensing device known as Project Soli.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) said in an order late on Monday that it would grant Google a waiver to operate the Soli sensors at higher power levels than currently allowed. The FCC said the sensors can also be operated aboard aircraft.
The FCC said the decision “will serve the public interest by providing for innovative device control features using touchless hand gesture technology.”
A Google spokeswoman did not immediately comment on Tuesday, citing the New Year’s Day holiday.
The FCC said the Soli sensor captures motion in a three-dimensional space using a radar beam to enable touchless control of functions or features that can benefit users with mobility or speech impairments.
Google says the sensor can allow users to press an invisible button between the thumb and index fingers or a virtual dial that turns by rubbing a thumb against the index finger.
Google’s Advanced Technology and Projects (ATAP) team has been working on Project Soli since 2015. The gesture-based system uses broad beam radar to detect and capture hand movements, turning them into commands for mobile devices. Until now, though, the tech has been restricted, with some companies — including Facebook — claiming that the high frequency levels required might interfere with existing technology. Now, the FCC has granted a waiver that will allow Soli to operate at higher levels than currently allowed, and therefore continue development as Google originally intended.
Hand Sensor Patent by Google for Touchless Touch Moves Ahead was last modified: January 2nd, 2019 by News Editor
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