The Changing Face of the Tablet Kiosk
However the face of kiosks has changed considerably from the traditional kiosk which was large, overbearing and expensive, the exact opposite of the sleek stylish cost effective iPad and tablet kiosks which later followed.
The timeline and processes by which technology has evolved to suit the demands of modern life is incredible and leaves us with the question, what next?
Tradition
Traditional within a technological approach is a complex term. Technology has no tradition due to its constantly changing operating systems and user interfaces, and trying to define anything as normal in the technological age is complex to say the least.
However, within the kiosk marketplace, ‘traditional’ conjures images of the cumbersome units that resembled telephone booths used in the 1990’s. Since their arrival in the technological era, kiosks have gradually engrained themselves so far into everyday life that it’s hard to remember a time before their use!
A Little History Lesson
The term kiosk originates from the Ottoman Empire in Persia during the 13th Century. A kiosk was a small open air pavilion normally found in gardens and parks — a world away from the airport ticket kiosks of today.
So a brief, and simple overview:
- 1976- saw the first shopping mall Kiosk offering coffees and other goods.
- 1977-a pre-med student at the University of Illinois developed the first interactive kiosk offering campus information known as Plato Hotline.
- 1984- the first retail kiosk was created for the Florsheim Express Shop to display the vast selection of shoes on offer.
- 1987- saw the first tablet released by Apple computer which ran on Motorola hardware.
- 1991- the first commercial kiosk with internet access was used at Comdex to help locate missing children.
Post digital revolution, the 1950’s and onwards saw development in the tablet and interactive kiosk market, changing the definition of what a Kiosk is, and what a kiosk can do, therefore it’s hard to talk in terms of ‘traditional’.
Nevertheless, traditional is changing.
Tablet Technology
Tablets have revolutionised the way in which we interact with technology. Everything from online shopping to reviewing documents has become seamlessly integrated with the capabilities of tablets and iPads. The ease of zooming in on details, linking to new information, or simply updating your social media status is super fast and super easy.
The tablet is therefore the perfect way in which companies can interact with consumers, whether that’s creating mobile sites, or using technology in store, the tablet is changing the relationships between business and consumers.
The Kiosk
Traditional kiosks were revolutionary when they first engrained themselves on everyday life, from restaurants to museums, they were a fantastic system where businesses could inform and interact with customers in an easy and inviting way.The tablet kiosk is the natural development for the traditional kiosk, it is smaller, less intimidating, and a great way to engage with customers using a well known user interface.
The tablet itself varies in form, from size to function, there is no traditional tablet, just an ever evolving technological variant. Tablet kiosks therefore must constantly change as well.
Tablets began to shrink in size with Apple’s iPad Mini, before growing again with Samsung’s giant 18.4 inch Galaxy View tablet. Not only does the tablet kiosk have to evolve with the tablet, the demographics which the tablets and tablet kiosks are aimed at will change as well, so you can see why the term ‘traditional’ just doesn’t say enough!
Tablet Kiosks and Interactivity
The tablet itself is varied in form, and therefore can be chosen to uniquely suit each company and business, allowing for the services the kiosk provides to be specialised to the market. Interactivity within retail, for example, has revolutionised the way in which consumers interact with products, with shops like Urban Outfitters encouraging customers to Instagram images of them trying on their clothes. Marketing builds relationships between brands and consumers, and the ability for customers to use tablet kiosks instore, encourages online engagement where before consumers may have been passive. By collecting customer data from iPad retail stands, everything from business performance to personalised email campaigns can be benefited.
User Interface and Operating systems
Traditional kiosks are being rapidly outdated by the revolutionary software used by tablets and iPads. The simple process of using a traditional kiosk is rivalled by people’s knowledge of the smooth process that is presented through tablets. Over two thirds of the UK own a smartphone, with over 1 billion people expected to own a tablet by the end of 2015. The ease of which a consumer can maximise their experience of the tablet kiosk is down to the ingrained knowledge within most of the population of the way in which a tablet functions.
The Possibilities
Retail iPad stands are able to move with the times, integrating additional peripheral devices such as RFID readers for POS terminals, fingerprint scanners for access control and printers for airport check-in to name a few. The ever evolving enclosures which securely hold the tablet ensures that any future needs are able to be meet, even if they are ideas worthy of sci-fi movie. Holograms watch out!
The future
The face of the traditional kiosk is changing, and this isn’t only a positive change for the size of kiosks! The tablet allows for an immersive experience, which allows consumers to interact not just in an informative way, but with the tablet’s ability to increase engagement on both the physical and digital sides of the company.
For more information
Explore the possibilities of a tablet kiosk from imageHOLDERS, industry leaders in tablet and device integration. Talk to a member of our team today to find out the tablet enclosure to best suit your purposes and let us answer any questions you may have. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, it’s likely we’ll be able to create it so call us on 01202 892 863 (UK) or +1 877 450 2172 (US). Alternatively you can email [email protected].