Intel designs new kiosk concept for consumers
 Today, Intel announced new hardware designs for retailers. The multi-touch screen-based kiosks allow consumers to get information about products, shop around and ultimately purchase items directly from the self-service terminal. |
It is designed to reduce the retailer cost of maintaining a store front. Users will see glitzy animations and details, while the bulk of inventory remains in the back without fancy storefronts. While not quite as extreme as Minority Report, it's a definite step in that same direction.
Revealed at the National Retail Federation Convention (NRF), Intel calls it a proof-of-concept point-of-sale demo, part of their Wipro effort. It employs a 45nm Core 2 Duo processor with Intel's vPro and Active Management technologies, an interesting stylish design incorporating either a single multi-touch-screen on one side, or a dual multi-touch-screen on the other. It is designed for consumers to use for shopping and checking out. Because of the Core 2 Duo design, Intel claims it uses up to 70% less power than other point-of-sale terminals.
The software presents something similar to an online website. It has suggestive selling abilities and real-time inventory access for the store. It can be used to show promotions, product details and customer reviews.
Intel's use of vPro technology allows system administrators to manage these kiosks remotely for common tasks, such as turning them on or off during store hours. Also, vPro allows remote system access - even in the event of a total system crash - so that administrators can reset the PC, boot from an alternate source, correct the problem and then restart the machine for continued use.
Because Intel's vPro technology utilizes out-of-band communications, it was the subject of a previous TG Daily article entitled Big Brother potentially exists right now inside our PCs whereby TG Daily examined the possibility of vPro technology being used for non-IT-related purposes.
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Posted by staff at January 13, 2009 06:49 AM