Category: Industry News

Touch screen technology has developed and progressed so much over the past few years that now it is hard to go anywhere without seeing an interactive Kiosk.

Interactive displays surround consumers in supermarkets, hospitals, airports and libraries just to name a few and more sectors are jumping on the band wagon and reaping the benefits of touch screen technology, as well as advancing a customer’s experience.

As consumer need grows, the technology needs to reflect this and enhance to keep up to speed with the demand.

Interactivity can now be found in the form of multi-touch walls, Kiosks, floors, windows and tables.

Normal every day surfaces are becoming exciting digital media solutions that are triggered and activated by touch motion and gestures.

The limits are endless in terms of content, design and applications meaning businesses can create engaging and memorable experiences for their customers. Whether it is located in a restaurant, bar, hotel or museum; multi-touch technology can be deployed in a plethora of venues and benefit a variety of consumers.

So what does the future hold? If tables and walls are becoming touch interfaces who knows, the sky is the limit! One might be able to play games on the dinner table at a restaurant in between courses, or order clothing at the entrance of a store.

With so many surfaces becoming digital, what else is in stow for consumers and companies; Touch screen doors?

A senator in Nebraska, America is attempting to put through a legislative bill to keep horse racing alive with the use of computerised kiosks to take bets.

Sen. Russ Karpisek says that it will offer faster wagering on keno and a portion of the anticipated increase in revenue would be used to boost purses for thoroughbred horse races.

The self-service Kiosks will allow gamblers to place a bet via the screen, just as they can withdraw money from a bank and pay for gas at a petrol station.

Critics argue that quicker wagers would be more addictive and thus more harmful to families.

At the moment, keno machines can conduct games every five minutes but with the new Touch screen units, one could play every three minutes.

Allowing more games per hour would increase wagering and generate an estimated $1.1 million a year in new tax revenue for the state, 15% of this being funnelled to horse-racing.

The bill, called Karpisek's Legislative Bill 490, is an attempt to save the state's largest track, State Fair Park, which will close after the 2012 season, and tracks at Columbus and South Sioux City are also struggling.

In 2006, Nebraska voters turned down a ballot measure that would have legalised video versions of keno machines.

Will the bill be passed and change the sport industry for the future? We’ll keep you informed…

The airport industry is ever-growing and as technologies advance and develop it is changing the way consumers travel.

Kiosks are already installed in airports to help passengers print tickets off and check-in quicker and whilst self-tagging is common in many airports in Canada and Europe etc. it is now allowed to do so in the United States.

Fliers can check-in their own bags with tag-printing capabilities; after printing their tags from kiosks, passengers can then place the tags on their luggage without staff’s supervision.

American Airlines is now the first US airline to allow travellers to use the “tag your own bag” system; cutting costs and reducing waiting time.

It is estimated implementing such a program can save the sector as much as $2billion a year and according the Los Angeles Times, the kiosks can handle 55 customers per hour as opposed to 21 per hour with live attendants.

This will dramatically change the way airlines interact with their customers, as it will;

– Increase customer satisfaction

– Reduce waiting time

– Better customer service

– Cut costs.

However, experts have warned that for the new technology to take off it is vital it works properly every single time. The printer in the device needs to be reliable and dependable.

Visit Protouch today; Europe’s number one manufacturer and distributor of Touch screen technology.

A story recently hit the internet that stated automation is causing retail jobs to disappear.

U.S analysts say robots, vending machines and touch screen kiosks are to blame for human job losses as they are increasingly replacing workers.

The Los Angeles Times reported that as shoppers become more accustomed to using self-service units, the loss of retail positions is hampering the nation’s high unemployment rate.

It is estimated one in 10 Americans work in the retail industry but companies are increasingly turning to technology and its benefits to sell more products, improve customer experience and use fewer employees.

In January 2011 there were 14.5 million U.S retail workers, down 1.1 million from three years ago.

Sectors that are taking advantage of touch screen technology include shipping and warehousing jobs that can process packages quicker, virtual assistants are replacing customer service representatives and kiosks are reducing the need for checkout clerks.

Experts say the trend is worrisome and that retail positions could soon disappear altogether.

Here at Protouch we believe it’s less about total human replacement and more a case of better placing staff and giving customers the convenience of being able to opt for a kiosk should they wish.

In many environments automation is no longer a “nice to have” but a necessity, particularly in places where speed is a must; automating the right services brings great benefits to both a business and its customers.

Having said that, no matter how tech-savvy humans become machines cannot deal completely with 100% of situations and therefore a careful balance of staff to kiosks is a must.