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.

 

 

 

Human Resource Kiosks

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Human Resource Kiosk

Human Resource Kiosks can be deployed to serve many purposes.

The list of functions that can be performed include time/attendance clocking, on-line job function training, compliance training/testing, benefit updates, and filing insurance forms are just some of tasks that can be handled on a kiosk.

The benefit to a busy HR department is obvious. Intermittent interruptions to the normal workday are virtually eliminated. Forms that are filled out on line can’t be lost or misplaced. An accurate list of who has and hasn’t taken compliance training is readily available.

The kiosks also benefit an employee. Employees can often access their records by means of swiping a badge in a card reader or by use of touching an RFID enabled card. They can go straight to their records without needing to remember yet another password. Kiosks at work also serve to empower those employees who don’t have internet access at home.

Ideally kiosks are located in areas that are both convenient for the employee and offer some measure of privacy. The actual kiosk can be fitted with a privacy screen if a private location is not available.

Bruin Kiosk strives to build a custom solution for your individual application. We would be glad to discuss your application and design a Human Resource Kiosk that meets your needs. You can contact us via our website bruinkiosk.com. Below is a picture of a Human Resource Kiosk that is equipped with an RFID badge reader for deployment in a factory environment.

Human Resource Kiosk

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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Custom Designed or a Standard Kiosk?

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20 Feb

Custom Designed or a Standard Kiosk?:

The kiosk enclosure you select for your product must be large enough to hold the components required to provide functionality and be safe.  After you have satisfied those two requirements, you then want to decide on the “look” of your kiosk.  Kiosk companies approach this part of the design process three different ways.

  1. One Look-Various Sizes -A simplistic version of design is to offer one style of kiosks. The kiosk may vary in size depending on the components or size of the touch screen, but all kiosks look the same. Companies that employ this strategy reduce their design costs. The negative side of this strategy is not all kiosks are used in the same style of locations.  A kiosk that is deployed in a prison should not look like a kiosk deployed in a casino. Beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder and the end customer may have a different opinion than yours of what is the best look for a particular application. Most kiosk companies employ the following strategy to combat this issue.
  2. Multiple Standard Designs-The use of multiple standard designs gives customers a chance to choose what type of kiosk they want to purchase. We don’t all drive the same car. We like to choose a car that appeals to us. Multiple designs allow the customer to choose what they like, yet take advantage of standard kiosk pricing structure.  What if you don’t find what you like in a standard list of kiosks or you want something that is unique to you?
  3. Custom Design-Custom design broadens the “choices”! I want a kiosk like my competitor, but I don’t want it to look like their kiosk or I like this model, but I want more screen privacy or I have an artist rendering of what I want my kiosk to look like…can you make this?  These are just some of many different reasons to go the custom route. The down side of the custom route is most companies charge exorbitant fees for custom designs and the lead time for the first product is almost always measured in months and not in weeks.

At Bruin Kiosk we offer multiple standard kiosks and we offer custom design. We don’t charge design fees for custom orders placed by repeat buyers or for large one time orders. Our design is done in house, and we try and minimize the long wait for custom orders. Please review our standard designs on our website and see if we have a style that fits your needs and taste. If not, give us a call and we can discuss a custom project for you.

Correctional Kiosks

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Correctional Inmate Lobby Kiosk
17 Sep

Correctional Kiosks:
Bruin Kiosk makes a complete line of prison or jail kiosks. These kiosks are used to manage inmate funds and can also be used for commissaries and email applications. Our correctional kiosks feature a rugged design that is easy to service. We use full computers instead of motherboards like many of our competitors. We also feature full size 19”monitors on our correctional kiosks. Our computers and monitors are high quality and come with three year warranties.

Booking Kiosk:
The most common correctional kiosk is the booking kiosk. The booking kiosk is used to deposit inmate funds. The booking kiosk usually features a bill and coin acceptor, touchscreen monitor, receipt printer and computer. Options can include a magnetic stripe card reader and security camera. We also manufacture kiosks for large institutions which feature bulk coin and/or bulk note acceptors to handle large amounts and help speed the booking process. The kiosk can be fitted with a custom graphic overlay to brand your kiosk and provide use instructions. Dual exterior door locks and inside locking security doors for the coin/bills are standard.

Lobby Kiosk:
Lobby kiosks are used by visitors to deposit funds in inmate accounts. Lobby kiosks have many of the same components as the booking kiosk. Our standard model includes bill acceptor, touchscreen monitor, receipt printer, magnetic stripe reader, and computer. Options include custom graphic and security camera. Coin acceptors are not usually put in lobby kiosks. Dual exterior door locks and inside locking security doors for the coin/bills are standard.

Inmate Kiosk:
Inmate kiosks are used by the inmates to order commissary items and/or send/receive emails. Our inmate kiosk features a sloped front for easy use and viewing. Our standard inmate kiosk comes with a touchscreen and computer. Our inmate kiosk features a removable front door which holds the computer and touchscreen. The exterior cabinet is light and has pre drilled standard mounting holes. The advantage of this design is it allows for easy single person wall mounting. The wide bottom of our sloped style allows for this unit to be table or shelf mounted as an option. We also have a keyboard option for inmate email.

Software:
Our windows based systems can be used with all the major prison software systems. If you don’t have a software system or commissary vendor, we have partners that we would be happy to recommend.

Kiosks and ADA Compliance

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11 Aug

Kiosks and ADA Compliance:

There is a lot of confusion concerning kiosk design and what constitutes ADA compliance. The confusion comes into play when people reference the design standards for ATM’s and apply them to self- service kiosks.

The Department of Justice published updated ADA design standards for accessible design in 2010. Section 707 of that standard has an extensive list of rules for ATM design. However, those standards do not apply to kiosks. There are design regulations for kiosks purchased by the federal government and they are usually referenced in quote requests. Section 707 makes this point clear.

Advisory 707 Automatic Teller Machines and Fare Machines.

Interactive transaction machines (ITMs), other than ATMs, are not covered by Section 707. However, for entities covered by the ADA, the Department of Justice regulations that implement the ADA provide additional guidance regarding the relationship between these requirements and elements that are not directly addressed by these requirements. Federal procurement law requires that ITMs purchased by the Federal government comply with standards issued by the Access Board under Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended. This law covers a variety of products, including computer hardware and software, websites, phone systems, fax machines, copiers, and similar technologies.

The fact that ATM standards don’t apply to kiosks doesn’t totally release our industry to ignore ADA concerns. Reasonable accommodations may be ambiguous, but nobody wants to be a part of defining it in court. Kiosks are deployed to serve a purpose. Smart design and good business practice should drive us to make kiosks accessible to as many people as practical. Using the reach guidelines from the ATM standards is a good starting point when designing a kiosk and software system.

 

Let us first review reach standards for ATM’s.

Reach standards give both a maximum and minimum range where interaction with an ATM must take place. This standard is set with forward wheel chair access to the machine in mind.

308.2.1 Unobstructed. Where a forward reach is unobstructed, the high forward reach shall be 48 inches (1220 mm) maximum and the low forward reach shall be 15 inches (380 mm) minimum above the finish floor or ground.

This standard is good as long as you don’t have to reach forward more than 20 inches to touch the machine. There is a sliding scale that reduces the “15 to 48” window if you have an obstruction. Typically kiosks are flat in the front so any reach obstruction is caused by a keyboard or a tilted screen. The vast majority of those obstructions are far less than 20”, so let’s concentrate on the “15 to 48” window.

The low reach limit seldom comes into play with kiosks. Most components have user interaction with the top of the component (like cash insertion into a validator) which makes compliance to the 15” standard easy to design around.

The most common issue with compliance is with the 48” maximum height. Kiosks usually have touchscreens that are much larger than found on ATM’s. The inherent size increase of these large touchscreens raise the height of kiosk as compared to their ATM brethren. These large touchscreens are difficult to interact with for a standing person if you drop the screen to a low height.

So how do we make a kiosk reach accessible to wheelchair access and make it practical for standing interaction? There are different ways to attack this issue.

Use a keyboard or ADA compliant access device positioned below the screen to allow seated users to interact with the software.

Use software interaction “buttons” in your program that is positioned at the bottom of the touchscreen. The seated user can look at a screen that is higher than the 48” reach standard, but they only need to interact with the lowest part of the screen which would be positioned at a compliant level.

Tilt the screen back and lower the kiosk. A pedestal style kiosk can significantly lower the height of the kiosk to meet a lowered total height. At the same time, the pedestal tilt allows for a standing user to interact with the kiosk without straining or contorting your body. People who are over 6 foot tall and have interacted with some poorly designed ATM’s are well aware of what that entails.

Our AD kiosk as an example of a model designed with both reach compliance and ease of use for standing interaction.

We know that ATM design standards don’t apply to kiosks, but doesn’t it make sense to go beyond “what is required” and attempt to reach the widest possible audience with your kiosk deployment. Please contact Bruin Kiosk and let us help you achieve those goals.