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Guidelines for using Touchscreen Kiosks outdoors

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Touch Screen kiosks have replaced normal kiosks in many places. Ticketing, information distribution, printing photos and many other works are now done by interactive kiosks. But are they completely secure and tough when used outdoors? This is a major challenge for kiosk manufacturers as well as owners. Let’s see some of the problems in this area and the preventive steps to be taken while using touchscreen kiosks outside.

•  Touchscreen kiosks are complex electronic systems and require a systematic approach in design and its operation for its proper functioning. Particularly in places with extreme temperatures. If the place has a wet climate, for example, in places like UK then more care should be taken during the design and installation to make the necessary changes to the kiosk to withstand the climate.



•  Another problem that must be taken into consideration is rough use by people. A touchscreen only requires the lightest of touches and too much pressure can eventually cause damage. There would be nobody near the kiosk to guide or regulate the user so care should be taken so that there is a protective coating for the screen. Provisions can be made for this in the designing stage itself.



•  Weather conditions are unpredictable so the touchscreen kiosk has to be suitably encased properly. It is vital that all components are designed in such a way so that it will be suitable for the environment that it will be used in. Telephone handsets can be made more durable with hardy plastic coatings and armored cables. For some interactive kiosks which are made for outdoor use, there are keyboards available which are made of stainless steel. Steel is resistant to all kinds of extreme rain, snow and even hard ice.

•  The LCD screens fitted on touchscreen kiosks are really expensive and designers should create designs that will provide a protective cover to them. This would protect it from potential damage. Also usability will increase, and users experience will become more pleasant. Direct sunlight causes glare and the user may not be able to see the screen clearly so the design can be made to give shade to the screen. A simple metalwork design may be enough for this. There are LCD screens that do not reflect sunlight and also high brightness screens that would reduce the shadow and darkness on the screen. Special trans-reflective screens are also available but they are more expensive.



•  In some Kiosks there will be temperature control systems that will indicate which is the maximum and the minimum temperature is in which the motherboard of the system will be able to work in. If the temperature goes below the minimum or rises above the maximum, the system will not function correctly. So they need mechanisms that will cool and heat it whenever extreme temperatures occur. So kiosks are designed to have a small heating element in them which will heat it whenever necessary. This is true in cold countries. Fans are set up in some kiosks to cool of the kiosks in hot countries. Small holes are put in certain kiosk stands which automatically regulate temperature inside allowing free airflow.

•  A timer is sometimes installed in the kiosk which will help if the hardware locks-up unexpectedly. It is set up inside the motherboard and has to be reset from time to time. If it is not reset properly then it will cause the motherboard itself to reset, which will in turn cause the rebooting of the whole system.

•  A kiosk system could be even more effective if it has internet connection. Connect to a local area network with Wi Fi or to the nearest internet service provider. Ethernet cable connection or 3G modem could be connected.

So if we take care of few things while designing kiosks then it will last longer outdoor. Although there might be unforeseen problems that arise even with all these precautions, so periodic checking is necessary.