Article

Retail, restaurants and more: The Self-Service & Kiosk Show expands focus

Self-service has evolved to encompass much more than just kiosks, and so has the only trade show devoted to end-market users of the technology. Attendees of the upcoming Self-Service & Kiosk Show in Orlando will preview cutting-edge tech ready to deploy in a number of vertical industries.

January 25, 2006 by James Bickers — Editor, Networld Alliance

A tradeshow floor filled with nothing but kiosks? Please. That is so 20th century.

Self-service means much more than kiosks today, and attendees at the upcoming Self-Service & Kiosk Show in Orlando, Fla., Feb. 13-14 will see that first-hand. Dozens of companies will showcase their latest self-service devices, aimed at generating revenue and improving the bottom line for a number of industries, from retail to financial services to travel and hospitality. Traditional kiosks, themselves constantly evolving and improving, will share the spotlight with portable units, wireless technology, digital signage and service providers.

According to director of show operations, Terry Thompson, industries that have traditionally embraced self-service, such as retail and financial services, are well represented at the show, but so are some new faces and names. (NetWorld Alliance, which owns and operates The Self-Service & Kiosk Show, also owns and operates this Web site.)

"We're seeing a lot of companies that serve multiple industries, not just retail or banking or restaurants," she said. "We've got a number of new exhibitors that represent aspects of self-service that perhaps people haven't thought about before."

Thompson said the quality of exhibitors signed up for the show is higher than ever, and the breadth of industries served and needs met is wider than ever.

"This show has grown so much; it now encompasses both traditional kiosk providers and those companies that are looking at self-service from a different angle," she said. "It's about all the different ways companies can improve their processes by letting customers take control of some or all of the transaction process. There's a lot of visionary thinking going on here."

On the floor Â…

Apunix Computer Services will demonstrate a number of its established applications, all built on the Java platform. Apunix has long been an advocate for open software applications, stressing the need for extensibility. The company focuses on kiosk applications addressing retail, food and beverage self-ordering, hospitality, travel and tourism.

CeroView, a turnkey kiosk solutions company, offers high-quality integration and an award-winning internal cabling management system. The company will display four kiosk models: the ergonomic Aport; the Crystal, which lends itself to use as a digital media unit; the 2800S Digital Photo Kiosk; and the Sales Pro II, designed to fit on an endcap in most any retail environment.

Corporate Safe Specialists will demonstrate two dynamic self-payment devices. The Self Out System (SOS) allows the storeowner to use the kiosk like an electronic chalkboard; whatever his food specials are, he can post minutes before his lunch rush. Inventory items can be marked out of stock to keep customers from the disappointment of ordering only to find out it is not available. CSS's Cash Courier is a POS device that can accept and return paper and coin currency. The Cash Courier can be installed inside an existing kiosk structure to make a turnkey payment solution for self-checkout.

D2 Sales will introduce its new semi-custom stock kiosk design. The kiosk features PlascoID's patented bio-scan identification technology. The unit has been customized with an extended outer shell to accommodate an oversized custom wristband printer and features a branded, 4-color process, custom graphic wrapper. D2 will also bring along an old favorite, the "Tree of Knowledge" design. This kiosk features a CPU, LCD touchscreen and speakers, all nested in the branches of a sculptural tree-shaped enclosure.

Diebold Premier Services offers installation and maintenance services to kiosk manufacturers and their partners. In addition to giving information regarding its installation and maintenance services, the company will also provide attendees with copies of its recently published mini-guide, "The Importance of Uptime." Diebold also will sponsor a drawing at their booth for a must-have collection of books for the self-service executive.

Electronic Systems Protection will showcase its products, which protect sensitive kiosk equipment from surges, ground noise, dirty power disruptions, lightning and other harmful voltage transients that are usually beyond the operator's control. The company also offers network protection and a fax/modem DSL filter that electronically isolates the DSL signal from the normal phone (voice) signal, preventing unwanted cross talk and ensuring trouble-free connections.

Elo Touch Systems will exhibit its complete line of entry-level LCD touchmonitors; multifunction LCD desktop touchmonitors with magnetic stripe reader, rear-facing display and biometric fingerprint recognition; and its new 1529L 15-inch LCD touchcomputer. Elo's products are available with industry-leading touch technologies including surface wave (IntelliTouch, iTouch, SecureTouch), resistive (AccuTouch, AT4), infrared (CarrollTouch) and capacitive (projected and surface).

EuroTouch Kiosks will bring a number of their innovative designs, including outdoor and adjustable models. They also will be on hand to explain their installation and maintenance service programs, which are available throughout the U.S. and Canada.

Ewait will bring several of its stylish kiosks and integrated table systems for restaurant ordering and entertainment products. Ewait's Electronic Waiter and Ewait Digital allow patrons to order food from their tables, then browse the Internet and purchase media products while waiting to be served.

Expand Networks helps organizations simplify their IT infrastructure via a multiservice integrated platform that ensures superior performance for any application over any network. Expand Networks serves more than 1,200 enterprise customers including Hitachi Capital, Motorola, Continental Airlines and the United States Department of Defense.

In partnership with KioWare, Fivepoint will show a human resources application running on an industry kiosk platform, highlighting both security and privacy. Fivepoint also will show a couple of applications running on their latest platform, the Silhouette series, as well as a complete survey package by Diatouch and another partner-based application by KioWare.

Flytech Technology Co. Ltd. is principally engaged in the design, production and sales of kiosk and POS systems. As a leading kiosk and POS systems OEM/ODM-maker, Flytech offers reliable, quality products to all of its customers at competitive cost.

Geist, a leading manufacturer of power distribution units with hundreds of application solutions in horizontal and vertical power units, will display their devices in 15-, 20-, 30-, and 60-amp models. Also, new RacSense Current Monitoring PDUs offer digital readout of amps, volts, power and environmental monitoring.

Graphic Systems Inc. will showcase its AdView dynamic sign systems, simple and economical digital signs. AdView models are available both standalone and networked, as well as with interactivity options.

Hand Held Products will bring a number of its leading "portable kiosk" models, ideal for use in "smart shopping" applications, price lookup, loyalty and any other retail use where portability is a must. Hand Held Products also holds the distinction of being the world's leading provider of image-based data collection products, led by its exclusive Adaptus Imaging Technology.

HECON's primary focus will be the C-56 family of thermal receipt printers, specifically designed for thermal receipt printing applications in harsh environments. A unique, patented presentation assembly prevents vandals from pulling the paper out of the printer. The C-56 prints at 220 mm/second (8.6 inches/second). A temperature range of -30 degrees C to +70 degrees C, along with a commensurate humidity spec, make the C-56 perfect for outdoor applications.

Immersion Corp. will demonstrate its tactile feedback systems that turn traditional passive kiosk touchscreens into active displays that deliver the sensation of pressing physical buttons. Immersion's technology allows tactile cues to be worked into the touchscreen experience, creating enormous differentiation from other touchscreen interfaces.

Instruments & Equipment Company is a full-service, integrated systems provider, and is the only authorized dealer for NCR's EasyPoint kiosk line.

KING Products & Solutions will showcase its Plynth G5 dual-screen kiosk with digital advertising on the 19-inch top screen in addition to a consumer credit card program, developed for IKEA, running on the main screen. The company also will exhibit its LINK wall-mount kiosk that was customized for the newly launched GE Monogram Walk-in Wine Vault that incorporates a scanner and printer. KING's newly launched Content Server application also will be on display; it provides clients with the ability to change kiosk content remotely from any PC equipped with a browser.

KIOSK Information Systems will bring a number of its leading technologies to the show, including a never-before-seen Photo Pod, a multistation unit built for the armed services. The Digital Media standalone photo/digital media machine will be on hand, as will the Digital Ordering Station, aimed at mini-lab and digital sampling.

Kiosk Logix will demonstrate its secure browser software, NetStop Pro, which powers public Internet kiosks and enterprise information solutions. Clients benefit from remote monitoring and real-time management of kiosks. Other technologies on hand will include the PDA-based REACHPOS for restaurants, Site-Logix workflow application and audio/video communication and data collaboration software.

For 30 years, La Gard has provided the financial industry with secure options for its ATM safe-locking needs. La Gard will display its latest innovation, the Navigator, which combines cell and Web technologies to ensure cash security.

Software developer Nanonation will display a number of innovative retail solutions built upon its Nanopoint E3 software suite. The company also will have digital signage applications that take advantage of the high-definition power of the Apple operating system.

Netkeywill demonstrate Netkey 6.5, the company's enterprise-level software platform used for the development, deployment and operation of self-service kiosk networks. In use at leading retailers, banks and other organizations, Netkey 6.5 simplifies the creation and management of complex kiosk applications and helps businesses generate a sustainable and measurable return on investment from their kiosk projects.

PDNB will highlight Electronic Banking Solutions, TIO, VERO and Bantek/EFMARK. PDNB Electronic Banking Solutions (EBS), a division of Palm Desert National Bank, develops customized solutions for vault cash, terminal and cash management, POS/ATM network sponsorship and stored-value debit card programs for the financial services industry. Info Touch Technologies, a strategic investment of Hewlett Packard, is building the TIO Network, the largest and most convenient national multiretailer network of financial services kiosks for the non-banked consumer marketplace in North America. VERO is an innovative financial services technology company offering a fully automated, end-to-end check cashing solution to financial institutions and retailers to minimize losses due to check fraud and reduce overall costs associated with the check cashing process. And Bantek/EFMARK is an end-to-end provider of ATM/kiosk services and the nation's largest service company providing institutions with a single-source solution for ATM/kiosk equipment and maintenance as well as secure currency management and delivery services.

Planar Systems will show its DS15, a highly optimized solution that allows a compelling interactive experience to be delivered anywhere there is an electrical outlet. The included software suite enables a wide variety of rich-media content to be scheduled easily and deployed directly at the point of purchase. Also on display will be the PT1701MU, a 17-inch capacitive touchmonitor for retail, POS, POP or kiosk applications. The PT1701MU features 3M ClearTek Capacitive touchscreen and USB touchscreen driver for use in harsh environments that require a more rugged interface.

PQI Corporation will showcase its full line of flash-based data storage modules. In addition to the original 40 and 44 pin IDE DiskOnModule (DOM) line, PQI offers industrial-grade Compact Flash Cards and a brand new 10-pin Embedded USB DOM. PQI also offers Wide-Temp DOM for temperature-sensitive applications such as outdoor kiosks and a Secure DOM with software encryption for when security is a top priority. PQI also will unveil its new High-Speed and Turbo DiskOnModule lines for applications requiring higher data transfer rates.

RealTime Shredding will introduce the first and only self-service shredding kiosk. This kiosk was designed to help consumers and small businesses fight identity theft quickly, conveniently and inexpensively. Its ATM-type design allows for easy public access to a high-volume, high-quality, pay-per-use intelligent shredding system.

Solectron will showcase its work with Redbox, a leader in DVD rental kiosks. It also will highlight its work with one of the world's largest digital imaging companies to create photo-development kiosks. Solectron collaborates with customers to design and build a customized kiosk solution, whether it's for an informational or transactional kiosk, or one that is Internet-ready, or one that requires a complex custom mechanism. The company also has experience in both indoor and outdoor kiosks.

Solvport is a national ATM and kiosk service provider with 12 years of experience servicing ATM and kiosk networks. They will be on hand to explain their services, including back-office 24x7x365 phone technical support, monitoring, field technical service, installation and project management.

Source Technologies will feature its concourse family of kiosks, including the 3-series, a modular kiosk platform. In addition, the company will offer demonstrations of its award-winning concourse BillPay solution, its teller-assisted self-service banking solution and more.

St. Clair Interactive Communications will show its complete suite of "Store Wide Strategies for Customer Facing Devices," with special emphasis on its recent implementation for the GIANT chain of supermarkets. The company also will show loyalty and gift card kiosks, its SMART ORDER application for QSRs and catering, as well as applications in guided selling, customer service, remote operations and digital displays.

Star Micronics America offers a wide range of kiosk printers with a variety of features and accessories to fit the requirements of nearly any kiosk application. From adjustable width printers to 2-, 3- and 4-inch width kiosk printers, Star has kiosk printing solutions for everything from airline boarding passes to ATMs to lottery and gaming machine applications.

The Rhombus Group specializes in kiosk installations, service and preventative maintenance. Company representatives will be on hand to discuss their subcontractor network, which covers all markets throughout North America. Services offered include kiosk installation and set-up, computer repair, data cabling, wireless integration, electrical, telecommunications, general labor and transportation and warehousing logistics.

Touchmate Touchscreen Solutions has more than 12 years experience in the design, manufacture and implementation of interactive technology. Company executives will be on hand to showcase their established touchscreen projects, that act as sophisticated public information delivery and retrieval systems.

Transaction Network Services will offer attendees more information on its fast, reliable data communications services. The company offers low-cost dial-up communications, high-speed broadband, dedicated circuits and wireless solutions.

[Editor's note: Info Touch Technologies became Tio Networks in April 2006.]

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