What are Interactive Kiosks?

Source Technologies' Interactive Kiosks are self-service devices and software designed specifically for informational applications in retail, healthcare, government, and banking.

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

Why is Source Technologies developing interactive self-service solutions?
What comprises Source Technologies' family of Interactive Kiosks?
How do Interactive Kiosks differ from other systems?
Isn't the 12" device too large for retail deployment?
What is the value of Interactive Kiosk Solutions?
What applications can be run on an Interactive Kiosk solution?
What types of businesses can benefit from an Interactive self-service solution?
What is the Interactive Suite of Applications (ISA)?
What are the key elements comprising CSP?
What are the major benefits of using CSP?
What improvements are in development for Interactive Kiosk solutions and ISA?
FAQ Glossary of Terms

Why is Source Technologies developing interactive self-service solutions?

Source Technologies established its market leadership delivering kiosks and software that meet the extreme demands of transactional self-service in retail and banking environments. For our customers looking to extend self-service into informational applications, we developed products that leverage many of the same innovations found in our transactional products.

Features such as highly configurable base platforms, modular, field-installable devices that "plug-and-play", and application portability across the product family make interactive kiosks a flexible and cost effective choice to deploy.  

What comprises Source Technologies' family of Interactive Kiosks?

The SK12 features a bright 12" LCD display with 4-wire touch-screen, available with the Windows® Embedded (WEPOS) operating system. Options can include a CCD or laser scanner, easy-load thermal printer, signature pad, full-duplex speakerphone, magnetic card reader, WiFi, and Bluetooth.

How do interactive kiosks differ from other systems?

Source Technologies' interactive kiosks are next-generation systems that utilize the latest technology and are designed based on direct input from major customers and systems integrators.

They feature visually appealing modular designs that are highly configurable and offer an extensive set of factory-installed options. This allows customers to deploy solutions that meet their specific needs while also enjoying the dependability and fast time-to-market that comes with standard, off-the-shelf products. Retailers can utilize as few devices as possible while still handling many applications.

They also offer many devices that can be added in the field, providing for simple on-site expansion and reconfiguration. For example, retailers can deploy self-service applications such as price checking or electronic gift card purchasing/ activation, then add devices and additional applications to existing kiosks as requirements and budgets dictate.

When deployed using the Interactive Suite of Applications (ISA), all add-on devices run "plug and play". There is no need to set dip switches, install drivers, et cetera; simply connect the device and it is ready to use.

Finally, because Source Technologies owns all the key technologies, we are able to give our customers five years of forward and backward compatibility on all of our interactive kiosks, devices, and software.

Does a larger screen mean a larger device?

Although the screen size of the 12" device is considerably larger than the 6" device, the actual dimensions of the hardware are only slightly larger. When comparing devices side by side, the frame around the 6" screen is much broader than the one surrounding the 12" display because the frame compensates for the bulk of the motherboard. With a larger screen, more applications can be run, including digital signage, leading to a greater ROI.

What is the value of interactive kiosk solutions?

Source Technologies' interactive kiosks drive operational efficiency, improve the customer experience, and help deployers meet compliance needs. Additionally, our solutions provide unique and significant value versus competitive offerings:

• Deploying standard, off-the-shelf kiosks, devices, and software results in faster time-to-benefit, lower entry costs, and lower total-cost-of-ownership.
• Modular designs provide for easy hardware expansion and reconfiguration in the field while maintaining a sleek attractive footprint. Businesses can expand and reconfigure their kiosks as needed and drive additional ROI from their self-service investment.
• ISA provides "plug and play" device support for our kiosks. This enables field upgrades, simplifies fleet management and servicing, and streamlines software application development and maintenance.
• Deployers may choose from value-priced kiosks running a single application to high-powered kiosks that support multiple applications, all on the same technology platform. This results in more cost-effective kiosk fleet management and maintenance.
• Source Technologies maintains five years forward and backward compatibility on all of our interactive kiosks, devices, and software. This protects our customers' investment, and allows them to maximize the useful life and economic value derived from our solutions.

What applications can be run on an Interactive Kiosk solution?

Source Technologies' interactive kiosks are designed to run multiple applications. Depending on the model and options installed, dozens of applications may be supported, including:

• Price Checking
• Product Information/Location
• Guided Selling
• Electronic Gift Card Purchasing/Activation
• Store Mapping
• Coupon Dispensing
• Self Check-In
• Web Access
• And many more

What types of businesses can benefit from an interactive self-service solution?

Retailers can apply Source Technologies' interactive kiosks for many different uses and redeploy them for different applications as needed. For example, during the holiday season, an SK12 kiosk can be configured with a magnetic card stripe reader and signature pad for gift card purchasing and activation, then be redeployed for price checking once the busy season has ended.

Healthcare offices can increase efficiency by configuring interactive kiosks as required by department, i.e. self check-in in busy offices, informational/web access in waiting rooms, and virtual "nurses stations" on patient floors. For example, configuring kiosks with printers allows printing of patient information, magnetic card stripe readers can be used for patient check-in and to authenticate staff, and signature pads can be used to capture doctors' signatures on orders.

Government agencies can also benefit from being able to redeploy and configure kiosks with the hardware and software needed for each department. For example, people can use Source Technologies' interactive kiosks for self check-in in busy offices, and completing applications online. The signature pad can be used to capture customer signatures, and the printer can facilitate workflow through various stations within an office.

Financial Institutions can use Source Technologies' interactive kiosks for a variety of applications within retail branches; optional devices can be used to take customers well beyond simple online banking in the branch. For example, magnetic card stripe readers can be used to authenticate customers and the signature pad and printer can facilitate completion of applications for credit cards, home loans, et cetera.

These are just a few examples of how various businesses can deploy applications specific to their needs with Source Technologies' Interactive Suite of Applications.

What is the Interactive Suite of Applications (ISA)?

ISA developed from our concourse Software Platform (CSP) to enable multiple applications to operate from a single device.  CSP is an n-tier development environment that includes tools for user interface (UI) design, plus off-the-shelf software for application logic and services, device control, and system monitoring. It was developed from the ground up by Source Technologies' software development team to integrate all the software components needed for effectively deploying and managing interactive kiosks.

What are the key elements comprising CSP?

CSP is comprised of three major components:

• Device Manager eliminates the need for custom coding of device interfaces. It provides plug-and-play control over all kiosks and devices.
• Application Manager provides real-time control of kiosk applications, kiosk devices, hosts business systems, and external data. It orchestrates the actions of users, applications, and devices in a threaded, real-time manner that lets the user control the order, pace, and outcome of the self-service experience.
• Workflow Studio is an off-the-shelf application development system that allows for rapid prototyping of workflow on the kiosk, making it easy to build, deploy, and redeploy kiosk applications. It allows subject matter experts to visually diagram a dynamic workflow for a single transaction, or an entire application, using drag-and-drop tools. It then automatically generates .NET, HTML, or Flash applications that run on kiosks.

For more information on CSP, please reference Source Technologies' CSP FAQ.

What are the major benefits of using CSP?

• CSP supports Source Technologies' kiosks, making it easier to develop, maintain, and support a broad-based self-service network, regardless of models or configurations.
• CSP allows for software application portability from one Interactive Kiosk to another, eliminating the need to manage application versions to support various kiosks.
• CSP Device Manager "pushes" software updates to an entire network of kiosks, eliminating the need to manually update application and device control at individual kiosks.
• CSP Application Manager simplifies development of external services that integrate with other business systems such as a pricing/product data, patient information, client records, etc.
• CSP Workflow Studio is off-the-shelf, providing robust tools and support for developers that result in faster time-to-benefit. It also offers a mature, stable platform providing greater application quality and reliability.
• When deployed with Source Technologies' interactive kiosks, ISA provides 5 years of forward and backward compatibility on all kiosk and devices.

What improvements are in development for Interactive Kiosk solutions and ISA?

• Expansion of supported applications: Broad range of in-store applications to also include digital signage/narrowcasting, music/video sampling & downloading, planogram/inventory management, virtual helpdesk, and many more.
• Solution scalability: Compatibility with additional devices for plug-in-play operation with ISA, including 12 Key-Programmable Function Keypad w/ or w/out Magnetic Card Reader, Direct Thermal Printer with Auto Cutter, and Electronic Signature Pad w/ attached Stylus.
• Software expansion: Retail hardening of ISA, including bidirectional monitoring and recovery, active healing, etc.

FAQ Glossary of Terms

CSP - concourse Software Platform
ISA - Interactive Suite of Applications
ISS - Interactive Self-Service
MIB - Management Information Base
POI - Point of Information
SNMP - Simple Network Monitoring Protocol
SPI - Service Provider Interface
XFS - eXtensions for Financial Standards