Follow Us!
By BREAKSTS penny stocks
Categories
-
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Archives
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
Administration
Monthly Archives: October 2010
Interactive Kiosks- A perfect way of promotional Advertising
Interactive kiosks are single standing computing terminals that allow consumers to access information as well as to transact. It is an interesting digital advertising unit and can be used to view selective information as per your choice. This interacting tool is widely used for various purposes, such as, renting movies, matching garments, downloading files, watching brand products and finding general news. Interactive kiosks are the best answer to the successful advertising of any organization that is looking for wide brand recognition. In the last few years, the benefits of interactive kiosks have increased their demand and usage greatly. Today, it is used for an endless range of activities. The kiosks have a modular hardware design that can expand according to your needs. It is simple to integrate these equipments with any system for a better usability and reachability. Interactive kiosks comprise a computer and a digital screen that displays information for data input. They are available in various formats, such as, touch screens, card scanners as well as thermal printers. The digital screens have an on-screen keyboard that can be used by the audience to browse though the available information and choose the information they want to view. Amongst the different forms, thermal printers are the most common output device. Interactive kiosks are a fascinating system developed to deliver information for public use. The unique combination of being informative as well as interactive makes it undoubtedly the most popular choice. This digital advertising medium also allows customers to participate in their loyalty programs. Such customer participation convinces various companies to use kiosks and strengthen their customer base as well as to spread their brand presence by converting visitors into potential clients. There are many advantages of using interactive kiosks – the most important of them being the kiosks’ ability to strengthen brand awareness and enhance a good and interesting customer experience. They help in reducing the operation cost and completing the work swiftly. One of the notable features of interactive kiosks is that they utilize minimum labor, but at the same time, give maximum pleasure. Interactive kiosks have an interactive interface that attracts the visitor’s attention and engage them for a long period. Also, people using interactive kiosks for reading promotional advertisements have a stronger retention power and are more attracted towards the advertised products. Hence, they are considered as a perfect tool for promotional marketing. They are used for a wide range of consumers and applications in different fields, such as retails, commercial, medical, education and government institutions. They are very easy to install and simple to use as well. Thus, even children can use the interactive kiosks to read books and play games. Today, interactive kiosks are available in a variety of sizes, shapes and software. They are available in the counter as well as standup models, which make them quite easy to use. They also function at a faster pace, provide a stress free experience and attract the client to use the machine repeatedly. This promotional tool has made it possible for companies to virtually reach their client in very less time and without making huge investments. They are very efficient tools with excellent mobility that provides information to customers smoothly and efficiently. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/multimedia-articles/interactive-kiosks-a-perfect-way-of-promotional-advertising-2398371.html” Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged client, digital, easy, information, interactive, screen, simple, system
Comments Off
Touch screen Kiosks – Understanding problems before they happen
In the past 3 years there has been a major shift in business thinking regarding digital signage and the use of interactive kiosks. These touch screen kiosks change the nature in which a business communicates with its customers, with one major pitfall. Many businesses who have existing digital signage adopt interactive signage thinking they can use the original signage campaigns – wrong! The content has to be created around the interactive experience and layered so the company controls the overall messaging whilst the customer controls the specific elements that are relevant to them. Solution. One way to do this is to offer multiple choice experience that guides the consumer along as they discover more about a product or service, they can make comparisons between the products and then when they have made a choice you can inform them that the particular product just happens to be on sale for today only. Benefits. With this approach there are two benefits for the business: A customer who is given targeted information rather than generic information will normally make a purchasing decision. The business is building a detailed profile of its shoppers, their needs and requirements that can be used for other digital signage campaigns. Knowing your foot traffic. Interactive kiosks are a good way to monitor the amount of foot traffic in store, if this tails off over a period of 2 months, you can reinstate old campaigns that pulled customers in, rather than waiting to find the store totally empty. Other ways to monitor foot traffic is to install simple traffic counters these are the beam devices in store that are linked to a counter and every time some breaks the beam the counter increases. A video monitoring system is good as it indicated what areas are popular by the amount of linger time, this is the time they spend looking at a particular range of clothes in the ladies wear department. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/gadgets-and-gizmos-articles/touch-screen-kiosks-understanding-problems-before-they-happen-1502782.html” Continue reading
How Patient Self-Serve Kiosks Help The Health Care Profession
Finally, patient self-serve kiosks and wireless tablets are being seen in the health care sector to empower the patient and promote choice of their medical care. It has become apparent that there is a change in their behaviour and attitude towards attending an appointment, as they are able to take matters into their own hands and make their own decisions. Early stages of self serve devices from 2005 showed that consumers spent more than $324 million, which is expected to exceed $1.2 trillion into 2010. Numerous surveys have been carried out and findings have shown age is irrelevant in the use of such patient devices. Today we think nothing of checking in at an airport using such technology, or using debit and credit cards from a terminal. A youngster can use an AMT, just as a grandparent would, thus figures show a huge increase in popularity of these medical services offering self-serve styled facilities. Another consideration for cutting back on paper is the environment, which is huge issue for many conscientious people. By cutting down on the production of paper, the effect of trees, pollution, and our precious world is seriously considered. These kiosks are a convenient way of inputting the patient’s own check-in data, as they take up very little room, either by way of a full height, floor standing unit, usually constructed from metal and coated in a protective paint or if space is at a premium, a desk top LCD interactive display may be suitable. Technology needs embracing into our digital world, giving the patient freedom of choice from the health care provider to decisions of medical treatment. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/customer-service-articles/how-patient-selfserve-kiosks-help-the-health-care-profession-1978341.html” Continue reading
Slabb.com Computer Kiosks
Computer kiosks are the machinery of choice when it comes to giving the public as many options as possible when conducting transactions. You used to be limited to Automatic Teller Machines, but now computer kiosks are everywhere from banks to supermarkets, to every type of retail location you are capable of transacting business. Slabb.com wants to help you bring your business into the 21st century with their computer kiosks. Give your customers a higher level of service and watch your loyalty and new customer base increase. These days, the more convenience you offer, the higher degree of customer satisfaction you’ll enjoy. Slabb.com has a decade of experience in the computer kiosks industry. Based in Las Vegas Nevada, they have worldwide partnerships and an enviable client list utilizing their state-of-the-art computer kiosks. They are renowned in their industry for cutting-edge technology, as well as superior support and customer service. When you partner with Slabb, you can rest assured that every element of programming and maintenance of your computer kiosks will be taken care of with the utmost care and precision. When you make the choice to upgrade your technology, it makes sense to go with the best resources available. And when it comes to computer kiosks, Slabb has the experience and the knowhow to help you realize your goals. Slabb has an outstanding array of computer kiosks to suit all business needs. Depending on your industry, you can choose outdoor models, freestanding, desktop and wall-mounted computer kiosks that offer superior convenience and serve a variety of needs. Consumers have become comfortable with less contact with customer service representatives, and more contact with computer kiosks when transacting business. From banking transactions, to other types of payments, and even ticketing for concerts and airfare, consumers are more than willing to engage technology as long as it is user-friendly. Slabb ensures the best possible customer experiences with their computer kiosks, as well as ease-of-use and maintenance for employees. Their computer kiosks offer custom solutions with both hardware and software to ensure smooth operation at all times. A full-service entity, Slabb will be with you every step of the way as you transition to use of computer kiosks. They design and implement a unique plan specifically designed for your particular company, tailoring their computer kiosks for use in your particular business. They provide product management and consulting services, as well as expert installation and maintenance. You can even lease your computer kiosks from Slabb, with options available from your local Slabb representative. Slabb wants to assist your business as it ramps up to enter the global marketplace. The more technology you embrace the happier you’ll make your customers, increasing their loyalty and your bottom line. Offering the utmost in convenience wherever possible is the key to the future of commerce. Slabb’s technology and visionary solutions will ease your transition, allowing you to grow your business in ways you never thought possible. For more information on Slabb’s extraordinary computer kiosks, visit Slabb today. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/hardware-articles/slabbcom-computer-kiosks-3061320.html” Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged business, computer, hardware, Kiosk, kiosks, maintenance, make, representative, solutions, technology, utmost
Comments Off
Interactive Kiosks Now Used In Store Windows For Advertising
Digital signage is taking another leap into a marketing phenomena and making a buzz in the industry at the same time. In one of Ralph Lauren’s stores in New York, they project images onto the window and customers can touch the images to buy the clothes! How does it work? Well the window is a translucent touch screen film that is applied to the rear of the window, with a projector hidden in the ceiling projects the images onto the 67” screen so customers can see it night or day. When customers touch the window they enter GUI ( G raphical U ser I nterface), with hand size buttons the size of hands for men’s, women’s and children’s clothing. People can then pay via credit card for their selected clothes and have the products delivered to their home. The CPU ( C entral P rocessing U nit) is hidden with the projector and a card swipe machine is located at the front of the window which is the only external hardware used in this digital signage system. During normal opening hours a neat, well dressed guy in Polo clothing helps guests navigate the window, he is not a greeter, he is an off duty New York police officer whose responsibility is to ensure no one takes the card reader. The “wonder window” has been featured on Good Morning America as well as the national press, Is this an advancement on the interactive digital signage kiosks we all know and see in shopping malls? Who knows, but I guess price will be an issue and I doubt if this is cheap. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/advertising-articles/interactive-kiosks-now-used-in-store-windows-for-advertising-1477737.html” Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged advertising, digital, images, kiosks, screen, signage, store, touch
Comments Off
"Credit Card Kiosks" On College Campuses
Students entering their freshmen year of college are typically starting a new chapter in their lives, filled with hundreds of first-time experiences and opportunities. For many, it’s the first time they’ve lived on their own. For some, it may also be the first time they had to do much for themselves, from laundry to planning their own meals. For all college students, the temptation to sign on the dotted line for various credit card offers can be too much to overcome! As the summer fades into fall, all around the country you’ll see little tables popping up with enticing offers- “Get a free T-Shirt when you apply for our credit card”; “Choose a free CD”; or “Free Pizza when you apply!” The little credit card “kiosks” are littered all over campus in some cases, with the most marketing savvy setting up shop in front of the pizza shop where students can get their free pizza for applying, or in front of the dining hall or center of campus where students tend to socialize in between classes. Some students might pass right by- but probably the majority of students are interested in the give-aways enough to stop by the table, and with about 50% of these students signing up for credit card offers, you can guess the marketing is effective. It’s not that student credit cards are a bad idea- it’s what typically happens to these wet-behind-the-ears undergraduates when they catch the credit card fever. Most of the time, student credit cards offer low credit lines of $500 or $1000, and it’s very easy to charge up to your maximum limit quickly. As students are enjoying the buy-now and pay-for-it-later experience (no pun intended) they’re also quick to sign on a new dotted line for a different free t shirt or a free dinner. After all, what’s another monthly payment of $20 going to do? What many college students aren’t realizing (until much later) is that their $500 credit cards are costing them two, three… sometimes four times or more in interest when they make just the minimum payment each month. Worse, if the student has a poor financial management system and misses a payment here or there, the late fees and increased interest rates from non or late payments will result in ridiculous amounts of money being thrown out the window. Students are going to college to create a better future for themselves; getting a higher education and a degree that is meant to earn them a higher income than if they hadn’t gone to college. When these students rack up thousands of dollars in credit card debt, they graduate into the real world with damaged credit scores and the inability to keep up with their payments. Before they’ve even landed their dream careers, some of the students have created such a mess out of their credit scores that they’ve got to work two or three jobs to make ends meet. Colleges all over the nation require a certain set of educational courses- regardless of what you plan to major in. Most universities require an English or writing course, a science, math and foreign language course as part of every course of study’s major requirements. Probably another course to require of all students would be a basic financial management course. Unless a student has been taught personal finance and money management from their parents, college is often the first experience a student has with handling their own finances. Why do we assume a student has this knowledge without being taught? Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/finance-articles/credit-card-kiosks-on-college-campuses-315592.html” Continue reading
How Self-Service Technology Adds Service and Convenience to Hotels and Their Guests
Self Service technology is growing. Self-Service kiosks can now be found at many hotels. Many of these kiosks offer the opportunity to check-in and out of a hotel, print your flight boarding passes, check the status of your flight departure and even check your Facebook account. Now you can add self-service shipping via FedEx and UPS to the many options available. There is growing trend to make travel easier and hassle free. Self-service kiosks offer travelers an opportunity for access to 24/7 services, no waiting in lines, and one-stop convenience. Although some hotels have full-service business centers that offer FedEx and UPS shipping, there are thousands of hotels that do not. Many travelers want to avoid carrying extra and over-packed luggage to the airport, especially with all the extra charges from the airlines. Travelers want to ship business documents, souvenirs and books and materials from their conference meetings. Sometimes they want to do this at their convenience and they want all the necessary items readily available to do this. Years ago anything “self-service” was considered a “lesser” service. Well not anymore. Could you imagine not having access to an ATM and having to go inside a bank and wait in line to get some cash. Probably not. You can now find self-service kiosks in grocery stores, banks, movie theaters and many other places. People even expect it. In the age of having everything at our fingertips, we are demanding more and more technology to make our lives easier. Self-service shipping is making travel a little more hassle-free. The Shipping Concierge by Pop Up Shipping offers self-service shipping for hotels. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/technology-articles/how-selfservice-technology-adds-service-and-convenience-to-hotels-and-their-guests-1470024.html” Continue reading
Slabb: The Leading Provider Of Digital Signage Solutions
Digital signage solutions play a crucial role in product promotion. There is no better way to grab the attention of consumers than by installing a moving, flashing digital sign advertising your product. As static signs have long become obsolete due to their limitations in creating an impact, the only way to effectively brand and market your company is through digital signage solutions. There is no provider of digital signage solutions better suited to help you make this leap than Slabb. Having entered the digital signage solution industry in 2002, this Las Vegas, NV-based provider of digital signage solutions experienced exponential growth in a short period of time. Initially selling interactive kiosks through a black-and-white website called, AffordableKiosks.com, Slabb took only three years to open spacious offices in Las Vegas and hire 95 employees. At the moment, Slabb hires over 250 employees and has more than 50 resellers worldwide. With a well-deserved reputation for expertise in design, Slabb has enhanced the profiles of many businesses through its computer kiosks and digital signage solutions. Slabb is particularly known for its Q Series digital signage solutions. Delivered through a fully modular digital signage hardware platform, the products in the Q-Series range come in four different configurations. The first of these configurations is known as “Display Only.” Q Series digital signage solutions coming in the “Display Only” configuration consist of an LCD monitor encased in a ruggedized steel enclosure with protective glass in front. “Display Only” digital signage solutions have no external buttons or cables and are sleek and elegant to look at. The second configuration in Slabb’s Q Series digital signage solutions is the “Display and Touch.” These resemble “Display Only” digital signage solutions for the most part. Where they do differ from Q-Series “Display Only” solutions is in the fact that their glass panels are fronted with a special anti-vandal touch screen. The third configuration in Slabb’s Q Series digital signage solutions is the “Display, Touch, and PC” configuration. These solutions are, for the most part, like “Display and Touch” signs, apart from the fact that they contain small personal computers concealed within their ruggedized housing. Like “Display and Touch” solutions, they have an anti-vandal touch screen. The fourth configuration, known as “Display and PC” Q Series digital signage solutions, are just like “Display, Touch, and PC” digital signage solutions, apart from the fact that they lack the anti-vandal touch screen. Q Series digital signage solutions come in a variety of different dimensions and configurations. Some are available in horizontal widescreen-style shapes, while others resemble vertical menus. Every Q series digital signage solution comes mounted on a pair of stylish steel poles, making the signs an especially attractive addition to any reception area or office space. For more information on quality digital signage solutions, visit slabb.com Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/software-articles/slabb-the-leading-provider-of-digital-signage-solutions-2336082.html” Continue reading
An Introduction To Digital Signage In Health Care
As the system is struggling to cope under the weight of paper, on the horizon is a simpler, self-serve system just waiting to alleviate the problems within this over burdened sector. A physician can then do what he does best and that is concentrate on his patient, without sifting through reams of paper to diagnose and prescribe. A patient and doctor relationship can not be replaced by a computer, but it can effectively aide the medical profession by cutting down on multi page forms, in triplicate at the very least. Trillions of dollars are being unnecessarily spent on ink and writing materials, which should be constructively spent on vital software instead – can you imagine your doctor drowning under a sea of papers? It is of course legislation and law that protects us, but it can be dealt with in an objective and positive way instead. The initial stage is to input the patient’s data and link it with the medical provider, then as it is collated and logged on the system, it has less chance of being ‘lost’ – you know how pieces of paper get ‘lost’ when they should be filed and how this information is of a very private and confidential nature. Although we all know sensitive data has previously been accessed by unscrupulous individuals, it is far less common than that of a piece of paper. For a while now, many computerised systems have been used in health care, however it is now time for the patient to be in control, thus empowering the patient and giving them freedom of choice of their medical care. Where wireless tablets and/or patient kiosks have been trialled, it has had a positive effect on the health service all round – staff work load is drastically reduced and the patient is dealt with quickly and efficiently and on his way. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/customer-service-articles/an-introduction-to-digital-signage-in-health-care-1934289.html” Continue reading
The End Result – How Patient Self-Serve Is The Way Forward
The most popular questions to be asked are: What will it cost and how will it help me? The answer to this initial question is changable, depending on what software and hardware package you work with – how many computers, LCD screens, kiosks and/or wireless tablets etc. will be required. Some of the cost can be offset against the advertising revenue generated from selling advertisement space to the likes of pharmaceutical companies, through the media supplier. Also, some hardware suppliers may provide components, like the wireless tablets for free – if it can be displayed as a working model for promoting its digital signage properties and potential to other clients wanting to see it in action, in the work place. The second part of the question can be answered in three parts: • A better customerexperience – saving thepatient time, a less frustrating check-in process, eliminating irelevant questions and the need to re-submit previously answered questions. Patients are empowered by being able to view their own data at the interactive interview. Sophisticated, logical questions are asked and answered clearly using the device, prompting the patient to include relevant information not previously disclosed. • Providing a better quality of care – informed medical staff can provide informed medical care. This method of data aquisition has been shown to even save lives. A research project by Ohio State University, on youths returning after the summer break, used a touch screen self-service device to record data using real time and was able to identify those students who had suicidal tendencies. It used initial information in a triage format to ask appropriate questions in a way that was more likely to be answered honestly. • Lowering the margin of error – issues regarding the handling of data from various sources, like paperwork increases the risk of serious errors and mistakes, from illegible handwriting to misunderstood terminology. As the patient keys in the data first hand, there is less likelihood of errors. Whilst achieving maximum accuracy, is ambitious, it is worth aiming for. Fewer mistakes mean improved patient safety, a smoother experience for clients and staff, fewer wasted hours – leading to saving valuable dollars and a more efficient health care organization. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/customer-service-articles/the-end-result-how-patient-selfserve-is-the-way-forward-2012600.html” Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged answered, care, clients, cost, error, fewer, information, informed, medical, mistakes, patient, previously, screen, service
Comments Off
Digital Signage And Health Care Go Hand-In–Hand
Health care in the United States is a huge and continually growing sector of the top occupations, according to statistics, employing over 13.5 million people. This sector is constantly evolving with medical and surgical technologies, yet one important improvement has yet to emerge into the 22 century – the process of patient registration. Office paperwork has been replaced by computer software, however when a patient arrives at the desk, all he is greeted with, is a clipboard and pen – how old fashioned! Due to consumer attitudes this practice is now on its way out as the health care system updates one of the last the consumer facing industries, by introducing electronic check-in procedures, as members of the public now feel more comfortable using technology, for example using an AMT is now totally acceptable and unthought-of 20 years ago. Eventually, preferably sooner rather than later, patients will have the comfort of registering at patient kiosks, using a screen for their data, or submitting information on a wireless tablet, where they feel comfortable using a self-serve system to provide their private information, linking directly with their medical providers registration system. This move in technology comes at a point when the health care system is at a critical time, as it struggles to keep costs to a minimum – but at the expense of the patient? Paper work is a costly necessity and this creates expense, as medical practitioners each require three to five office support staff just to process the manual paperwork and filing. Almost all departments work with very low margins, so to utilise technology eliminates the cost of paper work therefore reallocating funds for other departments within the medical centres. Patient self-service in the medical sector will be as accessible and as easy to use as found with banking, entertainment and travel. As a patient confirms their own information, they acknowledge this information not only is correct, but it also means they can shop around for the best choice of care and nobody knows a patients’ information better than themselves. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/customer-service-articles/digital-signage-and-health-care-go-handinhand-1934250.html” Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged care, consumer, feel, health, information, Kiosk, medical, office, paper, process, registration, sector, service, system, technology
Comments Off
Digital Signage: Five Things you Need to Know, Five May not
Whenever I write these columns, I share a common predicament with those who create content for digital signs: How do I communicate my message to a mixed audience, some of whom have a detailed knowledge about my subject and others who at best have a passing familiarity? I’ll do my best in this column to serve up some information that old hands and newcomers alike can take away that I hope will make the next few moments of your time well spent. If you’re brand new to digital signage, struggling to understand where it fits into the communications landscape, here are five basic principles that will help you put digital signage into context –whether you’re thinking about using it to greet visitors in your company’s lobby or influence shoppers to make a purchase. • Dynamic messaging: Digital signage transforms dull, static signs into a dynamic mix of video, graphics, text and animation that can communicate and influence viewers in ways more akin to television than a printed placard. • Easily changed: Unlike signs that have to be reprinted to update messaging, digital signage text and graphics can be changed in a matter of moments to reflect the exact messaging that’s needed at any given moment. • Scheduled to maximize impact: Because it’s easy to update digital signs, they can playback messaging needed to address an audience that changes throughout the day. For example, a digital sign outside a hotel restaurant can entice early risers to visit for breakfast in the morning, transition to lunch fare in the afternoon, display an elegantly appointed table with dinner specials in the late afternoon, and promote featured music acts that will appear in the lounge after dinner. • Comfort and credibility: The very fact that digital signage relies on LCD and plasma panels and even CRTs for display –just like the one’s in the living rooms of most U.S. households- and that it can present messaging every bit as appealing as anything on television, imparts a degree of credibility to the medium that’s easy to take for granted but difficult for other new media to attain. • Linear and interactive playback: Digital signage can be used to playback a series of pieces of linear content –that with a beginning, middle and end- as well as stand in for digital kiosks that give users access to branching interactive content to meet their needs. The same digital sign can do double duty in a hybrid application to attract an audience with linear content and deliver specific content in interactive mode at the touch of a screen. For the old hands, here are five factoids about digital signage that are worth considering: • Fine Art: With so much attention focused on the commercial aspect of digital signage, it would be easy to miss the fact that large flat panel plasma displays are currently being used as a digital canvass for the a series of 30 high definition video portraits at New York’s Phillips de Pury and Paula Cooper galleries and at the Ace Gallery in Los Angeles. The exhibit, VOOM PORTRAITS by ROBERT WILSON, underscores how the technology at the heart of digital signs is becoming increasingly common. • Changing media markets: On their own, digital signage networks are becoming a significant advertising medium. Well-positioned to complement the skyrocketing online advertising market, which is expected to grow 35 percent this year, digital signage networks are coming into their own as a viable advertising medium. • Proximity sensing: As hybrid interactive digital signs increasingly stand in for digital kiosks, the need to recognize the presence of viewers grows. Not only can such knowledge automatically launch a presentation, it also can control audio volume to prevent audio from closely spaced signs from competing with one another and creating an audio mess. Proximity sensors that easily interface with interactive digital signs can take control and create order from what otherwise would be chaos. • Projector alternative: New technologies that allow projected images to be clearly seen on screens mounted in full daylight are emerging. Coupled with new technology that corrects for geometric distortion of projected images from oddly placed projectors, the new screen technology opens new opportunities for projectors to be used in digital signage applications. • Flatter all the time: For the first time, flat panel displays have surpassed CRT-based televisions in consumer sales. Not only does that mean economies of scale will continue to make digital signage displays less expensive, it also means digital signage will continue to blend easily into the media landscape. There you have it, five things you need to know about digital signage and five things you may not have known. Whether you’re an old hand or newcomer, I hope it was time well spent. If you have a digital signage topic that you would like me to research and write on, please provide feedback. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/multimedia-articles/digital-signage-five-things-you-need-to-know-five-may-not-122187.html” Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged advertising, digital, interactive, linear, projector, technology, television, time
Comments Off
Perspective Role And Contribution Of Information Technology In Rural Markets In India
Theme: RURAL MARKETS IN INDIA Sub Theme: Contribution and Perspective Role of I.T. PAPER INTRODUCTION: A large number of studies have shown that even today approximately 70% of Indian Population lives in Rural Areas. Today, Rural Development is essential for the development of the Indian Economy. Indian Government has realized the role of the rural development and the contribution of I.T. in the development of Rural Markets. A large number of projects are introduced in the rural area with many upcoming projects in pipeline; which are likely to be introduced by the Government in the short span of time. Rural Literacy is ranked at the topmost position of priority. Trends indicate that rural markets are coming up in big way and growing twice as faster as urban markets. According to a study by NCAER (National Council for Applied Economic Research), the number of middle and high-income households in rural India is expected to grow from 80 Million to 111 Million by the end of year 2007 as compared to Urban India that is nearby 59 Million. The Rural Market of India is showing an impressive growth largely due to changing lifestyle patterns, better communication network and rapidly changing demand structure of consumers of rural area. With the changing patterns of Rural Market, the role of I.T. has increased from providing only the Networks to set-up the basis of updated technological programs in the rural area. It is seen that the people living in the rural area have strong purchasing power and have more openness for new technology as compared to the past. Evidence of the increase in purchasing power can be drawn from the statement of Mr. D. Shivakumar (Business Head – Personal Product Division, Hindustan Unilever Limited) who said that the money available for spending on the FMCG by Rural India is 63,500 Cr., which is much more as compared to Urban India that spends the amount of approximately 49,500 Cr. In Rural India, Government has already provided Info-kiosks (a rural version of cyber café) which provide basic communication facilities like internet connection and telecommunication services. Modern Information and Communication Technologies (ICT’s) were found to have great potential to contribute. The projects of Info- Kiosks are very popular in the region of Andra Pradesh, Delhi, Gujrat, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madya Pradesh, Rajasthan Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh and have shown a positive response in the development of the rural area. Government is taking serious steps for the development of the rural market, under which the activities related to the development of the rural infrastructure, subsidized food availability and rural employment schemes are at the priority. I.T. plays a major role in accurate implementing these developmental programs in the rural area. Government has set up various centers which are spreading the I.T. web in the rural area through which people can be benefited and exploit the resources available efficiently. I.T. AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT: I.T. has varied applications in it, through which the development of the rural area can be possible accurately. Government had introduced a number of programs through which the people of rural India can come forward and use the I.T. enabled services and work more systematically. Some of the programs run by the Government are: b E-Mitra: This service is launched by the RAJASTHAN Government for the first time for its rural citizens, so that they can deploy the I.T. enabled benefits to its fullest. E- Mitra is State Government started projects, which soon become highly popular in the region. In year 2002, two projects came into existence namely; Lok Mitra and Jan Mitra . Where Jan Mitra is an integrated electronic platform through which the citizens of Rajasthan can avail the benefit if getting the desired information regarding any Governmental Department at kiosks which is very near to there doorstep. These Initiative program of Rajasthan government have not only helped the Government by reducing the burden of attending every call, it has reduced the waiting time for the service and has lead to provide comfort to the citizens also, as with the inception of this service they can easily get the information required at their doorstep. Lok Mitra is an urban electronic Governance Project which was launched in Jaipur city in year 2002, which helps the citizens of Jaipur (now other cities also) to pay their bills online (land, Water, Bus Tickets and BSNL) leading the citizen to save the waiting time. This service also ensures people that their money is going directly to the Government and provides a feeling of security related to their bills payment. b Community Information Centers: The program is designed especially for providing the internet access and I.T. Enabled services to the citizens through which the interface between the Government and the Citizens can be setup. These centers connect seven northeast states namely; Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Manipur, Mehalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland and Tripura. The center helps to gain the connectivity at the time of unsuitable environmental conditions. The centers are commonly termed as CIC which are generally situated at the school, college or any governmental office. People can come for the Internet access, and for accessing the internet, a nominal amount is charged from the people through which the daily expenses of the centers are maintained. b wi-fi Projects: One of the wi-fi project under which few villages (of UTTAR PRADESH ) are connected to internet is Digital Gangetic Plan (DGP). Through the use of DGP wireless network connectivity is created, this program helped the people residing in villages of India to have the access of internet through which the information on various issues can be collected ad used, at the same time the people living in rural India can be updated with the new technological changes and the innovative changes taking place in the national and the international markets. For instance; Bimari Jankari is a portal through which the information regarding every disease and health related issues is available and Digital Mandi is available as one of the portals where all the information regarding the agricultural commodities are available. This portal provides the information regarding the prices of the commodities and their relative value. b Drishtee: Drishtee is present in 5 States and is currently available in six districts. It is a private company, which was previously named as Cyber Edge , which has the main work of developing the modules. It is present in Bihar, Haryana, Madya Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan. It is generally suited in the Panchayat or in the bazaars. They prepare the module for the poor section of the society who cannot understand the international language. The modules are designed for the rural and semi-urban areas especially. b Gyandoot: It was established in January in year 2000. It is an e-governance based module designed for the rural citizens. The project was initially initiated by the Government of MADHYA PRADESH . Gyandoot caters the need of the villagers by providing the information related to the prevailing rates of the agro-based commodities and the rate of land. Each Gyandoot Info kiosks caters to approximately 15 panchayats and 30 villages. The module is designed with the aim to provide cost effective and sustainable delivery model to the people. b TARAhaat: It was developed by an NGO (non-government organization); with the vision to bring internet facility to the rural India. It is a franchisee based business model that attempts to generate revenues by focusing on the marketing services through the module (especial focus on the local applications). It was initiated in the region of PUNJAB with the introduction of different centers called as Kendra’s which are connected to each other through the dial up internet connection facility. These Kendra’s have power backup also; in case, the electricity supply is interrupted. The info kiosks provide online and offline services information on education, prevailing opportunities in the market and other useful information for the villagers. TARAkendra’s are very popular in between the local population as it provides the information in the local language and the portal is designed in such a pattern that semi literate population can also understand it without any difficulty. Different services that TARAkendra’s provide are: O TARABazar (for product information) O TARAdhaba (for providing connectivity) O TARAdak (connect to relatives at distance) O TARAgyan (educate rural youth on various issues) O TARAguru (helps in mentoring and consultancy) O TARAvan (delivery of orders at remote areas) and many other services are also provided. b Rural e-seva: It was initiated by ANDRA PRADESH Government. It was initially implemented in West Godavari District to deliver e-governance facility. The centers are designed with the view to provide better governance facilities to the people of the Rural India. The popularity of e-seva can be estimated from the fact that in the year 2003, more than 400 million rupees was collected only for the electricity payment. With the success of the e-seva in electricity bills payment, Government is looking forward for introducing it in the areas of collection of telephone bills and local Governmental Bills. E-seva is gaining popularity with passing days as it helps the citizens to avail the benefit of getting the certificates at their doorsteps; which is both relaxing and reliable. b Bhoomi: The KARNATAKA Government for maintaining the records related to the land introduced it. The Department of Revenue in Karnataka has computerized 20 million records of land ownership belonging to 6.7 million farmers of the state. With the introduction of the program, the farmers are free from giving the bribe and are protected from the harassment. Framers can easily get the Records of Rights, Tenancy and Crops (RTC) by depositing a minimal fee of Rs. 15. National Informatics Centers (NIC) through which the software online copies of the land records are available developed the software of Bhoomi. By giving an online request, farmers get an online enrollment number through which further processing can be done. In the software, the connectivity is through the LAN through which all the clients are connected to the hubs. With the increasing popularity of the project, Government of India has decided to introduce the project in other parts of the country also, namely: Kerala, West Bengal, Sikkim, Tripura, Punjab, Haryana, Madya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Gujrat, Assam, Orrisa, Rajasthan and Pondicherry. b e-choupal: It is designed especially for the farmers of India . Through e-choupal, farmers who are living in the remote area of the country and cannot manage to have direct contact with the consumer can come forward to have a direct contact. It provides an e-procurement system through which the farmers can access the latest and updated information (local, national and international) related to different farming practices. It provides real time information and customized knowledge to the farmers through which the farmer can take better decisions and can have direct contact with the customer, reducing the amount wasted by moving through the distribution channel of intermediary. E-choupal has already become the largest initiative among all internet-based interventions in Rural India. E-choupal is present in 36,000 villages through nearly 6,000 kiosks across nine states. ITC (Indian Tobacco Company) is planning to expand the concept of e-choupal further in 15 states of India. b Aksh: It is mostly active in Northern India , it is a fiber optic cable company with its core competence in lay down and maintenance if cable. Aksh has the license to lay down the cables in the rural areas. It initially has collaborated with Drishtee for maintenance of kiosks, but with the changing times; Drishtee and Aksh have separated in different service offerings. While Urban Area has witnessed a penetration of cable T.V., rural areas have left un-served. The fact behind the low level of cable T.V. proportion in rural as compared to urban area is due to the fact that in rural area there are a limited number of houses which can afford cable T.V. The bandwidth delivered by Aksh supports a large variety of services (including video interactions) which will lead to increase the level information exchange in between the people living in several areas of rural India. b n-Logue N-Logue is activated in South India and due to its advantages is entering into the northern areas. The main impetus came from IIT -Chennai . It is a non-profit organization with the responsibility of providing rural IT based services (including hardware and software) through connectivity and application all around the rural area. It is functional with WLL Technology whose construction and maintenance is costly and the connectivity is also limited to a certain area, but has the facility of providing connectivity with a range of services as it provides the voice call facility and overcome the problem of dial up connection errors. N-Logue is further supported by IIT-Chennai, which prepares a variety of local language software for it in short time for convenience and comfort. It has also added the facility of web-cam through which the remote diagnosis of various problems can be done. Tamil Nadu Government has supported the functions of n-Logue (especially in its Madurai and Nellikuppam district). N-Logue charges for connectivity and is relatively popular in the southern region due to its easy connectivity functioning and training of handling the applications. INCLINATION OF SECTORS TOWARDS RURAL INDIA: Income generation from Rural India has increased dramatically from past few years. Trends have witnessed twice growth rate of the rural market as compared to the urban markets. According to a McKinsey survey conducted in year 2007, Rural India, with a population of 627 million, (approximately 74.3 per cent of the total population), would become bigger than the total consumer market in countries such as South Korea or Canada in another twenty years. Moreover, it would grow almost four times from its existing size in 2007, which was estimated at US$ 577 billion. Several sectors are showing their inclination towards the rural market area due to the increased possibility of opportunities. 1. FMCG According to Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), the number of rural households using fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) products has grown from 136 million in 2004 to 143 million in 2007. In a report by market research firm AC Nielsen, in April-May 2008, it was observed that rural market has shown a rapid rate of growth. The FMCG sector in rural areas is projected to grow by 40 per cent against the 25 per cent growth in urban areas. 2. Insurance According to a report, ‘Insurance in Next 2 Years’, by The Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM), in May 2008 , the insurance sector size was estimated at US$ 12.8 billion, and it is likely to see an unprecedented growth of 200 per cent, touching US$ 51.2 billion by 2009-10. Rural India may offer a business opportunity worth US$ 23 billion for the insurance companies if the segment can be wooed with innovative saving schemes at affordable premiums 3. Retail According to a study, conducted in September 2007 , by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on the Indian rural retail sector, opportunities in Rural Retail were estimated to be over US$ 34 billion in year 2007. This figure is expected to touch US$ 43 billion in 2010 and go up to US$ 58 billion by 2015. The rural markets in 2008 have grown at 25 per cent compared to the 7-10 per cent growth rate of the urban consumer retail market. 4. Automobiles The Indian Automotive Industry currently has a turnover of US$ 34 billion. However, the automobile market remains untapped in rural India that has a strong purchasing power. Nearly 50 per cent of the Indian rural market, which includes 220 million households, is potential car buyers. Two-wheeler penetration in rural belts is still very low with less than 10 per cent households owning a two-wheeler. 5. Pharmaceuticals The Indian Pharmaceuticals Market is regarded as one of the fastest growing in the world. In 2006-07, this market was valued at over US$ 7 billion with the rural segment having a remarkable share of this market. Industry estimates observed that while small towns contribute 20 per cent to the country’s pharmaceuticals market, rural areas account for 21 per cent. In 2006-07, the rural Indian market was estimated at around US$ 1.4 billion, having grown at about 40 per cent in 2006-07 against 21 per cent in the previous year. 6. Consumer durables A survey carried out by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry ( FICCI ), indicated that the consumer durable goods sector is all set to witness 12 per cent growth in 2008. The rural market is growing faster than the urban markets, although the penetration level in rural area is much lower. The rural Indian market, which accounts for nearly 70 per cent of the total number of households, witnessed a 25 per cent annual growth while the urban consumer durables market reflected an annual rate of 7 to 10 per cent. * Source: IBEF Report, August 21, 2008 CONCLUSION: The face of Indian rural market can be transformed only with the deployment of I.T. The paper has provided the brief description of the various services offered in the rural areas of different states of India and simultaneously the advantages these services have. All the services have difference in degree of connectivity, level of service offered and basic organizational structure. It is clearly seen that the range of I.T. enabled service proportion is increasing at a rapid rate in the rural areas of India. The fact behind it is the increasing interest of the organizations (profitable and non-profitable) to capture the rural markets and the increasing level of the education and market interface of the rural people. I.T. enabled services are growing at a fast rate and are providing several services to rural people with the common motive of having increase in the connectivity and thus creation of bigger market in the rural areas. The increase in the services provided to the rural people (in terms of various services offered) will result in the overall betterment of the society on one side by enriching the people with updated market information and providing latest technological developmental news and organizations on other side by creating more market opportunities for them and adjustment of the market prices. For development of the rural areas proper development of the IT Communication and Infrastructural services are essential along with the utilization of the fiber optic networks. I.T. services need to be developed in reference to the present rural infrastructure. Internet based services blended with customer support services should be provided in the rural areas, which can increase the acceptance rate of the services by the rural people. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/information-technology-articles/perspective-role-and-contribution-of-information-technology-in-rural-markets-in-india-786063.html” Continue reading
Branching Out: Rebuilding Value in the Branch Channel – touchscreens, video conferencing and digital signage are all helping to make the branch experience a more enjoyable and worthwhile one for customers
Until recently, banks seemed to be neglecting their branches in favor of remote channels. However, they are now appreciating that branches are a highly effective channel for acquiring customers and selling products. Banks have therefore put in a lot of effort into improving the quality of the customer experience on offer in their branches. This report investigates the impact of these changes. The scope of this report includes a description of how and why banks are reassessing their branch strategies. The report also presents results from the Financial Services Consumer Insight Survey to highlight consumer preferences regarding the branch channel. Additionally, we provide an analysis of the latest trends in branch design and configuration, the use of technology and the role and function of staff. You will also be able to assess the outlook for branch networks. Highlights; Branches are moving away from a primarily transactional role towards a sales and advisory function. Many consumers prefer to use branches when buying or seeking advice on financial products, particularly more complex products, such as mortgages. New technology, such as touchscreens, video conferencing and digital signage are all helping to make the branch experience a more enjoyable and worthwhile one for customers. Open-plan architecture, retail-inspired design and clearer layouts have made branches more welcoming and easier to navigate. Although mergers and regulatory action in the wake of the banking crisis could lead to some branch closures, banks will continue to invest in their branch networks, as they are central to restoring trust and confidence in the industry. Consumers increasingly want to access their bank through a variety of channels, including branches. Amongst the reasons to purchase this report are :-*Learn about the latest trends in bank branch design and strategy. *Read case studies of providers who are introducing innovative developments into their branch networks, understand what the branch of the future might look like, and what roles it might fulfill. Table of Contents : Overview 1 Catalyst 1 Summary 1 Methodology 1 Executive Summary 2 Branches remain a vital communication and distribution channel for banks 2 Branches are increasingly geared towards the sale of complex and advised products 2 Branch design is changing radically 3 A retail-inspired approach to branch design is allowing banks to increase product sales 3 Technology is helping to enrich the customer experience 4 Digital signage can help to boost product sales and reduce boredom while waiting 4 Jyske Bank has put digital signage at the heart of its service proposition 4 Many banks view branch staff as being more vital than ever to their service propositions 5 A number of banks have placed a considerable investment in staff training 5 TD Bank is moving towards offering specialist sales and advice in its branches 5 Banks are taking an increasingly analytical approach to optimizing their branch networks 6 Branch layouts are moving away from a standardized look to one that varies by location 6 Branches remain the most effective channel for building relationships 6 Customers want to access their banks through a variety of channels 6 The branch channel will continue to evolve 6 Banks must rethink the purpose of their branches 7 Banks need to improve the quality of the in-branch experience 7 Table of Contents 8 Table of figures 9 Table of tables 10 Evaluating the customer experience 11 What does customer experience mean? 11 The evolution of customer experience 11 The importance of generating a satisfying customer experience 12 Providers are starting to focus on customer experience management 13 A lack of integration can cost providers dearly 13 Most banks now have in place extensive programs to monitor customer satisfaction 14 Customer loyalty is the key to profitability 14 Customer advocacy is an extremely powerful medium for winning new customers 15 Loyalty and advocacy are closely correlated with profitability and growth 16 Financial providers need to improve the quality of the customer experience they provide 17 There is much room for improvement in the standards of service that banks provide 17 Banks should focus on differentiating their customer experience 18 Emotional attributes are vital to creating a unique experience 18 How a bank handles moments of truth has a disproportionate impact upon the customer experience 18 Creating an attractive customer experience can enable banks to charge a premium for their offering 19 Rethinking the closure of branches 20 Rumors of the death of the branch have been greatly exaggerated 20 Bank branches seemed to be on their way out in the 1990s 20 Banks have been forced to think again about migrating away from the branch 20 Branches remain a vital communication and distribution channel for banks 21 Branches are increasingly geared towards the sale of complex and advised products 22 Regulatory demands are making it increasingly difficult to sell complex products via remote channels 26 Banks are encouraging customers to migrate to remote channels for routine transactions 26 Many consumers remain resistant to the charms of online banking 26 A proportion of online bankers still prefer face-to-face contact with their bank 27 Branches are a valuable channel for attracting retail deposits in the wake of the banking crisis 28 The new face of branch banking 29 Branch design is changing radically 29 A retail-inspired approach to branch design is allowing banks to increase product sales 29 Branch design is helping to reinforce brand image 29 Branches are being tailored to meet the needs of different customer segments 30 New trends in layout are helping to facilitate the customer journey through the branch 31 Zoning is helping to improve the operational efficiency of branches 32 Several banks are pushing ahead with the transformation of the traditional branch 33 Umpqua Bank in Oregon has turned its branches into community hubs 33 Barclays Bank has tailored its branches in response to its customers’ needs 34 Lloyds TSB’s redesign emphasizes the commitment of each branch to its local community 35 Helm Bank in Colombia is pioneering a multi-sensory approach to brand identity 36 Jyske Bank in Denmark has worked hard to create a welcoming atmosphere 37 Deutsche Bank’s Q110 ‘Bank of the Future’ offers a complete retailing experience 38 There can be risks in adopting a retail-led approach to branch design 39 Washington Mutual reverted to a more conventional layout following its takeover by JPMorgan Chase 40 Abbey abandoned its partnership with Costa Coffee after just a few years 41 There is some difference in opinion about the wisdom of abandoning traditional branch design 41 The view on branch design 41 Technology is helping to enrich the customer experience 42 Touchscreens facilitate a more intuitive interaction between bank and customer 42 Barclays Bank is pioneering the use of touchscreen technology in its flagship London Piccadilly branch 42 Umpqua Bank uses touchscreen technology to build customer engagement 43 Touchscreen technology can be used outside a branch to engage the interest of pedestrians 44 Using video links can help create a more personalized experience for customers 44 Umpqua Bank is experimenting with video links to help increase face-to-face contact 45 First Atlantic is also investing in video tellers to improve efficiency 45 ABN Amro is piloting unmanned branches where all communication is conducted remotely 46 There are potential downsides to the use of video technology 47 Increasing levels of automation are contributing to greater operational efficiency 47 BNP Paribas has replaced teller positions with multifunction ATMs in most of its branches 47 Garanti Bank in Turkey has made widespread use of self-service kiosks 47 Sparkassen in Germany has installed movable kiosks in some of its branches 48 Digital signage can help to boost product sales and reduce boredom while waiting 48 Digital signage is highly effective in engaging the attention of customers 49 Bank of America reduced perceived waiting times through the use of digital displays 49 Jyske Bank has put digital signage at the heart of its service proposition 49 Behind-the-scenes technology can also improve the customer experience 50 TD Bank in the US is speeding up transaction processing times through the use of technology 50 The view on the use of technology 51 Many banks view branch staff as being more vital than ever to their service propositions 51 Meeting-and-greeting helps to improve security 51 Changes in branch layout and technology have also necessitated a change in staff function 52 Banks could be doing more to promote product sales through their staff 52 The quality of branch staff has become a marketing tool for banks 52 Changing staff priorities means a change in recruitment criteria 53 A number of banks have placed a considerable investment in staff training 54 Umpqua Bank has placed great emphasis on the quality of service provided by its staff 54 TD Bank is moving towards offering specialist sales and advice in its branches 54 Barclays Bank has resurrected the branch manager 55 Branch opening hours are gradually becoming more customer-friendly 55 The view on the role of branch staff 56 Banks are taking an increasingly analytical approach to optimizing their branch networks 56 Branch network optimization provides a powerful analytical framework for assessing network performance 56 Banks prefer to open branches where there is the greatest number of potential customers 58 Branch location is an important determinant of choice of bank 58 Branch layouts are moving away from a standardized look to one that varies by location 58 The view on branch networks 59 The future of branch banking 60 The branch channel will continue to evolve 60 Branches remain the most effective channel for building relationships 60 Branches can help to target high-value segments 61 Customers want to access their banks through a variety of channels 62 Branches have a role to play in restoring trust and confidence in the banking industry 62 Fallout from the banking crisis may lead to further closures 63 Bank mergers could force more branch closures 63 The decades-long expansion in US bank branch numbers could come to an end 64 Banks with larger branch networks may outperform those with smaller networks 65 Banks must rethink the purpose of their branches 65 Banks need to improve the quality of the in-branch experience 66 APPENDIX 67 Supplementary data 67 Definitions 72 Digital signage 72 Self-service kiosks 72 Methodology 72 Further reading 72 Ask the analyst 73 Our Consultancy 73 Disclaimer 73 For more information please visit : http://www.aarkstore.com/reports/Branching-Out-Rebuilding-Value-in-the-Branch-Channel-17802.html Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/mortgage-articles/branching-out-rebuilding-value-in-the-branch-channel-market-research-report-on-aarkstore-enterpri-3427271.html” Continue reading
How Voiceovers are Quickly Becoming Part of Everyday Life; even part of kiosks
Rather than hiring staff members to provide assistance at airport ticket kiosks or during museum tours, many companies are hiring professional voice over talents to provide you with a voice recording. It is far more cost-effective and simple to use a voice talent in many situations because you can automate processes and won’t have to spend time and money training staff members to do the work. Automated Museum Tours Just about everywhere, you may hear voices, whether they are telling you where to grab your change at a ticket stall, which stop is next on the metro, or describing an exhibit at a museum. The world of voiceovers has extended itself to museums, with automated tour guides. These automated recordings improve the visitor experience because visitors don’t feel rushed and can take their time exploring each exhibit. On the other hand, with a live tour guide, everyone is on a strict schedule and must follow the tour guide’s pace rather than set their own. Automated museum tour recordings also save museums time and money. Museums with automated tours do not have to train staff members to give tours at every new exhibit that comes along. Moreover, it’s a lot easier for a voice talent to read a script in a natural, entertaining tone just once rather than expect staff to give the same tour over and over. Automated Airport Kiosks At airport kiosks, voiceovers are commonly used to walk customers through the process of printing a boarding pass, checking luggage, or any of a handful of steps associated with checking in for a flight. A voice talent who speaks clearly, calmly, and in a friendly tone can improve the overall customer experience at airport check-in. Voiceovers utilized at airport kiosks help to simplify the process of obtaining a boarding pass, and an authoritative voice can help people feel at ease while they prepare to board their flights. Airlines can save time, money, and resources by using an automated kiosk rather than having airline representatives attend to each customer. Automated kiosks tend to speed up the check-in process at airports, while enabling staff members to address other priorities. Rather than tying everyone up at the check-in counter, why not automate the entire process with professional voice recordings? A clear, professional voiceover talent can assist people in obtaining a boarding pass more quickly and efficiently. The world of voiceovers is expanding as many companies automate processes through the use of professional voice recordings. Whether you need to speed up the check-in process at your airline counter or rely on an automated recording to enable museum visitors to explore exhibits at their own pace, select a highly experienced voice over talent to perform your scripts effectively and professionally. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/journalism-articles/the-world-of-voice-how-voiceovers-are-quickly-becoming-part-of-everyday-life-2363266.html” Continue reading
How to make Big Colleges feel small: school kiosks system !
Around the country, most of the big colleges like ASU, Ohio State, Florida State with over 40000 students on a single campus feel amazingly huge. You see so many people walking around that you see for the first time and probably won’t ever see again. You are surrounded by so many people who just seem to walk around like busy, going somewhere or chatting in groups. You then tell yourself why is this place so big, I feel like a no one. To bridge the gap, you try to be friends with everyone you can come across, you try to join every club possible. But even after that, you still think the school campus is still super huge. So the questions comes up, how to make your school community appear small. Whatever you try to do, there is always a time that you feel that there are so much more people around that you have never seen. You could just ignore the fact and walk with your group of friends and forget the rest or you can try your best to be Mr. Popular. There are various was to become Mr. popular in school. You could be the star quarterback on the team or the running back. You could be the Basketball team star point guard or President of the Student Government, but for the normal student, the key of becoming this easily lays on the school kiosks system, where about 80% of the cool stuff in school are advertised. Well now you can’t start walking to each kiosks trying to write down everything going down in school, but now there is a website that can easily allow you to do that, AnnounceSchool. This is a website that allows students to post up pretty much everything and more that you will post up on a kiosk and even more. So when other students post up a party or an event club event or sport event, all you need to do is to open up your computer and check the website in your school section and check what is going on. As simple as that. With that you will be able to attend much more events and thereby meet much more people. This website thereby a simple way of making huge campuses feel small. Check it out, http://announceschool.com Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/college-and-university-articles/how-to-make-big-colleges-feel-small-2695436.html” Continue reading
Custom Made Exhibition Stands
Custom made exhibition stands Exhibitions and trade shows are a very powerful marketing and promotional tool when done professional. They are a great way for your company to attract potential new customers. Creating the right corporate image for your business is very important and done correctly could seriously increase your business status . When done correctly the use of colour, logos and images can create a breath taking display. You want a display stand that is eye catching enough so it stands out and draws potential customers to you. The wording needs to be clear and large enough for people to read from a far. You want your display to attract people and bring them to your stand; only a smart professional design will do this. You can get exhibition stands in all shapes and sizes, some can be collapsed and moved around, although some can be permanent displays like the display stands you see in museums and visitor centres. You can also get trailers fitted out so you can take your exhibition all around the country. Road shows are becoming more and more popular and a great way for companies to move around the country promoting their products or services. A good exhibition designer will build your stand to your exact specification. If you have no specification then a good design company will be able to come up with a good design for you. You may have a logo or company headed paper that can be used as a starting point. The more you tell the designer about your company and the image you are trying to portray the better the overall appearance and design will be. Getting this image right is very important Some companies will also design professional looking plinths, podiums, kiosks and workstations and lots of other accessories. All of these will help with drawing buyers to your stand and keep their attention for longer. Some stands can be made with the intention of holding computers or laptops. You can also get stands made with the computer integrated into the displays. Outdoor stands are great for travelling displays or road shows and if designed properly can be used time and time again. Some stands can be designed as flat packs so anyone can move them from show to show and assemble them themselves. Kiosks are another great type of display. Some kiosks are flat pack designed, so they are easy to move around and construct yourself. The costs of display and exhibition stands vary considerably, they can be priced anywhere from a few hundred pounds to thousands of pounds. But as long as you get the design right in the first place and they are made to a good quality you should be able to use them year after year. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/marketing-articles/custom-made-exhibition-stands-114958.html” Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged country, design, designer, display, exhibition, flat, good, great, kiosks, made, move, people, professional, time
Comments Off
New Kiosks at SFO Sells Carbon Offsets
The individual market for carbon offsets is growing and San Francisco airport (SFO) has just done their part to make carbon offsets more available to the common traveler with their new Climate Passport kiosks. First, what are carbon offsets? Carbon offsets are monetary units that go towards funding projects to make up for the environmental damage done from carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. Basically, the purchase of one carbon offset represents the effort to offset the damage caused by one metric ton of carbon dioxide or other greenhouse gas. The money could go to projects such as wind farms, hydroelectric dams, destruction of landfill methane, or reforestation projects. It has been common for large corporations and governments to buy carbon offsets in efforts to meet the caps from the amount of carbon dioxide they are permitted to emit. However, there is also a smaller individual market for carbon offsets of which SFO is trying to take advantage. SFO is the first airport to provide these carbon offset kiosks where one can voluntarily buy carbon offsets to compensate for the carbon dioxide their part in a flight will emit. How to purchase a carbon offset at SFO. To purchase carbon offsets at SFO, you can visit one of three of their Climate Passport kiosk, enter your flight information, and let the kiosk calculate the pounds of carbon dioxide you are responsible for from your particular flight. Then if you decide you want to fund a project to offset the damage done by your flight, you can purchase the amount of carbon offsets a $13.50 per ton needed to cover your portion. For instance, if you have a round-trip from SFO to New York’s JFK, it will cost $23.42 to cover your part, hardly more than cheap SFO airport parking. Where is your money going? Carbon offsets purchased at The Climate Passport kiosks at SFO will fund local projects—currently, a reforestation project in Mendocino County and to a bio-diesel fueling project in San Francisco. Who’s to say what the future holds for the individual market for carbon offsets, but at least SFO is making their kiosks available and convenient for those travelers who would like to do their part to undo the carbon footprint they have create during their travels. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/new-kiosks-at-sfo-sells-carbon-offsets-1416519.html” Continue reading
What is Kiosk? – Short Description of Kiosk
Kiosk can be broadly described as a booth providing a computer-related service, such as an Automated Teller Machine (ATM). Or in other word (In information technology), a kiosk (pronounced KEE-ahsk) is a small physical structure (often including a computer and a display screen) that displays information for people walking by. A kiosk requires a simple user interface that can be used without training or documentation, and the hardware must be rugged and capable of operating unattended for long periods of time. Touch screens can provide some of these features because they enable a user to enter and display information on the same device and eliminate the need for keyboards, which are prone to break. Kiosks are common near the entrances of shopping malls in North America where they provide shoppers with directions. Kiosks are also used at trade shows and professional conferences. The word is of Turkish and earlier Persian origin, where it meant an outdoor pavilion or a portico. The kiosks best known to travellers are those that display show and movie posters on the streets of Paris. More sophisticated kiosks let users interact and include touch screens, sound, and motion video. A simple kiosk can be created using HTML pages and graphics, setting the typesize large enough to attract people from a short distance, and removing the Web browser’s tool bar so that the display screen is effectively in “kiosk mode.” The presentation can be designed to simply loop through a series of pages or to allow user interaction and exploration. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/information-technology-articles/what-is-kiosk-short-description-of-kiosk-398337.html” Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged computer, display, include, Kiosk, posters, short, simple, sophisticated, technology, word
Comments Off
Photobook Kiosk
A personalized photo book can be a great way to share your stories of school life, summer vacation or wedding day with your dearest friends and family members. It can be a great charismas or birthday gift to your best friends as well or it can be a perfect book for your coffee table to show off your dinner guests. If you are looking for making a photobook or a photo album, a Photobook Kiosk is an ideal solution to print your digital photos. With a large user-friendly touch screen menu, you will be able to use the kiosk seamlessly. You’ll just insert the storage media (e.g., mobile phone, CD, Flash drive, memory card, etc.) to the Kiosk and touch the screen to start. You’ll be asked to choose a photobook option. After selecting photobook option the Photo Kiosk application will scan the content of the storage media and display thumbnails of all photos found on the media. You’ll choose the photos and cover pictures by simply touching them to be included in your album. You can apply backgrounds for each of your photos. Then you’ll be asked to enter album name date and order details (print format, paper type, etc). Most of the kiosk offer print sizes usually at 4-by-6, 6-by-8 and 8-by-10 inches but variations are also common. Photos can be printed on either single sided or double sided pages. You can crop, rotate or give some special impacts on the photos such as shapes, borders, color brightening and so on as you want. You’ll be directed by both an onscreen and a voice command if you get stuck into choices. You have to wait a few minuets to complete and get your final photobook. The photobook will drop down the kiosk and you will pick your favorite photobook with a good binding. Most photobook Kiosks also have the ability to create DVD slide show presentations of your photos and add a musical soundtrack. You can play the DVD on a DVD-player and watch them on TV. Some photobook Kiosks also allow you to include your personal message on the photos. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/gadgets-and-gizmos-articles/photobook-kiosk-3421549.html” Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged album, asked, brightening, choices, friends, great, Kiosk, print, show
Comments Off
Changing Trends of Trade Show Displays
A trade show is a way for exhibitors to be noticed by potential customers. To market their product effectively at such shows, businesses need appealing booth displays. Vibrant and well-thought out displays attract the attention of the show attendees to the exhibitor’s booth. The choices in trade show displays range from fabric displays, custom displays to audio-visual kiosks. Newer trends in show displays are emerging as exhibitors look at innovative ways to attract visitors’ attention. Here are some popular ones being used these days. Depending on your requirement and budget, you can go for any of these displays. Allure banner displays These are traditional banner displays with a twist. These displays will lower your cost because of the lesser area you need to rent. They give incomparable flexibility in the placement or positioning of the booth, which is huge advantage in case of trade arenas with a large traffic. Such displays are also highly customizable, offering exhibitors many different ways to showcase their products. Allure banner displays are made of lightweight aluminum and can be assembled by a single person within minutes. The additional lighting, shelving and literature display accessories are available at low costs, make it an attractive display option at trade shows. Entasi displays Entasi displays work well as functional and customizable display booth designs. Using tension fabric, a photograph or image can be reproduced as a centerpiece, normally 10 X 10 in size. This centerpiece is mounted on a chrome-finished aluminum frame. Halogen lighting systems are popular lighting accessories with Entasi displays. You can also use matching podiums and kiosks for a more vibrant look. The fabric backdrop can be curved either vertically or horizontally to create an eye-catching three-dimensional display booth. Another advantage is that these displays can be assembled in minutes. A/V kiosks An audio-visual kiosk consists of an LCD display to provide audio-visual support and a kiosk podium. The LCD display you choose will depend on your budget. Bigger LCD displays immediately grab the attention of show attendees. These displays are fantastic tools that immediately generate interest. They are accessorized with shelf space for literature display and additional storage. Tension fabric displays Tension fabric is widely used in banner designs and displays. Fabric displays make for eye-catching backdrops as the look and texture can be changed with changes in lighting. The fabric is durable and can be conveniently machine washed. These displays can be used as prime booth or an accent piece, which can be easily incorporated with other trade show display tools. They are technology friendly and quality graphics are created on them to visually represent the advertising message in a convincing manner. The fabric is flexible, making it handy while creating exhibits of different shapes and sizes. The fabrics are light, airy and make an excellent choice for very large displays. The weightless look of the displays is complemented with effortless portability as well, making them easy to store and install. The appearance is sleek and it is a relatively low cost display. Fabric displays complement the creativity of the banner design, aiding the creation of stylish displays. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/branding-articles/changing-trends-of-trade-show-displays-3174228.html” Continue reading
Digital Music Kiosks Make Their Push – Windows Live
Back in the day (like the late ’80s), there was this service we remember using at the mall where you could create custom mixtapes of songs you wanted. Continue reading
Travel Tips – International Airport Taxes
When traveling internationally, there is nothing more annoying than those pesky airport taxes. An easily-forgettable afterthought, airport taxes are fees charged to travelers, usually departing, for “use of the airport” or some other such nonsense. Although, in the olden days, most international airports had silly little kiosks where one had to queue up to pay the price and retain a ticket to prove they’d paid their way out, most have now converted to a system where these taxes are included in the price of your airfare. Now only a few countries around the world still utilize those obnoxious airport tax kiosks that can really put a damper on the last few minutes of your trip. Airport taxes, also known as departure taxes or entry taxes, are essentially a way for countries around the world to exploit travelers for those last few bits of cash. Since most countries now use the airfare-inclusive system, it is easy to forget about these taxes when traveling in a country where you must still pay them at a kiosk in the airport. Airport departure fees range in amount and can be anywhere from just a few bills of the local currency to over $100 USD, as is the case for North American and Australian travelers to Argentina, who must pay a “reciprocity fee”. This tax is the equivalent of what Argentine citizens must pay for a visa to their country. So, in the case of Americans traveling to Argentina or Chile, they must pay $131 – the same price that Argentine and Chilean travelers must pay for a visa to the United States. If you are unsure about whether or not a departure tax is in use in the country that you’re traveling to, be sure to check online for country-specific information about airport fees. Travel Nation has also compiled a useful list of countries where you must still pay an airport tax in person, but bear in mind that fee amounts and general tax practices are subject to change, so it’s best to check with the U.S. Department of State’s Country Specific Information sheets for the most up-to-date info about departure taxes. Do you want to learn more about how to Fly Cheaper , then visit Lets Fly Cheaper on how to choose the best Flights to Saigon . Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ramon_Van_Meer Continue reading
Touch Screen Kiosk Application – Information Kiosks
Touch Screen Kiosk Application – Information Kiosks . Touch screen Information kiosks have been used for many years to interact with customers and visitors in order to convey specific messages, relay information and allow the public … Continue reading
Unitedhealthcare Opens Kiosk at Paramus Park Mall to answer …
UnitedHealthcare has opened a Medicare information and sales kiosk at the Paramus Park mall to help people eligible for Medicare understand their plan choices and get the knowledge they need to make informed, personalized Medicare … Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged choices, information, Kiosk, knowledge, paramus, park, people, plan, sales, unitedhealthcare
Comments Off
Dallas Amtrak Station – A Transport Hub to the Nation
Amtrak Stations are a public rail transport system that is partly government owned. With stations located throughout the nation, it provides a speedy transport option that opens up all major destinations in the United States. While there are set amenities offered across the board at various Amtrak Stations, the availability of these facilities varies from station to station. The Dallas Amtrak Station offers commuters restrooms, an enclosed waiting area and even payphones for quick calls. The station is open from 5:00 am each day till 11:59 pm while ticketing hours are from 8:00 am to 5:30 pm. This particular station also has Amtrak’s ‘quik-trak’ ticketing kiosk which allows travelers to make new reservations, buy your tickets and pick them up at the kiosk adding great convenience. The city of Dallas is the eighth largest in the United States and the third largest in the state of Texas. Featuring a heavily urbanized environment this city offers visitors just about every modern amenity that anyone could expect to find. Dallas also offers a range of attractions making it a popular destination amongst tourists due to the variety of landmarks and museums housed here. Attractions that can be found here include The Dallas Museum of Art, Lakewood Country Club, John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza and the Dallas Zoo. The Dallas Amtrak Station will allow travelers to commute to San Antonio (Los Angeles), St. Louis, and Chicago in addition to other connecting stations that open up the rest of the country as well. A host of hotels in Dallas present themselves to the prospective traveler catering to a variety of different requirements ensuring a suitable option for you. Travelers who choose to stay in one of the Dallas hotels located near this Amtrak station will enjoy convenient access to a major public transport option. James Cook is an executive working for Hotelseye, which is a popular online reservation portal with a wide collection of Dallas hotels and also this portal also it provides services links to Dallas travel such as car rentals and flight reservations. For more info please visit http://www.dallashotelseye.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=James_V_Cook Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged country, dallas, destination, Kiosk, largest, museum, offers, option, portal, reservation, state, transport, traveler, variety
Comments Off
World McDonaldization
McDonald’s is the leader in the fast food industry. For years their philosophy of providing good food for a low price has lead to astounding growth throughout the world. This has lead to new jobs and economic benefit for wherever the stores are located. McDonald’s uses strong marketing and solid economic practices to insure they will not lose their position in the fast food industry. McDonald’s is a huge business and it has many effects on society both positive and negative. The McDonaldization of the American Nation has resulted in many new jobs being created. However there is a negative stigma surrounding the jobs that McDonald’s offers. A job at McDonald’s is rarely seen as a job that could become one’s career. Although most jobs at all fast food restaurants are viewed negatively, McDonald’s is the premier fast food restaurant and so the bulk of the criticism falls on them. There are a lot of complaints directed at McDonald’s for their low paying jobs, but McDonald’s provides a key role in this society for giving people jobs when they need them. On the McDonald’s home page there is a variety of jobs that are offered to the average worker, and paired with these jobs is a list of skills that a person must be competent at in order to correctly perform the job. These competency requirements are very low and can be fulfilled by the vast majority of the American public. Most Americans view working at McDonald’s as a job that can start a teenager off into the working world, but they do not expect this teenager to work there for more than a year at McDonald’s. People who work at McDonald’s serving food during their teen years are seen to have a job that is inferior. Although working at a McDonald’s as a teenager is not desired by most, the people who do apply for job and get hired are pleased to have the job. They know that they will most likely not have a career with McDonald’s and yet they are happy that McDonald’s is giving them a chance to make money and get some job experience. In America a job at McDonald’s is looked down on but that is not the case in many parts of the world. Rarely are middle aged adults serving food at a McDonald’s in the US if they are not on the management, but in some countries having a job at McDonald’s provides a secure paycheck and a safe future. Americans tend to forget that there are other people in the world who would be grateful for a job that pays four dollars an hour not to mention the seven dollars an hour or more that US citizens are getting paid at McDonald’s. In the US McDonald’s are not viewed as nice restaurants; they provide average food for a cheap price, and this keeps the public coming back for more. However in poorer parts of the world McDonald’s is viewed as a gourmet restaurant by some, and securing a job there would raise the persons living style enormously. McDonald’s is a pioneer of the fast food industry and the jobs offered at one of its restaurants are similar to those offered at the other fast food burger joints. If a person was to be hired at McDonald’s they will most likely be started off as the frying person. This person is in charge of all the French fries and other frying processes that take place during a typical day. Next they will either be trained how to make burgers or how to man the front counter. Males are usually trained to make burgers quickly and efficiently while females are usually trained on the front counter and the register. There can be a lot of pressure for the employees to work quickly when many large orders are coming through. McDonald’s has a reputation to keep that is reflected in its ability to serve the customer his or her food in very little time. If a person was to work at McDonald’s they will acquire very few skills from the employment. One may think that they will learn how to make French fries and hamburgers but this is hardly the case. The French fries are prepackaged and frozen, and all the employee needs to do is drop them in the oil and press a button which will start a timer. Patties are taken out of the freezer dropped on the grill, and then flipped over when the timer goes off. Both flipping burgers and making french fries can be dangerous as the hot oil involved often splatters on the workers arms causing pain and discoloration of the skin. It takes no skills to make the food at McDonald’s, and the other duties requirements of the job take only slightly more skill. Working at McDonald’s may teach a person communication skills, but more than likely the worker will be parroting what his or her boss told them to say. The article “Luring Youth to Fast Food Jobs” published in USA Today shows the dissatisfaction of the employees working at McDonald’s, particularly because of the unsafe and greasy working conditions. Working at McDonald’s does not teach useful skills that can easily applied to other jobs, and these jobs can be unsafe. McDonald’s does provide good food for a low price, and that is what American consumers are concerned with. McDonald’s has high popularity among many Americans. The Golden Arches are a symbol of one of the major structures in place in America, fast food. Since McDonald’s was first opened in the year 1940 in San Bernardino, California, its goal has always been to promote its fast service and great food. There has been some great slogans and advertisements from McDonald’s. Some of its most famous ones have been in more recent years. Slogans such as, “Two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun”, “You deserve a break today”, “I’m Lovin’ it”, and the most recent, “McDonald’s Dollar Menuaires” (McDonald’s). These slogans serve as a gateway between McDonald’s and its customers. It is McDonald’s way of getting their name out. Many other ways McDonald’s has gone in order to promote their business was to get involved in many different aspects of life. McDonald’s is trying to prove to consumers that they can come to McDonald’s for any type of occasion. I’m sure there is someone at McDonald’s who would be willing to have customer’s wedding in their store if there was someone willing to do so. McDonald’s is spending much of its money on promotions and good public relations in order to keep their business going. There also has been several times that bad publicity can hurt their company. Critics are at the forefront of this anti-McDonald’s movement. Critics do what they do best, criticize. A good example of bad publicity is the movie “Super Size Me” by Morgan Spurlock in 2004. Morgan Spurlock spent thirty days eating nothing but McDonald’s in order to examine the results. Everyone agreed, including three doctors, a nutritionist, and even a spokesperson for the McDonald’s said that eating McDonald’s is bad for you. This movie is definitely bad publicity for McDonald’s. That is one reason behind their marketing for their new line of premium salads and sandwiches. Yet it turns out this new line of food is just as unhealthy as any of their other sandwiches, but because of good marketing skills that McDonald’s has employed, people do not know that this food is just as bad for you as the next item on the menu. No matter what business you are in, it is always a good idea to have a solid marketing department on your payroll because through this very department is your ticket to your consumer. If the consumer does not believe your product is necessary, then you are dead in the water. McDonald’s has realized this and taken full advantage if it. Using economic principals McDonald’s has been able to capitalize on its marketing campaign. Economists who study industrial organization divide markets into four types-monopoly, oligopoly, monopolistic competition, and perfectly competition. McDonald’s is monopolistic competition. Monopolistic competition, like oligopoly, is a market structure that lies between the extreme cases of perfectly competition and monopoly. But compared with the only a few sellers in the oligopoly market, there are many firms competing for the same group of customers in monopolistic competition. Each firm produces a product that is at least slightly different from those of other firms. Thus, rather than being a price taker, each firm faces a downward-sloping demand curve. And firms can enter (or exit) the market without restriction. Thus, the number of firms in the market adjusts until economic profits are driven to zero. Like other kinds of firms, McDonald’s aims to maximize profit. Profit is a firm’s total revenue minus its total cost. Total revenue is the amount that the firm receives for the sale of its output and total cost is the amount that the firm pays to buy inputs. Therefore, we can increase profit by increasing total revenue, by decreasing total cost, or doing both. Here are two interesting approaches that McDonald’s used and is testing to increase its profit. The first one is outsourcing of workers. When you take orders through drive-through windows, the employees who you are talking to are not the ones in that franchisee, but the ones who are in India. When you finish taking orders, they will type your orders into computers and then the orders are automatically sent to the franchisee where you are now in. Two destinations are connected with software program. It doesn’t need to hire the employees for taking order in its franchisees, where the workers’ wages are high. It hires employees in India where the wages are much lower than most other countries. Therefore, McDonald’s can save much of its cost to workers. The second approach is using automatic order-taker machines. McDonald’s is working on it. Two prototype ordering kiosks are already in tests at the company’s food-research laboratory in suburban Chicago. And one McDonald’s franchisee in Wyoming, Mich., outside Grand Rapids is testing a third. The kiosks do more than save money on live staffers. They also give customers an electronic push to order more. It asks if customers would like to “Super Size” a meal-that is, buy one with more French fries and a bigger drink. The machine also suggests ordering a dessert. One retired Canadian McDonald’s franchisee, who independently installed automated devices several years ago, found that the average automated order was $1.20 larger than that placed with employees. Mr. Berg installed the ordering kiosk in his restaurant’s Play Place as a service to parents who don’t want to leave their kids to order lunch. Instead, they simply step up to the machine, a brightly colored box slightly smaller than a telephone booth, make their meal selections on a touch-activated screen and insert money to pay for the food. An employee brings their order and their change to them. Ms. Howard, the chain’s spokeswoman, stresses that the whole concept of automation remains an experiment. “It’s still early in the game to know if this would work,” she says. “We need to see how this integrates with our operations behind the counter.” There are many other approaches and strategies that McDonald’s is using. If then, what is the result of these efforts? From 1996 to 2006, in 11 years, the McDonald’s total revenue is almost always rising in straight line. But in 2001 and 2002, it is not that great. In 2001 and 2002, its net income drops significantly. One of the most important reasons is its public image as a purveyor of fatty, unhealthful food with growing concern about obesity. It results in a fourth-quarter 2002 loss of $343.8 million-the first quarterly loss in McDonald’s 38 years as a public company. However, totally compared to its two competitors-Wendy’s and Burger King, McDonald’s, this multinational corporation has much higher total revenue and net income. McDonald’s has shown the world that it has a winning strategy for providing its customers with inexpensive food in a short period of time. However the jobs that it offers the average employee are not satisfactory and they do not provide employees with practical knowledge for other working environments. McDonald’s has created many jobs that many people are pleased to have, and McDonald’s has been able to open many new restaurants due partially to its brilliant marketing. Although McDonald’s serves many good purposes in society its harmful practices in certain areas of the company lead us to conclude that McDonald’s has a largely negative effect on many countries, especially America. Written by John Severin, Yogurt Starter http://yogurtstarter.net Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_Severin Continue reading
Automated Weighbridge Systems
1) WEIGHMATIC Automated Weighbridge System – Weighmatic is a intelligent solution that turns your weighbridge to a simple unattended terminal, eliminating the need of weighbridge operator. The system can be customized with many add-ons like camera plate recognition, surveillance cameras, traffic barriers, traffic lights, etc. This innovative weighing application developed by Leon Engineering is suitable for the Waste Recycling plants , Biomass to Energy plants, Oil and Gas Stations, Cement Plants etc… You Tube Video.. Automated Weighbridge System – Weighmatic Features • Weighing indicator D3500 IP 65 with firmware for automatic weighings (English lang). • Current Loop / RS232 communication converter (Optional for real time monitoring and collecting) • Citizen PPU-231 Kiosk Printer. • RFID card Reader and proximity cards. • Touch panel weighing terminal • Electrical panel hosts the electronic devices and operation buttons. • Traffic Lights (Red-Green) and horn for traffic control. Weighmatic as Weighbridge Retrofit & Conversion kit Old mechanical weighbridges and truck scales or existing electronic weighbridges with elementary functions can be upgraded with the latest electronic weighing technology. offering a modern data management tool. • Increase weighing accuracy • Data weighing management through our LEWIS weighbridge management software . • Self Service Touch panel Terminal • Surveillance cameras that assure a reliable weighing procedure. • Special automation hardware (traffic lights,traffic barriers) and software solutions will turn your weighbridge to an unmanned operated point. • Automatic truck plate recognition cameras which help you increase the speed of the weighbridge operation . • Special software helps you detect the overload truck axles. • Operation kiosk 2 ) Advanced Weighing Information System (A.W.I.S.) AWIS is an automatic system for factories truck loading and weighing manipulation. There are five different weighing procedures according to the programmed card type such as: Bulk loading, material sent, intake material, other types of weighing and internal factory handle. Leon Engineering Weighbridge. YouTube Video… The system consists of: * Automatic weighbridges * Check-In / Check-Out Kiosks (with colour touch screen, thermal printer, RFID card readers, traffic lights and positioning sensors) * Operation Kiosk for Bulk Loading * Administration Kiosk for operational management * Advanced information management software Benefits : * Real time customer ordering * Fleet management * Automated dispatching solution * Self-service operations 24/7 * Management information system for raw material * Programmable recipe for each Silo and truck For more information please contact: Nikos Stathoulas Marketing Manager Leon Engineering marketing@leon-engineering.com www.leon-engineering.com Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/project-management-articles/automated-weighbridge-systems-3134991.html” Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged camera, card, electronic, information, Kiosk, leon, lights, management, operation, traffic, truck, weighbridge, weighing, weighmatic
Comments Off
Online Video Rental
How it works Most companies operate on the following model: The customer joins the rental service creates a list of titles they wish to watch. Titles from the list are mailed to the customer. The customer watches the films and then sends them back to the rental company. Most companies will let customers keep the films for as long as they want; customers are, however, limited to a set number of discs out at any one time. Commonly, once a disc is returned, another is sent out. Some companies or plans may have a limit on the total number of movies rented in a month. Memberships are usually billed monthly, and includes postage both ways. Examples of online rental companies Blockbuster Video Online, Netflix, eHit,and LOVEFiLM. Variation: Variations exist; for example, Some companies also offer video game rentals while others offer music. RedBox allows a user to reserve DVDs or Blu-Ray discs online to retrieve and return the DVD at interactive kiosks located in various retail establishments. Comparison websites can be used to compare the features and price of various online rental DVD companies. Types of plans Most companies provide variations on five basic types of membership plans: “Unlimited” These plans have no maximum on the number of movies one can rent per term, although there is a limit on the number one may have out at any one time (the higher this limit, the higher the monthly charge). Most of the plans at Netflix, Blockbuster, etc. are of this type. “Unlimited” is something of a misnomer, since one will be limited by the delivery time of the postal service involved, the distance between the customer and the company’s warehouse, etc. The company may also take active steps to reduce the number of discs shippedee the “Throttling” section below. “Limited”, “capped”, “monthly maximum” These plans have a limit on the number of discs customers may have out at any one time, and also a maximum total of discs that can be rented during each billing period (usually monthly). This provides a cost ceiling for the supplier, and these plans are usually cheaper than unlimited plans. Some plans allow for additional shipments at extra cost once the maximum has been reached. Usually no credit is given if usage is below the maximum, although plans that allow this sort of “carry-over” are not completely unknown. “Package” Instead of each disc being sent and returned independently, a “package” plan sends a certain number of disks together, and one returns all the discs in a single package as well. A common scenario allows for two packages to be outstanding, and subsequent packages ship as a previous one is returned. “Individual Rentals”, “pay-as-you-go” A plan of this type would allow individual rentals for a fixed fee (perhaps varying by type/age/popularity of the title), with no monthly fee. Since companies rely on the monthly fees of low-volume renters to make up for those whose shipping costs approach or exceed what they are paying, there is little incentive to offer such a plan, and the rental price would likely have to approach or exceed store costs. Still, it would be a useful alternative for occasional or periodic renters who want access to the huge selection of online companies or the advantages of mail rental, yet do not want the fixed monthly cost. “Peer to Peer Trading” There is also a completely different variant which might be termed “peer-to-peer”. Individuals are able to exchange items directly with other consumers, using a company’s services to provide matching between customers, mailing envelopes, credit for items traded, etc. Examples include Peerflix and SwapSimple. “Season Rental”, “Series Rental” These are company controlled package plans based on a set of predetermined settings by the company. Season rental plans allow customers to rent entire seasons of television shows in single shipments; the customer can not break up or modify the package. Customers often can still queue various packages together for uninterrupted service; returning the first package in order to have the next one shipped (i.e. Star Trek season 1 followed by season 2). Such plans are usually allotted either by show, or by season, for a set price. Series plans allow customers to rent entire television or film series in bulk; often in a single shipment, (i.e. Friends TV show or the Baby Cart film series) but otherwise work identically to Season Rental plans. (The terms eason and eries are reversed in the UK “Throttling” Given sufficiently speedy mail delivery times, customers on “Unlimited” plans who turn around their discs quickly enough can receive enough shipments in a month that the company’s actual cost of delivery exceeds the subscription fee, making the customers unprofitable. Even below this point, higher volume customers are by definition less profitable than customers who receive fewer discs per month. If these customers become too numerous, there are various measures which the rental company can take. One is the so-called “throttling” approach, which received a fair amount of publicity in regards to Netflix (which refers to the practice as a “fairness algorithm”). In this case, high-volume customers may experience a greater likelihood of (slower) shipments from alternate warehouses, when the nearest shipment centre does not have the requested movie. Also, if there is a high demand for a particular movie, it is more likely that an infrequent renter will get priority over the frequent renters, with the latter receiving a movie further down on their queue. They are also less likely to receive replacement shipments on the same day a disc is received. Similar “fair use” caveats can be found in the Terms and Conditions of leading UK companies such as LOVEFiLM. In Canada, Zip.ca switched to “Capped” plans (with additional shipping charges for rentals over the cap) in part to avoid implementing “throttling”. LOVEFiLM came under scrutiny from users over its claim to offer “unlimited” movie rentals. Some users reportedly found the company used long delays at the shipping stage to reduce the number of films a month a customer can rent. The company was subject to a dispute by the Advertising Standards Authority over the use of the word “unlimited” in their advertising. It was revealed that they practiced throttling. The company itself claimed that this “fair usage” policy means all customers get a similar service. On March 2, 2006, Blockbuster announced that their service does not implement throttling. “We don’t prioritize our customers’ movie fulfilment based on how often they use our service, and we don’t limit the number of movies a subscriber receives each month,” according to Senior Vice-President Shayne Evangelist. However, the Terms and Conditions each customer has to agree to in order to subscribe to the service states “BLOCKBUSTER Online reserves the right to determine product allocation among members in its sole discretion. In determining product allocation, we use various factors including, but not limited to, (i) the historical rental volume for each subscriber, (ii) historical number of outstanding rentals relative to the maximum number of outstanding BLOCKBUSTER Online Rentals allowed under a subscriber’s plan, and (iii) the average rental queue position of BLOCKBUSTER Online Rentals that have shipped to a subscriber in the past.” concerning their Selection and Allocation of Product, which could be read as contradicting this announcement. Marketplace summaries This form of film rental is closely tied to the mode of delivery. The performance of the postal service in various countries can differ, and delivery times also depend in part on a country’s geography. A relatively small, densely populated area such as Great Britain poses different delivery challenges to a large area such as the United States (where the major companies have developed a network of regional distribution centres). There are also country-specific implications of the DVD region coding system / Blu-ray Disc region coding system, and even studio distribution rights within regions. For these and other reasons online Blu-ray/DVD rental companies tend to operate in a single country, and even should a company expand to multiple markets, local delivery infrastructure would be required in most cases, as cross-border shipping is impractical in all but speciality cases. Relative pricing levels may also vary depending on the market, the local wholesale cost of Blu-ray/DVD product, etc. Following is a summary of the main English-speaking markets. North and South America United States Netflix is the prototype for the entire industry and still the dominant company in the U.S., ending 2008 with 9.39 million customers. Blockbuster Video claimed 1 million online customers in August 2005, 2 million by March 2006, and finished the first quarter of 2007 with 3 million. There are no recent published numbers for Blockbuster Online since 2007. Walmart briefly entered the market as well, but withdrew in 2005 and now has a cross-promotional agreement with Netflix. There are a number of smaller companies, some of which target specific niches: eHit, the first such niche company, came online in 2000 targeting fans of Asian films; specifically Japan, China, and Korea, expanding to include other countries films over time. eHit pioneered some rental and user options later adopted by the majority of online rental companies: the ability to filter previously rented films from standard browsing views, the ability to rate movies that have not been rented from that company, and the ability to filter previously rated films from standard browsing. eHit was also the first company to rent entire series as a single, set price rental. Red Box offers online Blu-ray and DVD rentals, but requires the customer to receive the movie at a kiosk. Kiosks are located primarily at grocery stores, gas stations, and Wal-Mart, as well as McDonald’s, Hardee’s, and Carl’s Jr. restaurants. Adult DVDEmpire and GoFlix.com are examples of adult-only rental companies offering a wide range of adult entertainment. CinFlix offers only imported films released outside of the United States in non-region 1 coding, including some American films, targeting the vast English As Second Language market. FishFlix and ChristianCinema both offer Christian entertainment. Canada Estimates put the number of Canadian subscribers at 7080,000, with Zip.ca having around 50,000.[citation needed] Other competitors include Cinemail.ca, Videomatica.ca and Canflix.com. A common feature in Canadian plans is a refill feature where a customer is mailed by the rental company the replacement disc as soon as the customer has indicated that a DVD has been returned in the post. The extent and availability of refill varies by company. Some companies also have a vacation or suspension feature. Mexico One of the leading companies in this market is DVD2GO, although it only has service in the Monterrey and Guadalajara areas for now. They utilize their own delivery personnel with motorcycles, so delivery times are typically faster than the normal post. Blockbuster Online started DVD Rentals in Mexico during 2007. Initially, the service was only for condos & corporate offices; In 2008, they’re going to expand the coverage in open zones (home deliveries through motorcycles personnel). Brazil First video game rental service in Brazil “EasyPlay” offer rental service since 2007 and keep increasing his customers database and implement new features like “pay as you go” rental model or “subscription” based. Blockbuster Online started DVD rentals in Brazil during 2006 and now offers Blu-ray plans as well. The 3-disc unlimited rental plan costs R$49.90/month with unlimited exchanges . Along the decade, the number of online rental services in Brazil has rocketed up. Among the most popular are NetMovies, Pipoca Online and Videoflix. Colombia First video rental service in Colombia “Cineadomicilio” offer rental service since 2007 and keep increasing his customers database and associated stores in country. Argentina The leading company in this market is Musimundo Videoclub. Jamaica Even the Caribbean has seen the emergence of online DVD rental services with “e-Videos” targeting the major city of Kingston. DVDs are delivered to customers and drop boxes are provided to facilitate the returns. Europe United Kingdom Given the relatively small geographical area and high population density of the UK, online DVD rentals have some differences from in the US, as a single shipping facility can serve the entire country. There are a large number of companies, but many are actually separately branded versions of the dominant company, LoveFilm, which provide the website, fulfilment and support services. In most cases the partner is a company with access to a large existing customer base (supermarket chains, newspapers, media companies, etc.) which it can direct to its branded site. Each brand may have slight differences in price, quantity, website features or ancillary benefits, but the actual DVD service will be from the same source. In April 2006, LoveFilm merged with its major rival Video Island, which had operated ScreenSelect and other brands,, and in February 2008, LoveFilm acquired Amazon’s DVD rental business in the UK and German markets. In return, Amazon became the largest shareholder of LoveFilm. Remaining competitors include Blockbuster, newcomer OutNow Entertainment and a few smaller specialist providers, such as Cinema Paradiso. On 9 September 2009 DVD rental comparison site ‘Choose DVD Rental’ pointed out that market pressures were forcing many smaller UK online DVD rental sites to shut down. Belgium A company offering online DVD rental in Belgium is DVDPost.be. Switzerland One of the first DVD rental service “FilmExpress” in Switzerland provides rental service using both rental models – subscription based and pay as you go. Germany Some of the companies offering online DVD rental in Germany are glorimedia.de, LoveFilm and Videobuster.de. Ireland There is only one major provider in Ireland Screenclick.com as competitors Busy Bee DVD were bought by Screenclick in 2007 and Moviestar.ie in January 2009. Screenclick was reportedly purchased for 3 million by British firm LOVEFiLM in 2005 and Lovefilm directs all Irish traffic to Screenclick.com. Screenclick claimed over 70,000 registered Irish users., while Moviestar claimed around 15,000 customers. The only alternative to Screenclick.com is the much smaller OnlineDVDRentals. Denmark A leading company in this market is LoveFilm. Sweden A leading company in this market is LoveFilm. Norway A leading company in this market is LoveFilm. Slovenia Video game rental business by Igromat. Turkey Some of the online rental DVD companies are Film Servisi, Evde Izle and DVD Sokagi. Spain A leading company in this market is FilmAmora. Asia/Oceania Australia There are several providers in Australia, the most prominent being BigPond Movies (owned by Telstra), “Quickflix” (listed on the Australian Stock Exchange), and “WebFlicks”. Information on the Quickflix site lists a subscriber base of over 41,000 and over 38,000 DVD titles on offer. Previoius estimates placed BigPond (which doesn’t release its subscriber figures) at 6070% of the Australian market, though with Quickflix increasing its customer base by 48% in 2009, it may have narrowed the gap. “RussianMovies” covers DVD rental service overall Australia for Russian emigrants. New Zealand There were three online DVD rental companies in New Zealand, all offering flat-rate packages. The three companies were DVD Unlimited, Fatso and Movieshack. On June 7 2008 all three companies merged into Fatso, owned by SKY Network Television. GameHog.co.nz is New Zealand’s first dedicated video game rental service, bringing the latest PS2, PS3, Xbox, Xbox 360 and Wii games right to your door. In 2008, GameKingdom.co.nz launched a similar service, catering only to the next generation systems. Singapore Gaming How Pte. Ltd. is an online video games retailer, based in Singapore, specializing in the rental of video game titles and consoles. Started in 2007, Gaming How was created by a group of gamers looking to bring convenience and cost-effectiveness to the video game market, and thus make gaming more accessible to the masses. India There are several online DVD rental services in India, all running their own delivery systems and logistics. Unlike online DVD rental companies in other countries, online DVD rental services in India do not use the postal service as a means of delivery or exchange. India’s first online DVD rental service Clixflix started in 2004, and was followed by several others like SeventyMM, EZEVID,MovieMart, Madhouse, Cinebox, CineSprite, CatchFlix, HindiFlix, HomeView and ClixFlix in no particular order. Madhouse and Seventymm have merged and the combine is now known as Seventymm. HindiFlix is based in the United States and only serves customer within the USA. The model has been tweaked in India to suit the local market place. Cinebox serves in Ahmedabad city only with their own shipping service. Clixflix serves members through stores, phones, SMS and the internet. Madhouse uses drop boxes. SeventyMM and Catchflix operate pure online models. Cinesprite operates a multiple delivery model. Another powerful contender is Bigflix from the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani (Reliance ADA) Group one of India’s largest business houses. Japan Major online rental Blu-ray Disc and DVD companies are Rakuten rental and Tsutaya discas and Posren Africa South Africa The first company to use this model in South Africa was PushPlay, launched in July 2006. Initially they delivered to Cape Town only, and they deliver using the postal service. DVDs Online offer a similar service, but courier to the door. They are therefore more expensive, but offer quicker deliveries. BigPix launched in Durban in June 2007, also using the Post Office. See also Automated teller machine Blu-ray Disc HD DVD DVD VHS VCD Interactive Kiosk References ^ Rent Film Online 2008 ^ “Cinemail.ca Frequently Asked Questions”. Cinemail.ca. 2007-03-28. http://www.cinemail.ca/mem_faq.cfm?id=17. Retrieved 2007-03-28. ^ http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2006/02/10/throttling_angers_netflix_heavy_renters/ ^ What is “throttling” and does Netflix “throttle” its members?, Netflix, September 10, 2007, . Retrieved on 2007-09-12. ^ Advertising Standards Authority adjudication upholding a complaint against LOVEFiLM. 9th August 2006. ^ “BLOCKBUSTER Online Doesn’t Throttle Customers!”. Blockbuster Inc.. 2007-03-02. http://blockbuster.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=press_releases&item=666. Retrieved 2007-03-28. ^ “Blockbuster Online – Terms and Conditions”. Blockbuster Online. 2007-11-03. http://www.blockbuster.com/corporate/termsAndConditions. Retrieved 2007-03-28. ^ a b “E-commerce and Video Distribution:DVD and Blu-ray”. http://ecommerceandvideodistributiondvd.blogspot.com/. ^ “Netflix 2008 Annual Report”. Netflix. 2009-05-28. http://www.shareholder.com/visitors/dynamicdoc/document.cfm?CompanyID=NFLX&DocumentID=2609&PIN;=&Page=2&Zoom=1x&Section=69563#69563. Retrieved 2009-08-06. ^ “Blockbuster reports First Quarter 2007 results” ^ “Walmart.com and Netflix Announce New Promotional Agreement”. Netflix. 2005-05-19. http://www.netflix.com/MediaCenter?id=5281. Retrieved 2007-03-28. ^ “LoveFilm and Video Island merge to create Europe leading online home entertainment group”. LoveFilm. 2006-04-06. http://www.lovefilm.com/corporate/news_item.html?item=3578. Retrieved 2007-03-28. ^ LoveFilm to Acquire Amazon European DVD Rental Business – Amazon to become largest shareholder of LoveFilm ^ LoveFilm website ^ Amazon buys into Lovefilm ^ “Online DVD Rental Little Guys Disappear”. choosedvdrental.co.uk. 2007-09-09. http://www.choosedvdrental.co.uk/dvd-rental-guide/news/online-dvd-rental-little-guys-disappear.html. Retrieved 2009-09-09. ^ “Screenclick acquired by UK firm for EUR3m”. electricnews.net. 2006-01-10. http://www.electricnews.net/frontpage/news-9661947.html. Retrieved 2007-03-28. ^ “EuroCommerce provides billing infrastructure to allow ScreenClick.com change how we rent and view films”. eurocommerce.ie. 2006-10-11. http://www.eurocommerce.ie/about/news_october_11_2006.php. Retrieved 2007-03-28. ^ “About Moviestar”. eurocommerce.ie. unknown. http://www.moviestar.ie/index.php?action=page&name=about_us. Retrieved 2007-03-28. ^ Home | DVDs Online ^ BigPix Categories: Video rental servicesHidden categories: Wikipedia external links cleanup | Wikipedia spam cleanup | All articles with unsourced statements | Articles with unsourced statements from February 2010 Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/presentation-articles/online-video-rental-3188055.html” Continue reading
The Ultimate Service Business Solution
The popularity of touch screen kiosks has continued to grow in organizational and commercial settings. They are the perfect tools for promoting awareness and initiative among millions of people. With a touch screen kiosk, businesses can easily promote their products and conveniently share their company’s history to their potential clients. Institutions like universities, hospitals and the military can also raise the people’s consciousness about their remarkable contributions to the society. Here are the most remarkable features of a touch screen kiosk. The ultimate self-service solution Different organizations and businesses believe that the touch screen kiosk is a perfect self-service solution. They can use it as a building directory that can give their visitors a virtual tour inside their office. They can also use it to showcase the talents of their members and to pay tribute to their donors, sponsors and deceased members. With touch screen kiosks, they can guide their customers and visitors without having to bring them to information desks. This device is also adored because of its usefulness to establishments and markets such as retail, government, travel, and financial institutions. Its high resolution and detailed images can help in providing detailed information about how clients can go about the entire process of preparing their documents, purchases and loan requirements without needing direct help from customer service agents and information clerks. Their infrared screen technologies allow users to enjoy exceptional image quality even in brightly-lit rooms and outdoor areas. Perfect for outdoors and indoors Information kiosks are also perfect for both outdoor and indoor settings. Since they can be placed almost anywhere, people can get all the information they need no matter where they are. The eye-catching and sleek designs of touch screen kiosks make them perfect for malls, lobbies and other areas where high foot traffic is present. Easy to set up and to manage These devices have also become a popular choice by most institutions because they are very easy to set up and to maintain in tiptop condition. They are also very easy to manage because they are compatible with almost all media applications available on the market. Some of them are even remote-controlled or managed through sensors. This allows staff members to manage the systems of information kiosks without needing to directly approach the desk. These are only some of the most outstanding features of information kiosks. Those who want to promote their business and to share the heritage of their institution can already do so by simply setting up some touch screen kiosks in their offices and lobbies. Building your own business today is increasingly popular given the economy, so consider the kiosk as a potential opportunity. To learn more, visit http://www.touchscreenkiosks.org . Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lisa_A_Jordan Continue reading
Kiosk – Undertake a unique way of DVD rentals
The Movie-booth, a concept by Carlos Marco Rider, is launching kiosks all over UK and Ireland which will change the way people rent movies. The shoppers will be able to enjoy the easy access to their favourite movies from the robotically operated DVD vending machines! It was launched in Tesco Ireland for a trial basis and has already started to attract customers. I had gone through their websites, and right now they are launching just DVDs. As of now there is no blu-ray rental or game rental, but I think we can see that coming in the future as well. Going down the memory lane, I remembered the old VHS format cassettes we used to watch as kids. Renting a blockbuster movie is still common but with DVDs taking the place. The best thing that literally happened in the world of movies and cassettes was DVD, undeniably. The clarity improved and it became easier to carry 5 DVD back to home! Now with Blu-ray offering HD quality, I can see it will be the same thing for DVDs as it was for VHS. It will eventually be a part of history. A newly created brand which will offer DVD rental kiosks to retail store, Movie Booth is enabling the customers to rent movies on a pay-as-you-go basis from a fully automated machine. It uses touch-screen technology and it takes three steps to rent a movie from the kiosk. It has been designed with end-user in mind and has been made user friendly. The successful trials with Tesco, Centra and Applegreen are leading to the national use of DVD kiosk. In this ever changing market, retail outlets will feature DVD kiosks which will help the http://dvdrental.experts.uk.com/” name=”DVD rental”> DVD rental market to soar from the fall. Retrieved from “http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/kiosk-undertake-a-unique-way-of-dvd-rentals-3432790.html” Continue reading
Innovation by SBI: Banking through kiosk
State Bank of India (SBI), the biggest money lender of the country, is coming up with various strategies to fulfill the needs of population. Recently it. Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged bank, biggest, coming, country, india, Kiosk, lender, population, sbi, state, strategies
Comments Off
Tesco trial DVD rental kiosks in Ireland
People love going to the movies to catch up on the latest movie blockbusters, and Hollywood has long provided a constant stream of action packed titles. However, recent developments in the Irish movie industry means that there’s as much action going on off the screen as there is on it. The Tesco group in Ireland are joining a host of smaller and independent retailers in implementing a futuristic DVD vending new business opportunity into their stores. The credit crunch has ushered in a new kind of consumer who seeks cost-effective ways to get access to entertainment. In the US, where the credit crunch has hit hardest, consumers have increasingly turned to DVD rental kiosks as a cheap way to get access to movies. Some of America’s giant corporations have invested in this technology – both McDonalds and Coinstar hold stakes in the largest DVD kiosk provider in America. There are now over 30,000 of these units across the States, and it looks as if recession-hit consumers in Ireland will also soon be utilising this technology. Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged access, consumer, cost, growth, june, movie, successful, trial
Comments Off
Tithing Management And The Future Of Digital Donation
I went looking for “online” and “kiosk” in my bible concordance to see what Jesus thought about digital donating. I didn’t find anything. But then again, I didn’t find “write a check” either. Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged card, congregation, credit, donation, giving, goat, Kiosk, make, money
Comments Off
DVDNow Kiosks – Franchise Opportunity Review and Information
DVDNow is a franchise opportunity poised to take advantage of the growing DVD rental industry. With large companies like Red Box and MovieCube beginning to dominate the rental industry, and with blockbuster stores disappearing from the rental arena, this new company has an opportunity to move into an already established industry and realize profits immediately. This is a review of the company’s franchise opportunity. Continue reading
DVD Vending Machines – A Huge Current Trend Among Vending Business Opportunities
Have you been thinking about starting a DVD vending machines business? Are you considering starting a DVD vending route? This might be a good time to get started and you are certainly reading the right article. Continue reading
Summary of "Computer Kiosk – The Cool Interactive Technology Tool"
$content$ Read the rest here: Summary of “Computer Kiosk – The Cool Interactive Technology Tool” Growth Hormone Supplements
Trade Show Exhibits
Trade shows offer a powerful opportunity for manufacturers and service providers to display their products and services. Organizations and individuals spare no effort to put their best foot forward to get a quality audience – people who can actually buy their product or service. Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged company, exhibitors, fair, include, miniature, organization, show, staff
Comments Off
Merseyside DVD Kiosk Technology Continues to Spread
The DVD rental kiosk concept has so far received an excellent response from the people of Formby since launching on Green Lane in May, with initial month rental levels surpassing all figures previously seen by The Movie Booth. As a result of this The Movie Booth decided to deploy another kiosk on Merseyside to serve consumer demand. DVD rental machines have experienced a steady growth in the UK in recent months, with the credit crunch being given as the reason why people are staying at home and renting more movies. The Movie Booth kiosks operate using advanced robotics making the rental of movies a fully automated experience for the customer. The kiosks placed in the Spar stores in Merseyside are expected to form the basis of the roll-out of multiple kiosks across the North West. Spar Formby’s Movie Booth has proved popular with customers looking for a cost-effective, convenient way to rent DVD’s. As part of the Merseyside kiosk launches, Britain’s Next Top Model finalist Charlotte Denton has assisted in giving demonstrations on how to use the kiosk during their first weeks of deployment. Continue reading
Summary of "Kiosk Design – Mall Kiosks Explained (Part 1)"
$content$ Continued here: Summary of “Kiosk Design – Mall Kiosks Explained (Part 1)” How To Make Money With Blog
5 Free Internet Marketing Tools For Restaurant Owners
Even the economy is expected to improve in 2010, industry experts estimate that sales in restaurants will decline by about 0.8 percent, compared to $328 billion in last year. It is not a good news for restaurant managers, because the lean sales will force them to face another bitter, hard fight war through 2010. Internet nowadays has magnificent effects on business, but few restaurant owners notice it also brings 5 effective while free marketing tools to boost their customer traffic Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged internet, Kiosk, marketing, restaurant, start, store, website, yahoo, yelp
Comments Off
Computer Kiosk – The Cool Interactive Technology Tool
A computer kiosk rental is a stand-alone PC that contains a locked integrated housing unit. This type of terminal usually contains a monitor and keyboard or pointing device, unless it is touch-screen operated. A computer kiosk is designed to be a “self-service” unit. Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged application, company, entertainment, event, expert, Kiosk, meeting, running, service, speakers, unit
Comments Off
When Buying Gifts Why Not Go For Visa and Mastercard Gift Cards
What is so great about ordering Visa and Mastercard gift cards online? Continue reading
Posted in Internet Kiosks, Public Kiosks and Custom Kiosks
Tagged authorized, good, information, Kiosk, limits, make, millions, number, online, provide, purchase, set, visa
Comments Off
Traditional Newspapers versus Internet News
Why should you read a newspaper printed on a hard-copy while the internet is so convenient? Most of the time, you do not have a computer around and even if you do carry one, you may not have access to the internet. Continue reading
Extra Revenue Sources for Internet Cafes
There are several realistic revenue sources that can be realized if you have enough users in your caf Continue reading
eCrisper Kiosk Software 1.1 | Core of the Apple
eCrisper turns a Mac into a secure public access kiosk . Continue reading
