The Need

To develop an interactive kiosk application that would enable a kiosk to replace a receptionist in an office environment. This application would have to allow guests or visitors of companies to search and communicate with the employees directly from the kiosk which is placed at the lobby area.

The Solution

An independent floor standing interactive kiosk with an attractive user interface that is simple but intuitive was created. This application allows the visitor to navigate through the system and using the built in search function finds the employees that they have to meet and calls them using the built in handset. Incase an access card is to be given to the visitor; a printer dispenses the access control card with a unique barcode. The kiosk software also comes with an inbuilt "Call for Help" feature that helps the visitor incase of any assistance. The reception kiosk is also customizable and manageable through a web based administrative console which can be customized based on the customer's requirement.

Technologies

TAPI 3.0, MySql Database, ASP.Net, Flash Action scripting, .Net and Flash integration, Install shield.

The Need

The requirement was for the Chamber of Commerce Hospitality Kiosk which should have an interactive splash screen displaying advertisements and imagery. The kiosk software should be able to display an information directory (places to eat, shop, sightseeing, hotels etc) allowing the tourist to browse through the various member business establishments. The tourists should be able to navigate through the various member businesses which would give them information about the members and also give the tourist an opportunity to talk to any member for more details if required.

The Solution

A web-based application was developed that was referenced inside a kiosk lock down component. Several software components were developed together that helped in achieving the above need. A rich interactive user interface was developed to display information regarding places to see, restaurants, things to do etc. An advertisement display component was developed on a predefined logic that would control the display of the advertisements on the interactive kiosk. The list of all businesses is organized in an intuitive directory of categories and under each listing there would be a member detailed page which would provide for detailed information of the member. The list is dynamic and hence it allows the administrator to add, delete or modify information. This kiosk software also allows the user to call the member directly from the kiosk or view an onscreen map of the location of the member from the kiosk. Navigation within the system is provided by use of a touch screen or mouse. A special administrator interface allows the configuration of the entire system.

Technologies

Microsoft .Net Web application, Flash Design, Flash action scripting, Skype API, Kiosk lockdown browser component, Install Shield.

The Need

To develop a kiosk software that would be used to capture real-time timesheet and job tracking data on the production floor. The Shop-Floor Data Collection application needs to help an organization to setup Data Collection points throughout the Production Area using networked computers with bio-metric sensors (finger print reader). It was also required that the kiosk software be integrated with another existing application which is used to generate various job and production reports.

The Solution

Finger print reader integrated kiosk software was developed with a rich user interface and easy navigations for employees to quickly key in their details. The application was integrated to the existing corporate database to provide the users with the clock-in, clock out, job-in and job-out information. When the employees approach the kiosk to key in the data, they would have to authenticate their fingerprint before keying in any information on the kiosk. The system only on authentication will display the menu for the employee to key in the information else they would have to intimate their supervisor. This application is also used to generate various job and production reports.

Technologies

.Net 1.1, SQL Server 2000, Flash.

The Need

The need was to enthuse customers to purchase sports goods over a touch sensitive kiosk interface by a famous sports goods chain store in the United Sates. A multi location, multi interface kiosk solution was required with a backend order processing system. The system maintainer should also be able to manage, maintain and load different content such as ads, offer, promotions, prices etc on different kiosks or group of kiosks remotely.

The Solution

A web application was designed and deployed in the kiosk with a very rich user interface which provides the user with an easy navigation to select and place an order for products available in the store. A distributed application architecture was drawn up and a windows lockdown component was developed to ensure the kiosk security. A web based custom storefront conforming to W3C standards with animated videos was developed and the lockdown browser was configured to display the storefront. Another web application was developed that would provide for customer support incase of any modification to the product as well as in order tracking. The administrator application provided the necessary configuration and reporting tools to monitor and mange the kiosks deployed over the internet. This application has evolved significantly over time into a full fledged order processing system with both interfaces - Web and Kiosk. After the initial success of its deployment, the installed base of it had grown exponentially and is now a part of many leading sports stores.

Technologies

W3C standards user interface, Flash designs, Flash Action Scripting, "N" layered Microsoft .Net Web application, kiosk lockdown component, Windows services, XML Web services using Microsoft .Net, SQL server 2005, SQL Reporting Services.

The Need

Our customer is a technology based medical processing company. The need was to enable patients to have remote medical consultations with the doctor and get an online prescription to purchase medicines. We had to create two kiosk solutions, one that could be used by the patient and the other that could be used by the doctor. Video conferencing was required for the patient to consult with the online medical practitioner and the integration of various medical devices with a special purpose booth (patent pending) was required for providing information like weight, blood pressure etc to the practitioner.

The Solution

A special purpose booth with all the necessary hardware interfaces was developed. A rich user interface was created and the interface used a middle tier .Net application to interact with the peripheral devices. After integrating the medical devices to the kiosk software, a video conferencing facility was integrated to the application providing a face to face tele-presence feeling for the patient and the doctor. The kiosk software was further extended to provide the doctor the flexibility to control the devices (found in the patient booth) remotely. The application is integrated with a payment gateway to enable the patients to pay for the consultation services. The booth provides a convenient way for the patients to consult with doctor remotely at their convenience from their own locations.

Technologies

Flash Design, Flash Action Scripting, .Net remoting, Flash media server, Serial communication, Imaging/photo capturing using third party software, XML, C#, Installshield.

The Need

The customer is a leading shuttle service operator in the United States. They had an existing web application that allowed users to book shuttles online. The need was to create a similar kiosk software to allow users to print boarding passes at the airport on their arrival or departure to the destination airport.

The Solution

To cater to this need Chimera assembled a team experienced in integrating third party webservices. Functional specifications for the kiosk were developed following which the webservice interface was drawn out. A.Net based middleware application interfaced with the existing webservice to get information regarding the arrival and departure details of the airlines and helped the customer's book their shuttle requirement based on the flight details. On successful completion the kiosk was enhanced to be remotely monitored via a special purpose web interface. Currently these kiosks are installed in several of the airports in the United States.

Technologies

Microsoft .Net, Flash design, Flash Action Scripting, Web services using SOAP/XML, Windows services, "N" layered web application, Installshield.

The Need

The need was to develop a software component for a kiosk which would enable the visitor to collect discount coupons for a particular product that is advertising on that kiosk. The message sent to the visitors mobile would be used to print discount coupons from the kiosk. The kiosk is primarily used by businesses as a mode of advertising and marketing of products or services. Another facility provided to the visitor is to enable him to print photo quality images stored on the mobile phones, from the kiosk.

The Solution

A flash based rich user interface was created that would enable companies to market their products or services using the kiosk. A middleware application was developed to interact with the mobile device of the visitors. A quick response reader was interfaced to read codes from the SMS and print the resulting discount coupon. A photo quality printer is connected to the kiosk as well that would enable the visitor to print photo quality images stored on the mobile phone. The kiosk acts as both a digital photo printing kiosk and as a coupon printer.

Technologies

Bluetooth SDK, Flash design, Actionscripting, .Net Webservices, Microsoft ASP.Net, C#, Installshield.