Principles and Techniques of Veterinary and AH Extension

INFORMATION KIOSKS 

An Information kiosk is a computer terminal featuring specialized hardware and software designed within a public exhibit that provides access to information and applications for communication, commerce, entertainment, and education.

Types of kiosks

Telekiosk

• The telekiosk can be considered the technical successor to the telephone booth, a publicly accessible set of devices that are used for communication. These can include email, fax, SMS, as well as standard telephone service.

Financial services kiosk

• The financial services kiosk can provide the ability for customers to perform transactions that may normally require a bank teller and may be more complex and longer to perform than desired at an ATM.

Internet kiosk

• An Internet kiosk is a terminal that provides public Internet access. Internet kiosks sometimes resemble telephone booths, and are typically placed in settings such as government offices, veterinary dispensaries, panchayats, for fast access toe-mail or web pages. Internet kiosks sometimes have a bill acceptor or a credit card swipe, and nearly always have a computer keyboard, a mouse and a monitor.

Visitor management and security kiosk

• A visitor management and security kiosk can facilitate the visitor check in process at businesses,schools, and other controlled access environments.

Points to be considered in the design of a kiosk

• The aesthetic and functional design of interactive kiosks is a key element that drives user adoption, overall usage time and affordability.
• Aesthetic design: The design of the enclosure is often the driving factor in user adoption.
• Graphic messaging: Plays a key role in communicating with potential users.
• Maintenance and thermal design: Critical in order to maximize up-time (the time between failures or crashes).
• Component specification:Typical components include touch-screen, P.C., pointing device, keyboard, bill acceptor, mag-stripe and/ or bar-code scanner, surge protector, UPS etc.
• Ergonomic: Is important to ensure comfortable and easy user accessibility.
• Interface design:Designing for information kiosks typically requires larger buttons and simpler decision trees than designing for a web or computer based interactive. Catchy attractive animations and short dwell times are important.