Self-service kiosks with touch screen interfaces have delivered tremendous benefits to businesses and organizations, as well as their consumers. While many self-service kiosks are located inside, as we discussed last week, there are a number of use-cases where an outdoor kiosks will drive the best ROI. These kiosks are being installed outside where weather, security, location, etc. need to be considered. Here are the steps to take in order to insure your outdoor kiosk is successful.

 

Security

Outdoor kiosks are often located in public spaces. When the kiosks have public access, they can be prone to theft and vandalism. To discourage and prevent tampering, outdoor kiosks should be designed with tamper-resistant  features, such as strategically placed stiffeners, extra weld points and compression locks. Proper security for outdoor kiosks will ensure that the physical, data and network components of the kiosk are protected from tampering.

 

Environment and Weather Protection

Outdoor kiosks that are not built to withstand environmental factors will result in loss of revenue and equipment investment. Outdoor kiosks should be sealed properly to prevent the intrusion of water, smoke and dust. Outdoor kiosks should also have proper UV protection materials.

Kiosks located outdoors may be exposed to elevated levels of temperature which requires a built in air-conditioning unit to avoid damaging the display, the computer and other components within the kiosk. Another problem encountered with outdoor kiosks is their poor readability because of sunlight. The display should be bright enough to have at least 2000 Nits of light to maintain readability in outdoor environments.

 

Durable Mounting

When kiosks are installed outside, they are left open to factors and conditions that may result in internal or external damage from physical abuse or extreme weather. Kiosks should be installed with highly stable cement mounting to prevent shaking, banging and vibrations that could cause issues with internal components.

 

Industry Standards

When designing or building kiosks for outside installation, it is imperative to choose a manufacturer that abides certain standards. There are many standards out there, among them are the International Standards Organization (ISO) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL). These two industry standards ensure quality (ISO) and safety (UL). If you are choosing a vendor for an outdoor kiosk project, it’s imperative to understand if they maintain ISO certification and UL listing. ISO 9001:2008 exists so that manufacturers abide by strict quality controls. UL listed products ensure a particular level of safety likely necessary to install a kiosk in a public location. Looking for such quality and safety measures in your manufacturer will provide reliability and peace of mind when investing in an outdoor kiosk.

 

While these steps are crucial for all outdoor kiosks, next week we’ll focus on components needed for specific use-cases and how they can create an enhanced user experience. 

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