First thought was inspired by a tweet from @wblau:
This is what happens when one looks at a new world through the lens of his old world : the iPad-Kiosk. http://bit.ly/aCnPlW
The link is to this video. Take a look at what people are trying to do with Microsoft’s Surface tech, and see if you can figure out the problem.
What I, and @wblau, see is a product and software trying to force new technology to act like old people. Why on earth would I want to go to a table, wait in a line, pull a device out of my bag, put it down and go through all this work to buy a magazine? Seems ridiculously inefficient to me. With an iPad, the whole marketplace is in my control. I don’t need no stinking kiosk. I’m buying a digital copy of a magazine with an already-capable-and-connected device. This may be cool right now because it’s new and you can touch it, but I tried it in person and it’s pretty freaking lame. Felt like I was using a fancy ATM touch screen. Pardon the pun, but it didn’t have the “Apple touch.” It had Microsoft written all over it. Trying to play catch up with old ideas crammed into trendy crap.
I prefer this method of media consumption.
Our museum is using an iPad running the “My Kiosk” app, all inside a STAYPad security enclosure.
The STAYPad protects the iPad from “wandering off.” The HOME button of the iPad is covered. Our application has been running successfully and uninterrupted.
The STAYPad is made by Doss Industries.
http://www.burlingamepezmuseum.com/video.html