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Craig Keefner's Globalshop Experience

Kiosks.org founder Craig Keefner has his own way to cover a trade show. A veteran of many such events, here's his take on the world's largest store design and in-store marketing show.

April 4, 2002 by Craig Keefner — manager, Olea

CHICAGO - Globalshop is bigger and more crowded than ever.

It's really cool, now what? - Jestertek, with new jestpoint. Imagine being transported into a computer and play the game, with your body motions effectively synchronized live with the dynamic computer game... wow!

Burn Baby Burn: Liquid Audio showing burn CD setups...

Bring the Kids! -- A visit to the Frank Mayer and Associatesplayground and saw all of their cool kid kiosks. See the Web sitefor more.

Sneaking up on Everybody-- Who else? Cybertotems, of course! Where do these guys come up with these things? Kiosks.org BEST OF SHOW for the coolest app using a general purpose barcode scanner. Go to any store anywhere, scan barcodes, find a port (kiosk) or use your computer to upload and let them shop the Internet for you! It's called QODE.

Nice new box --Kiosk Information Systems(KIS) unveiled its new KC500 Series made of really slick cast aluminum. It's an impressive box, with great applications in retail, offices and Internet cafes.

Cashing in - Otto Lohse of MEI and I had a great conversation. He really enjoyed Doug Miller's presentation.

I Spy -- I see a booth from Microtouch. 3M seems to have a bit of interest in the proceedings and I got to meet Heather and see Tim.

The Lunch Bunch -- Barbara of Elo TouchSystemshad the new Entuitive model touchscreens on display and took NetWorld's terrible trio - me, Larry Thompson and Brian Monell -- to lunch. Thanks Barbara!

New Product Announced -- Lexmark introduced new J110 Kiosk Printer. It's as inexpensive as inkjet, with up to 16 ppm (14 ppm color). Maybe you don't need that big expensive laser printer.

KO BEST OF SHOW: most innovative booth goes to First Waveand Apple Computer. Look Ma, no tables! Just open floor space and a couple of guys doing a heckuva St. Bernard impression with a necklace comprised of a Mac kiosk. And the applications are useful and effective retail. Holy Halstens Batman!

KO BEST OF SHOW: Most useful and noteworthy applications -- goes to NCRKiosks with their new RemoteVision program. This already provides support to more than 6,000-plus ATMs, 800 Network Devices and approximately 7,000 other NT servers and workstations A Notable Co-Winner is Bluepoint Technologies, Inc., with a completely web-based monitoring tool, LinkWatch, along with their other modules KioskLink and DisplayLink.

That's it from the Chicago!