Smart Kiosk Project
Human-Computer Interaction Systems Group

Kiosks are free-standing boxes with a display, an interactive user-interface, and possibly a network connection. They are designed to provide information, sell products, and entertain. Kiosks are typically located in high-traffic areas like museums and stores. Existing kiosk applications include information centers at theme parks like Disney's Epcot center, music CD preview stations, airplane/movie/concert ticket dispensers, and custom greeting card machines. Current kiosk are limited in their interaction with people to responding to touchscreen or keyboard input.

The Smart Kiosk project was initiated at Compaq to explore how advances in computer technology could be applied to improve public kiosks. The goal of this project is to develop a "Smart Kiosk" that interacts with people in a natural, intuitive fashion. The ideal Smart Kiosk will recognize people and track people in its vicinity, communicate with them visually and audibly, and interact in a friendly, natural manner.

To test kiosk technologies and explore user requirements, we have been building a series of kiosk prototypes. Each prototype addresses a real-world problem and provides an experimental test vehicle for exploring core kiosk technologies. The first prototype placed outside of our laboratory was installed in the Cybersmith Cafe in Cambridge, Massachusetts in September 1997.

To learn more about the first Smart Kiosk prototype, select:

• How the kiosk appears to the user
• A few nuggets on the underlying technology
• The Cybersmith installation

Please send comments and inquiries to:

Andrew Christian
Compaq Cambridge Research Laboratory
One Kendall Square, Bldg 700, Ste. 721
Cambridge, MA 02139