Take a licking, keep on clicking

Public access kiosks in outdoor locations and areas of heavy usage are akin to the suitcase in the old Samsonite luggage commercials-while they are not literally thrown in a gorilla's cage, they are often placed in conditions that prove tougher in the long run.

But it is possible to develop a kiosk that will deal successfully with whatever Mother Nature or human nature can thrust upon it.

The Kiosk Factory president Julian Bowron knows all about this. His company

Challenges, challenges

But opinions are divided as to what is the tougher task, protecting a kiosk from the elements or protecting it from a user's rough hands.

Sydney Arfin, president of SeePoint Technology LLC, said weather conditions are his greatest concern.

Kiosk Information Systems Inc. developed this kiosk for Budget Rent a Car Corp. to offer maps and directions in its parking lots.

"Weather extremes pose the greatest impediment to outdoor kiosk deployments," Arfin said. "Thus the best outdoor kiosk is one, like an ATM, where most of the kiosk is actually indoors in a climate-controlled environment and only the front façade is exposed."

But Bowron is more concerned with people than climate.

"The affect of humans is much more severe than the worst weather," Bowron said. "The biggest concern with an outdoor kiosk is the lower level of supervision, and higher incidence of abusive treatment."

Whether the threat comes from driving rains, howling winds, the curious hands of a child, or other forces, providing protection for an outdoor kiosk is essential to its success.

Envision the possibilities

When first approaching the drawing board, kiosk designers try to imagine every possible worst-case scenario.

"Try to think like a vandal or a dissatisfied customer," Bowron said. "Look for places to jam gum, inject glue, light some paper, wheedle in a coat hanger."

Bowron said there should be no accessible fasteners on the exterior of the machine, and that components must be tight-fitting and made from appropriate materials (see accompanying box).

According to Arfin, traditional cabinet-style kiosk enclosures, typically made from laminate, Formica or pressboard, are not suited for outdoor deployment. SeePoint's kiosks are made primarily of steel and aluminum, with the computer nerve center housed in an assembly made from cast aluminum.

He also said an outdoor kiosk also has to be mobile, so it can be moved indoors when not in use.

"A mobile kiosk can be set up outdoors, locked down for use, and then moved indoors for storage," he said. "Thus, the trend seems to be a move away from large cabinet kiosks and toward kiosks that take advantage of production methodologies to produce a stronger, smaller and more weather-resistant kiosk."

The housings reduce the computer's exposure to dust, dirt and the elements, and incorporate a breathable fabric that allows air, but not water, to pass through its venting system.

Pete Snyder, vice president of sales and marketing for Kiosk Information Systems Inc. (KIS), is another believer in aluminum, though he is willing to use other substances. He said durability is a primary consideration in creating an outdoor kiosk.

"We are finding that cast aluminum enclosures or cast aluminum kiosk subsections of metal enclosures are becoming much more popular with kiosks in the public sector or with kiosks that contain cash," Snyder said. "Their durability is exceptional and they can be painted any color of the rainbow. Also, castings allow a lot more latitude in the aesthetic appearance of the kiosk or sub components. Similarly, the use of various types of plastic also allow much more flexibility in the aesthetic appearance of kiosks since molds can be designed and constructed to almost any shape."

The possibility of fire is another consideration with outdoor kiosks. Snyder said metal designs are ideal if fire is a concern.

"We find that kiosks being placed in the unattended public sector are increasingly being made from metal," he said. "It is becoming increasingly important to ensure that these public kiosks are fully UL certified - flame retardant, shock resistant and pass the UL tip test. It is very difficult for a wood kiosk to pass the flammability requirements of UL."

Hot and cold, rain and snow

Another big concern is water resistance. While it is preferable for an outdoor kiosk deployment to include an awning or canopy-like enclosure, there are many cases where this is not possible. In such instances, machines must be virtually watertight.

"The biggest problems with water penetration are not usually associated with the initial entry of the water, since it is easy to put roofs over things," Bowron said, "but the re-evaporation and subsequent condensation, which can deliver the water anywhere, including the surface of circuit boards."

SeePoint Technology LLC's wall-mounted unit has been used in several outdoor settings.

Added Snyder: "Water resistance is easy to accomplish but the unit has to be designed from ground zero to be watertight. It is not cost effective, if not possible, to take an inside kiosk model and convert it to make it an outdoor unit."

The outdoor kiosk must also be able to withstand temperature extremes. While many units are mobile enough to be moved inside during inclement weather, many others are permanent installations that must be temperature resistant.

"With respect to temperature, there are a number of expensive, compact air conditioning devices for the electronic housing industry," Bowron said. "But if possible, passive means are preferred. The correct approach is to analyze the equipment for precise susceptibility, then develop targeted solutions."

He recommends that manufacturers upgrade to high-temperature motherboards, rather than purchasing expensive air conditioner units.

Snyder said the choice of paint color plays a role in how well a kiosk manages temperature.

"Obviously, the paint color should be on the lighter side so as not to absorb sun radiation and add to the heat equation inside the kiosk," he said. "That equation considers the surface area exposed to direct sunlight, the heat generated by the equipment within the kiosk, the operational temperatures for the components inside the kiosk, and the outside ambient temperature."