Category Archives: Kiosk Style

Human Resource Kiosks

by . Posted on

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

Custom Designed or a Standard Kiosk?

by . Posted on
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.

Kiosks and ADA Compliance

by . Posted on
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.