History

The electronic kiosk (also "computer kiosk" or "interactive kiosk") implements a computer which often uses personalized kiosk software to enable it to work flawlessly and very specifically for certain goals. Computerized kiosks can save data locally or download it on a computer network. Some kiosks can be used for free, informal public services, whilst others can be used for a more commercial goal.

The first selfservice, interactive kiosk was designed in 1977 in the Univercity of Illinois. The contence was developped on the PLATO computer system and was immeditaly accessible thanks to a plasma touch screen. The kiosk enabled co-students and visitors to look up information concerning movies, maps, lists, itineraries, even sending e-mails. When the kiosk was first introduced in april 1977, over 30 000 students, teacher and visitors cueud to get their first experience with a personal computer.

Nowadays, kiosks are integrated in many different environments and they are used for many goals such as check-in/check-out, e-ticketing, printing applications and overall distribution of information.