KIOSK COMPONENTS

No two kiosk installations are alike. But regardless of their purpose, all kiosks incorporate the following core components, and additional components that depend on the kiosk's function.

Touchmonitor
A touchmonitor consists of a touch-sensitive transparent screen placed over a LCD or flat panel display monitor. Pictures or text on the screen instruct users to select or "touch" an option. Touchmonitors are used in approximately 75 percent of all kiosk installations because of their ease of use, durability, and reliability.

Enclosure
Whether it's a compact wall unit or a large in-store installation, every kiosk must have an enclosure—and it must be made of sturdy, durable materials designed to withstand abuse. Typically, kiosk enclosures are made of metal, but wood, plastic, or fiberglass may also be used. The kiosk location (indoor vs. outdoor, for example) and type of installation (stand-alone, wall-mounted, or tabletop) help to determine the type of enclosure that is needed.

Application software
The kiosk's software application must attract users to the kiosk, accomplish the kiosk's stated objectives, be easy and fun to use, and incorporate built-in reporting mechanisms that provide feedback about which parts of the application are used, how long users stay at the kiosk, and other data. Many kiosk developers are using their Web site as the basis for their kiosk application

Computer / Panel PC
The kiosk application's requirements determine the computer hardware requirements. At a minimum, a kiosk computer should support full-motion video, digital audio, and network connectivity.