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The three R's of outdoor kiosks

April 24, 2005

What's the weather like where you are? Is it hot and sunny or cold and rainy? Now consider the cell phone top up, bill pay or photo kiosk in your c-store. Would it be able to withstand the same weather conditions you see out your window?

Constant exposure to sun, snow, wind, rain, pollution and of course vandalism can considerably shorten a kiosk's lifecycle, if not flat-out snuff it.

According to Tom Weaver, vice president of sales and marketing for Kiosk Information Systems, many early attempts at outdoor self-service failed just for those reasons.

While indoor and outdoor kiosks may look the same, they are radically different. "The outdoor kiosk is as good as its weakest link," said Peter Kaszycki, president of kiosk manufacturer Pro-Tech.

Getting tough

THE ENCLOSURE. For several industry insiders, steel and aluminum top the list of ideal materials for outdoor kiosk design. Wood and plastic just don't stand up to temperature extremes, bright sunlight and water.

Better options vary. For example, Julian Bowron, president of The Kiosk Factory, a kiosk design and manufacturing company, prefers powder-coated steel and stainless steel for their versatility, durability and low maintenance, while Weaver believes stainless steel is tougher in the elements. Kaszycki prefers aluminum.

"It breathes more than steel," he said, adding that steel can trap heat, similar to an oven. Aluminum, like steel, can be powder-coated and painted, but Kaszycki says it offers more flexibility when it comes to kiosk shapes and design.

THE KEYBOARD. Whatever else one says about keyboards, for outdoor kiosks they must be made of metal.

Danny DiGioia, marketing manager for keyboard manufacturer EAO, adds that his company seals its metal keyboards for outdoor use.

THE INTERIOR. Unlike their indoor counterparts, which sit in temperature-controlled environments, outdoor kiosks face temperature extremes all year long. The heat, it seems, can be more problematic for kiosks than the cold.

Because outdoor kiosks create their own heat in addition to bathing in ambient extremes, they require the use of some sort of cooling device to protect electronic components. Kaszycki said that for every 10-degree rise in temperature, a kiosk component's lifecycle is cut virtually in half. Also, many components simply slow down, experiencing "thermal fatigue" at 105 F.

Solid state air coolers with no moving parts are often recommended since they are less likely to break down. Awnings and shelters offer some measure of relief as well, noted Weaver.

Sunlight, as well as heat, affects the usability of an outdoor kiosk. High-bright displays readable in direct sunlight and those that adjust for nighttime viewing are necessary for outdoor kiosk success. Use hardened, scratch-resistant touchscreens

How much are we talking here?

According to industry experts, outdoor kiosks cost more than indoor kiosks.

"If you do it right, you double the cost of the typical unit," said KIS's Weaver. "If you do it wrong, you have to replace it (the kiosk) in a couple of months."

For Bowron of The Kiosk Factory, the "era of the `cheapest possible kiosk' has ended." Instead, kiosks are sold in part by their usefulness and low lifetime operating costs. But, he cautions that some outdoor kiosks are priced so high they fail to deliver an ROI. Look for the right balance.

"You can't cut corners and have a successful outdoor kiosk," Pro-Tech's Kaszycki said. "It will eventually fail if you don't have the right stuff."

An expanded version of this article was first published inKioskmagazine.