Author Archives: Cindy Garrison

Kiosk Cleaning-Coronavirus

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Bruin Kiosk enclosures and most kiosk components can be cleaned with disinfectents used to combat coronavirus and most other types of viral infections. The one part of kiosks that can be damaged by some types of cleaners is the touchscreen monitor. Standard monitors are cleaned using window cleaner (non-amoninia) that is sprayed onto a cloth and then wiped onto the monitor surface. Direct spraying is discouraged by the manufacturer.

Bruin Kiosk offers an alternative to standard monitors that will allow you to clean the touch surface with disinfectants and create a more vandal resistant kiosk. We can install a polycarbonate cover and use a monitor that is designed to still react to your touch through the cover.

Give us a call if you want to upgrade your kiosk to protect your touch monitor from disinfecting chemicals. 910.281.0222

Inmate Kiosk-POE

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We have added a second version of our popular inmate kiosks. Our traditional inmate kiosk features a 19″ screen and is powered with a 115V connection along with ethernet or LAN to transmit data. Our new version is a POE (power over Ethernet) which requires a ethernet connection POE + (30W). The savings in installation cost and time can be significant (especially in larger institutions). Our POE Kiosk uses an ELO iSeries-Android OS 10″ All-In-One touch computer. Check us out at bruinkiosk.com or send us an email at sales@bruinkiosk.com or give us a call at 910.280-0222 to learn more about all of our correctional kiosks. Click Here to View Inmate Kiosk-POE Brochure

Ticketing Kiosk Options

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Ticketing kiosks can be deployed in different form factors and dispense tickets in different forms.

Kiosk thermal printers can print tickets on standard or preprinted stock. Preprinted stock allows you to use complicated designs and multiple colors on the ticket stock while still be able to print seat or date data while dispensing. Standard stock is cheaper and flexible, but you are limited with ticket appearance options.

Preprinted complete tickets can also be dispensed along with change using kiosk cash dispensers. The payment flexibility of this set up broadens ticketing kiosk applications.

Ticketing kiosk form factors include free standing, wall mount, and custom mounting. Custom mounting is the most expensive and requires modification of walls, building of booths, or special countertops. The custom mounts are preferred on very high volume applications that are continually used. A free standing kiosk allows you more options in placement and lower up-front costs. Many free standing ticketing kiosks can be moved to different venues as needed. Wall mount ticketing kiosks are the middle ground between custom mounting and free standing. Although they require permanent mounting, use of surface mounting is relatively inexpensive.

The best kiosk designs are collaborations between the end user and the kiosk manufacturer. Call to discuss your application to get the kiosk that meets your needs and budget.

Bill Pay Kiosk

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01 Feb

Bill pay kiosks are gaining popularity for multiple reasons. The freeing up of clerical staff and giving unbanked customers a method to pay a reoccurring bill are two of the leading reasons.

A bill pay kiosk can be tailored to match how you want to handle payments. You can accept currency in either bills and/or coins or debit/credit cards. The next decision with hard currency is do you want to provide change. Many people are deploying kiosks which keep the change and credit the next billing cycle. You can lower your kiosk costs and take advantage of the float created by this method. The float can easily pay for the kiosk in a high traffic location.

A check reader that reads and returns the check is another popular option. The return feature allows you to credit your account without having to handle the check. A scanner can also be used to read account information on bills to quickly pull up the correct account.

The amount and size of the internal components of bill pay kiosks require the cabinet be of substantial size. Many kiosk designers get lazy with this type of cabinet and produce a “big box”. A properly designed large kiosk can still look attractive and be functional. You also want to make sure your kiosk is integrated with components that are backed with long warranty periods. There is nothing more frustrating than having a kiosk that doesn’t work due to substandard components.

If you decide your business or government office could benefit from a bill pay kiosk, please check out our models at www.bruinkiosk.com.

Inmate Kiosks for Commissary Orders-Key Design Parameters

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27 Jan

Commissary companies need a way to receive orders from inmates. Most prisons and jails have long since left “order slips” and moved on to self- service kiosks. Use of an inmate kiosk and the appropriate software helps to automate the process of placing orders. A more efficient process helps to generate more sales with less administration costs. An inmate kiosk may seem like a slam dunk, but what design characteristics should you look for in your inmate kiosk. Here are some key points to consider:

1. Inmate Safety-Prisons are not the best environment to deploy kiosks. You want to make sure the kiosk cabinet is of a rugged design. You also want to avoid kiosks which have open wiring terminal blocks inside. Power bricks to supply DC power instead of a common terminal strip lessens the chance for electrical problems, especially is liquid is “accidently” introduced to the cabinet.

2. Privacy-What is the area like where the kiosks are deployed? Is there an issue with inmates taking passwords? You may want to consider the use of privacy screens if your software requires use of a password instead of a card reader or other method to access an individual’s account.

3. Installation-Installation costs are just that…costs. You want a kiosk that can be installed with one person. You need multiple ways to hand the kiosk depending on the mounting surface and you should look for a design that gives you various options on where to introduce electrical conduit and/or hookups.

4. Serviceability-Prisons and jails are not the easiest place to get service people inside to work on a unit. A good kiosk inmate design will use mounting designs that allow you to remove the computer or monitor quickly and do a swap in place to get the kiosk back on line.

5. Rugged components-Almost all of the premier computer companies and monitor companies supply product with standard three year warranties. Insist on this level of quality when shopping for your inmate kiosks.

 

At Bruin Kiosk we have a complete line of commissary or correctional kiosks. Please visit our site or give us a call to discuss your inmate or other correctional kiosk needs.

 

 

 

Digital Signage Kiosk

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We have added a new frame style to the Bruin Kiosk family of kiosks. The new style is our RA kiosk. The first iteration of the RA kiosk is a 32″ landscape orientation touchscreen. The RA kiosk has very simple lines with rounded corners and a unique “layered look” to the front. The kiosk has a removable rear access panel and can be configured with a PC or media player to drive content. Options include custom graphics and speakers. The RA kiosk joins our two other styles of digital signage/large format touchscreen kiosks. The DS and LR kiosks can be viewed on our website.

The kiosk will be rolled out into the major airports in the US during the next few months. Look for updates on this roll out in future posts.

 

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