News

The Three R's of Outdoor Kiosks

Make sure your device is rough, rugged and reliable if you want it in the great outdoors.

March 30, 2005

What's the weather like where you are? Is it hot and sunny or snowy and windy? Maybe it's rainy and foggy. No matter the weather, if you are reading this, chances are pretty good you're protected from the elements.

Now consider your latest and greatest outdoor kiosk. Is it built to withstand the same weather conditions you can see out your window? Constant exposure to sun, snow, wind, rain, pollution and of course vandalism can considerably shorten your kiosk's lifecycle, if not flat-out snuff it in an instant.

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, but the industry now "understands the complexities" of outdoor kiosks and "gets it right."

His approach is to be very hands-on when it comes to kiosk placement, protection and connectivity. Getting the right advice upfront can save deployers thousands down the road, he said.

"The outdoor kiosk is as good as its weakest link," said Peter Kaszycki, president of kiosk manufacturer Pro-Tech. His best advice for those entering the outdoor kiosk market is to "throw existing (indoor) design away and start over." It's important to realize that while indoor and outdoor kiosks may look the same, they are radically different.

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. Julian Bowron, president of The Kiosk Factory, a kiosk design and manufacturing company, for example, 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, 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. Touch-sensitive keyboards mounted under a non-conductive substrate also create a sealed, anti-vandal interface component. Sealed keyboards and those using the non-conductive substrate can still be customized with layouts and legends.

THE INTERIOR. Unlike their indoor counterparts that 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 underestimating cooling needs is "the biggest miscalculation people make" in outdoor kiosk design.

He 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 - an easy temperature to reach in the hot Phoenix sun.

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?

Industry experts admit that outdoor kiosks, with their sealed components, durable enclosures and high bright displays are costly compared to indoor kiosks.

"If you do it right, you double the cost of the unit for 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. If your machine will be deployed in Tucson, it won't need the same cold protection as one set up in Toledo.

"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."