Buyer Beware

So we decided to be a little extreme to get our message across by undressing our kiosk for all to see. Here's a picture of one of our raw metal kiosks next to one from another kiosk manufacturer. As you can see the metals on the unreliable kiosk source are already rusting, and the bad news is that once they "powder coat" the metals the effects of this will not be apparent until after it reaches the end user. Buyers must beware! Rusted metals will deteriorate and your kiosk safety and security will be compromised. We understand cost is an important factor, but this is why we are stressing to please take all the necessary steps when researching/purchasing a kiosk or you may be paying much more in the end! All metals at Phoenix Kiosk are clean, oiled, and inspected before ever reaching powder coat and will be sure to last for years to come.

Holiday Cheer from our Extended Family

Thanks to our customers and vendors we recevied some great photos showing off all the holiday spirit our little mascot (Hoo-Haa) has. He is quite the social butterfly around the holidays, we think it's all the eggnog he drinks!

Powder Coating 101

Powder coating is a term used often in the kiosk industry. Unfortunately it is often used incorrectly to describe the colored finish that covers the kiosk body. Powder coat is not paint. Some suppliers, particularly some reselling units from Asia or offering ultra-low pricing, use the term ‘powder coat’ generically to describe what is actually just a spray-painted finish. Powder coat is an extremely durable, long-lasting finish that will withstand years of public use. Paint is less expensive but scratches and wears quickly and easily. We believe that it’s important to understand what you are getting when purchasing a kiosk. Make sure you are getting electro statically applied powder on your kiosk, not paint. While you may pay a slight premium for the better finish, you will reap the reward of that payment over time.

Powder coating is applied electro statically as a dry powder, and then cured (melted) under extreme heat so it can form a bond and encase the entire metal body in a protective finish. When completed the powder coat is tougher than liquid paint and actually adds thickness to the kiosk. The powder coating process is safe for the environment as it emits near zero volatile organic compounds (VOC), it produces less hazardous waste than liquid coatings, and overspray is recycled.

Powder Coating comes in a variety of colors, and some makers of powder such as Cardinal Industrial Finishes offer custom color matching, including pantone-color matching so you can ensure your kiosk comes in the exact color you desire.

Massive 18-foot touch wall turned on at Hard Rock Vegas

The SF Bay-area interactive company Obscura Digital just turned on a project at the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Lost Wages that should get a lot of attention because of its scale and applicability.

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Off to the Zoo

I flew in to work today coffee in hand and ready to go. Then the boss man tells me he needs me to go to the zoo to check on the Celsius we installed there earlier this year. So I'm thinking SWEET! Giraffes, Zebras, maybe chillax by the lake with the spider monkeys. I get there and they tell me that this "routine maintenance call" requires me to sit inside to make sure it stays cold enough...i nearly froze my little beak off!

Once i was done they took me on the safari train and bought me some popcorn so i guess were cool.

Chris O' Donnell has the same birthday as barcode scanners

Today marks the 35th anniversary of the first time a barcode scanner was used. The first known scan occurred at the Marsh Supermarket in the town of Troy, Ohio.

To celebrate the occasion a pack of Wrigley’s chewing gum was the first item scanned. Today you can find this pack of gum on display in the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History.

Barcode scanners are now commonly used in Computer Kiosk terminals for a variety of user requested applications. The result is an easier retail shopping experience for both buyers and sellers.

Kentucky = Touch Screens

So I just finished delivering a kiosk to Kentucky by wing, and my cousin carl (hes a cardinal) was giving me some history on his state. He's the state bird so i figured he knew what he was talking about. Anywho he says that Dr. Sam Hurst from the University of Kentucky filed a patent for a "touch sensor",called the Elograph in 1971. The company he started was called Elographics, Inc. which we now know as Elo Touch Systems, one of the leaders in touch technology.