Impressions of KioskCom

So while everyone cool was enjoying themselves at FTIC in Toronto, I was obligated because of current business ventures to take a week off of an incredibly busy work schedule to attend KioskCom in Las Vegas.

Although not directly Flash related, there have been an increasing number of Flash-based kiosks out there, and I thought it would be important (besides business ventures) to see what Flash's place is in the self-service industry. As of yet, Flash is still somewhat a novelty in this area, although I think it will continue to gain ground in the future for sure.

The conference was essentially two days, although it was scheduled for three. The third day consisted of a self-service tour through Las Vegas, a hotbed for pioneering technology in the self-service industry. I figured I would see enough on my own.

Although at times a little dull, the conference was actually quite useful for me. The exhibitors were many, and there were some pretty dang cool technologies on display for potential buyers--not to mention the catered lunch was surprisingly good. Some cool technologies to note:

• an entire PC that is about the size of a small paperback book, built for heavy usage (they had it connected to chords that were constantly throwing it around as it played a DivX rip of Pirates)


• Touch screen technologies that are starting to attract some attention, some using infrared or sound to detect touch as opposed to traditional pressure-sensitive methods


• Displays that go above and beyond the common methods of digital signage--one was on seamlessly integrated onto a display window at a Polo retail store


• Some crazily complex and cool remote kiosk management technologies (although ridiculously expensive, and in some cases, impractical)


• Some cool integration of 3D and live video (one booth took a 3D model of a storm trooper's helmet and put it on the subject in the camera)

Some useful sessions focused on common kiosk problems, useful and innovative implementations of kiosks, and overall trends and issues facing the industry.

It wasn't a bad way to spend a couple of days.