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A computer kiosk is a self-service machine with a built-in housing unit, often with touch-screen technology. They are used for a variety of purposes, from job applications to event registration. Kiosks can be fixed or mobile, and safety concerns have largely been addressed by modern software.
A computer kiosk is basically a computer with some form of built-in housing unit. The simplest models are usually little more than a standard desktop or tablet fixed or secured on a table of some sort, often at the average height of someone standing to work or access it, while the more complex examples are fully touch-screen machines. streamlined, as often happens at self-service check-in counters in airports and railway stations. There are many uses and variations, although most are intended to handle self-service tasks, whether it’s checking books from a library or requesting a number at the counter in a butcher’s shop. Most kiosks come with pre-packaged software and are designed to handle the specific tasks that the machine will be performing, and in most cases, computers are not capable of robust use unrelated to the task at hand.
Main components
The terminal is what most people think of when they picture a computer kiosk, and in many ways this housing is what defines the machine. Similarly, kiosks can come in a wide variety of options, usually specific to their intended use. Some are very large, often with multiple screens and various controls, while others are quite miniature. The main thing they have in common is that they are a single unit. A computer sitting on a table is usually not considered a kiosk unless the two are inseparable by design.
In most cases, the screen is the only truly essential computer component. Keyboards and mice are sometimes used, but not always. Advances in technology have allowed many kiosks to ditch the traditional mouse and keyboard layout in favor of touch-screens. This enables even more intuitive use of the machines and often reduces the possibility of hardware failures, which can be a real problem in high-traffic areas such as transport hubs and hospitals.
Primary purposes and primary uses
Kiosks are generally designed for “self-service,” meaning users can use the device without outside instruction. Therefore, great care is usually taken to ensure that the software and hardware are designed to be intuitive. Operating systems are generally common and universally understood to ensure that most users immediately understand the correct procedures.
Computer kiosks appear in a variety of locations, from small cubicle-like areas in stores that allow candidates to apply for jobs, to mobile stations on wheels that many hospitals incorporate. They are extremely useful and remove a great deal of excessive human interaction. This allows for smoother movement of customers and allows organizations to employ fewer employees to manage customer interactions.
The activities foreseen for the kiosk depend on the company that uses it. For example, events with thousands of attendees that all require registration can use kiosks to facilitate faster entry processes. Instead of each attendee signing their names in huge books or interacting with event managers, a kiosk can be set up to handle check-in issues. Attendees simply enter their names on the self-service screen, along perhaps with credit card or ticket information for identification purposes, and the computer handles the registration information in the background. Most will also print tickets, maps and other useful information.
Possibility of mobility
While many are fixed, some computer kiosks allow for mobility. In hospitals, custom-built kiosks allow nurses to commute from different rooms without needing to carry around a computer. The computers are housed within a mobile stand which in these cases reaches about four feet. As with most other kiosks, the monitor and keyboard are usually comfortably arranged to allow for easy access and functionality; usually this means setting each device at arm’s length.
Safety issues
In the early days of public computing, kiosks raised a number of concerns when it came to information security, largely in the context of malicious hacks and information data breaches. Modern software has largely allayed these concerns, at least to the extent that information stored and accessed via kiosks is easily locked down and restricted. Most of the problems people have with kiosks today are normal glitches and failures that have nothing to do with security breaches or data loss. Especially as machines get older, they’re more prone to blocking, blocking, and dropping requests mid-process. Therefore, operators, especially those in very high-volume locations, are usually wise to engage in regular maintenance and service to avoid problems.
