News

IBM SA uses kiosks to inform employees about HIV/AIDS

December 3, 2002

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -On Dec. 3, IBM South Africa unveiled two kiosks it installed in its head office to inform staff and suppliers about HIV and AIDS, said a news article by ITWeb.

The company saw kiosks as an opportunity to get information to its employees while protecting their privacy.

The touchscreen kiosks use voice guidance and animated graphics to allow users to access information about HIV/AIDS. Self-Empowerment International, a South African adult education and training organization, designed the software.

Sister Gwynneth Staples, head of IBM SA's medical center, said in the story that kiosks were chosen because lectures and seminars don't seem to work.

"People don't want to be seen at such lectures, or they can't organize their schedules to fit them in," said Staples. "With the kiosk people can access information in their own time and at their own pace, homing in on the information that is relevant to their own circumstances."

The company has had three HIV/AIDS-infected employees in the past three years. The kiosks were unveiled as part of an HIV/AIDS awareness day.

IBM operates in 164 countries, employs 325,000 people, has more than 1 billion customers, and spends $6 billion (US) annually on research and development, according to the company's Web site.