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The kiosk and self-service top 5 (so far)

Here's a roundup of the most-read kiosk and self-service stories of 2013 (so far).

April 17, 2013 by Natalie Gagliordi — Editor of KioskMarketplace.com, Networld Media Group

After a long, cold and snowy winter, it's finally spring time. But the self-service and kiosk industries skipped the winter hibernation period, already getting off to an active start to 2013.

So let's take a look back at the year so far, with the most-read stories this year, as chosen by you — the readers. In reverse numerical order, here are the top five stories, by total page views, on Kiosk Marketplace:

5. Five considerations for a mobile kiosk solution

This commentary by Kevin Price, the CEO of AccuCode Inc., discussed how tablets and smartphones have become the de facto standard for consumers of all walks of life. Once savvy retailers, restaurants, grocery stores and other businesses started to add mobile solutions to their businesses, they gave a boost to the customer experience.

But how does a business know when a kiosk or mobile solution is right for them? When it comes to selecting a mobile solution, there's no one-size-fits-all solution for every business.

4. Kiosks and magic mirrors highlight high-tech Tesco pilot

Cisco and U.K. supermarket giant Tesco teamed for a digital pilot that illustrated a solution to the growing demand for technological adoption. The array of interactive technologies that Tesco piloted at three store locations across the U.K. included a digital signage display that advertised clothing available through its F&F line, and a self-service touchscreen kiosk developed by Retec Interface that enabled customers to peruse online items, use barcode scanners for product ratings, reviews and suggested accessories, and make purchases using chip-and-PIN.

Tesco also tested the Kids StyleMe Mirror, a creation by C In-Store that used augmented reality in hopes of engaging even the most uninterested shopper, and a virtual mannequin that used hologram-based projections and audio to attract and seemingly speak to customers.

3. Samsung Galaxy S4 reinvents the barcode

The Samsung Galaxy S4 debuted in mid-March, with a Broadway-style product launch complete with dance numbers and sketch comedy. While the phone itself turned out not to be greatly different from the Galaxy S3, the new device housed a couple of features that will make it easier for users to adopt mobile scanning and mobile payments. The device included a new, and pretty innovative, take on the standard, old-school 1-D barcode. Called mobeam technology, it addresses some of the issues facing barcodes as a mobile technology.

2. Old school vending gets new school technology

Automated retail has been booming, much to the credit of interactive touchscreen technology that has helped to create a new wave of intelligent vending kiosks, producing a more immersive and personalized experience for the customer. Capitalizing on this trend, the Utah-based company AirVend released its solution to provide existing vending machines with the upgrades they need to keep pace with advances in technology, consumer expectations and one slightly controversial piece of legislation — the Affordable Care Act.

1. Kodak Q&A: 'We're a memory company'

At the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, Larry Trevarthen, Kodak's VP of marketing and retail system solutions, spoke with Gary Pageau, principal at InfoCircle and blogger for Kiosk Marketplace. The conversation resulted in an in-depth discussion about Kodak's current state of business and its plans for the future.

Read more about kiosk trends.