Touch-screen Kiosk Research Articles

The Effect of Disability and Approach on Touch Screen Performance during a Number Entry Task

As touch screen technology improves in functionality and decreases in price, these input devices are becoming increasingly more integrated into daily life. People are frequently required to interact with touch screens at places ranging from their local grocery stores to airport check-in kiosks. Since it is becoming necessary for people to use touch screens in order to access needed products or services, we conducted an experiment to examine how individuals with varying motor control disabilities perform on a simple number entry task. Since some individuals may also be wheelchair users, and the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines allows for the touch screen to be approachable by a wheelchair user from the front or parallel (side), the effect of approach on performance was also evaluated. Participants with and without motor control disabilities, including wheelchair users, performed a number entry task on a number pad with different combinations of button and gap sizes, while seated at a touch screen kiosk. Results revealed that participants with motor control impairments had significantly more inaccurate touches overall than participants without. Performance from the front orientation was significantly more accurate than from the side for all participants, regardless of the presence of a motor control disability. Results from this study may be used to guide design of touch screen accessibility for individuals with motor control disabilities and wheelchair users.

Private Practice Outcomes: Validated Outcomes Data Collection in Private Practice

Improved patient care is related to validated outcome measures requiring the collection of three distinct data types: (1) demographics; (2) patient outcome measures; and (3) physician treatment. Previous impediments to widespread data collection have been: cost, office disruption, personnel requirements, physician motivation, data integration, and security. There are currently few means to collect data to be used for collaborative analysis. We therefore developed an inexpensive, patient-centric mechanism to reduce redundant data entry, limiting cost and personnel requirements. Using an intuitive touch-screen kiosk interface program, all data elements have been captured in a private practice setting since 2000. Developed for small to medium sized offices, this is scalable to larger organizations. Questionnaire navigation is patient driven, with demographics shared with EMR and billing systems. Integration of billing and EMR with outcomes minimizes cost and personnel time. Data are deidentified locally and may be centrally shared. Since data are entered by the patients, minimal personnel costs are incurred. Physician disincentives are minimized with cost reduction, time savings and ease of use. To date, we have collected high level data on most total joint patients, with excellent patient compliance. By addressing impediments to broad application, we may enable widespread local data collection in all practice settings. Data may be shared centrally, allowing comparative effectiveness research to become a reality. Future success will require broad physician participation, uniformity of data collected, and designation of a central site for receipt of data and its collaborative comparative analysis.

A MedlinePlus® Kiosk Promoting Health Literacy

As an ongoing community outreach project, a pictorial touch-screen kiosk and Web site was developed for 48 MedlinePlus® tutorials. This learning experience serves Davidson County, Tennessee's uninsured patients at the University of Tennessee/Baptist Hospital's Internal Medicine Clinic. The availability of a health information kiosk at the University of Tennessee/Baptist Hospital primary care clinic significantly increases health literacy for patients by providing reliable, physician-recommended information in an appropriate format—information these patients did not previously find readily available. Participants report they have a greater understanding of their health issues, and the project is introducing hundreds of patients to MedlinePlus.

Using audio to support animated route information in a hospital touch-screen kiosk

It can be difficult for both patients and staff to find particular locations within large, modern hospital building complexes. Interactive way-finding information on a touch-screen kiosk might remedy this, but numerous design issues face those developing appropriate interfaces. This paper discusses the decisions underlying a design which provided routes to 16 destinations in the UK’s third largest hospital, for both stair users and those wishing to avoid stairs. All routes included an animated map, photographs and text boxes with optional spoken output. Assessment methods included unobtrusive observation of kiosk users, analysis of computer logs, and interviews with reception staff who normally answered way-finding queries. Observation confirmed that people using the touch-screen reached their destinations. The computer logs over 10 weeks showed a stable daily average of 82 people interacting with the kiosk. Most way-finders (72%) retained the voice output but 28% turned it off, suggesting that modality choice is needed in multimedia interfaces for the public. This study highlighted beneficial side-effects of interactive way-finding kiosks, such as enabling patients to access relevant route information before visiting the hospital. This information could be provided via the internet or by including a printout of the relevant route with the appointment letter.

Effectiveness of Using a Touch Screen Kiosk for Point of Sale in a Hospital Foodservice Operation

Participants will be able to identify one method for improving customer service through use of a self-serve touch screen kiosk to price hospital cafe food choices, and expedite payment through electronic payroll deduction.

Disseminating Health Information and Diabetes Care for Latinos Via Electronic Information Kiosks

This study investigated the use of electronic, web-enabled touch-screen information kiosks as a tool to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate diabetes information to Latino audiences. Two kiosk models (high privacy sit-down, group enabled stand-up) in two locations (pharmacy, community center) in Northeast Georgia provided bilingual, read-aloud diabetes education and local resource information on health care. Data from public use and interviews with focus group participants showed that users found the kiosks and their functions helpful and usable, though usage was moderated by presence or absence of a peer health educator (promotora); participants also preferred the sit-down, multi-function kiosk model.

Development of an Information Kiosk for a Large Transport Company

An information kiosk system is a computer-based information system in a publicly accessible place. Such a system was developed for a large public transport company to provide African commuters with limited educational background with up-to-date information on schedules and ticket prices while also presenting general company information in a graphically attractive way. The challenges regarding liaison with passengers are highlighted and the use of a touchscreen kiosk to supplement current liaison media is justified. System architecture is motivated and special services offered by the system are discussed. Several lessons were learned regarding the implementation of such a system in general, as well as in this environment specifically. An online survey indicated that the system fulfils its role of providing useful information in an accessible medium to commuters in a reasonable time.

Accessibility and Use of Touchscreens by Black and Ethnic Minority Groups in the Three Cities Project

Objectives The public are being encouraged by Government, at a national level, to take a greater role in the management of their health and healthcare but information to support this is not always accessible to black and ethnic minority group members who do not speak or read English. This study looks at the feasibility of providing health-related information in a multilanguage format through a touchscreen kiosk. Design Three touchscreen kiosks were programmed with information on 10 health topics translated into five languages: Chinese, Bengali, Gujarati, Urdu and Mirpuri Punjabi. Information was provided orally and in written format. Over an 18-month period the touchscreens were rotated between settings including health centres and libraries, located in deprived areas of Leicester, Sheffield and Nottingham. Information was logged on each individual user with respect to language used, topic selected, age group and gender of user. A number of users were invited to complete a short questionnaire about their use and ease of use of the touchscreen. Results Touchscreens were accessed by 2,456 people across all ages, 53% of whom were male. Urdu and Gujarati were the most frequently accessed languages (37 and 38%, respectively) and Bengali used least (9%). There was some variation in use by setting. Most of the 508 people questioned who had used the touchscreen found it easy to use. Ease of use was related to home computer use and to being younger in age. The five most popular topics accessed by 12% or more users were stress, diabetes, blood pressure, healthy eating and exercise. Topic choice varied by language used by males but not by females. Conclusion Touchscreens providing health information in ethnic minority languages can be successfully accessed by black and ethnic minority groups, particularly those living in deprived areas. Touchscreens proved acceptable to, and were used by, the targeted audience.

Standing at a kiosk: Effects of key size and spacing on touch screen numeric keypad performance and user preference

Touch screen input keys compete with other information for limited screen space. The present study estimated the smallest key size that would not degrade performance or user satisfaction. Twenty participants used finger touches to enter one, four or 10 digits in a numeric keypad displayed on a capacitive touch screen, while standing in front of a touch screen kiosk. Key size (10, 15, 20, 25 mm square) and edge-to-edge key spacing (1, 3 mm) were factorially combined. Performance was evaluated with response time and errors, and user preferences were obtained. Spacing had no measurable effects. Entry times were longer and errors were higher for smaller key sizes, but no significant differences were found between key sizes of 20 and 25 mm. Participants also preferred 20 mm keys to smaller keys, and they were indifferent between 20 and 25 mm keys. Therefore, a key size of 20 mm was found to be sufficiently large for land-on key entry.

Mental health symptoms and intimate partner violence in emergency department patients

Study objectives: We determine the prevalence rates of depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidality in female emergency department (ED) patients and determine whether there is a significant correlation with these mental health symptoms and intimate partner violence (IPV). Methods: A prospective study was conducted over a 2-month period at an inner-city ED and Level I trauma center. All female patients in the ED waiting room between the ages of 18 and 55 years were eligible for inclusion, regardless of chief complaint. Patients answered questions anonymously on a touch-screen computer kiosk. We used the validated Beck Depression Inventory II, Beck Scale for Suicide Ideation, and the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale to determine mental health symptoms and the Universal Violence Prevention Screening Protocol to screen for IPV. Results: One hundred sixty-five women participated in the study; 88% (n=141/160) were black, 6% were Hispanic, and 2% were white. The mean age was 32.98 years. Of the 125 women who had been in a relationship in the past year, 38% (n=48) screened positive for IPV. Twenty-three percent of women who had experienced a traumatic event had moderate to severe PTSD symptoms (n=15/65), 24% had suicidal ideations (n=39/160), and 25% (n=41/165) had moderate to severe depressive symptoms. IPV victims were more likely to have moderate to severe depressive symptoms (64% versus 36%; P =.003) than women who had not experienced IPV. We found no differences in suicidal ideations (46% versus 54%; P =.32) or in PTSD symptoms (66% versus 33%; P =.13) between women who experience IPV in the past year and those who had not. Conclusion: Female ED patients have high rates of depressive symptoms, suicidality, and PTSD symptoms. Females who have experienced IPV in the past year are more likely to have depressive symptoms than those without IPV.

Cutting-edge Discussions of Management, Policy, and Program Issues in Emergency Care

Cutting-edge Discussions of Management, Policy, and Program Issues in Emergency Care

Non use of health information kiosks examined in an information needs context.

Whilst great emphasis has rightly been placed on the increased availability and use of health information, little research has been undertaken into the non use of such material, particularly with regard to electronic sources. Computer transactional log data from health information touch screen kiosks, collected as part of an ongoing Department of Health-funded study being carried out by City University, showed that females in the 55-74 age group were particularly under-represented as users. To explore reasons for this, in-depth interviews were carried out with 13 non-kiosk-using, primary-care out-patients fitting this profile, at a surgery which had a kiosk that was being monitored. Subjects were interviewed at length about their information needs and information-seeking behaviour, to determine reasons (if any) they might have had for non-kiosk use. The study utilized an interview schedule and technique loosely based on the 'Sense-Making' methodology of Brenda Dervin (Talk Presented at the International Communication Association Annual Meeting, May 1983, Dallas, Texas, USA. Available from: http://communicationsbsohio-stateedu/sense-making/art/artdervin83html.). Findings elicited many factors accounting for non use of the system. The first and major source of information remained the doctor, with written or other sources only being consulted where recommended or provided. There was evidence that patients wanted little more than the minimum information or instructions required to deal with their condition. Many appeared unaware of the presence of the kiosk and others assumed either that it was not for patient use or that it would not serve their needs. The methodology proved itself, with certain caveats, to be an appropriate vehicle for this kind of exploratory work.

Three years of digital consumer health information: a longitudinal study of the touch screen health kiosk

Touch screen kiosks have become a popular way of delivering health information and much of the associated user activity is automatically and routinely recorded in electronic log files. These are a significant source of understanding consumer information seeking behaviour. However, there has been no evaluation in the literature of the long-term use of kiosks. This paper seeks to fill the gap in our knowledge and examines the use of a sample of 20 kiosks over three and half years. Identifies four patterns of use over time, a declining pattern, a stable pattern an increasing pattern and a no trend pattern and discusses the implications of these patterns. For 75% of the patterns reported there is an initial strong take up in use, often more than a doubling in use, in the first four to five months after a kiosk is installed this is followed by a just as rapid decline in use. The research found differences use between age groups with patients aged 15 and above being more likely to be responsible for the initial strong surge in use. The research reported here forms part of a Department of Health (DoH) funded study which is evaluating the use and impact of more than fifty heath kiosks located in all kinds of locations throughout the United Kingdom.

Age and gender user differences of a touch-screen kiosk: a study of kiosk transaction log files

More and more health information is provided to the consumer in a digital form but research on who actually accesses and uses this information is unclear. This research identifies age and gender user differences of a touch-screen health kiosk. In a departure from previous research, extensive use is made of electronically recorded user transaction files. In all 1378 user sessions covering 17 039 page views were analysed for this study. This research forms part of a research project funded by the Department of Health. Men accounted for about 53% of use but this hides an important gender difference: additionally women under 15 are significant under-users of such facilities. Qualitative research is needed to clarify the relationship. Further, it was found that those aged over 75 were not making use of kiosk content pages when compared to other age groups.

Multimedia: from Wagner to virtual reality

From the Publisher: The first book to address the true history of computer-based multimedia. Web sites, CD-ROMs, video games, interactive television, virtual reality, touch-screen kiosks, 3D architecture design programs . . . these and other forms of computer-based multimedia will be as important to the twenty-first century as film and television were to the twentieth. But what is multimedia, where did it come from, and how does it work? Multimedia presents the fascinating dialogue between the arts and sciences over the last half-century that made today's multimedia possible. Scientists like Vannevar Bush, Douglas Englebart, Norbert Wiener; artists like John Cage, Nam June Paik, and William Gibson--their groundbreaking visions are brought together here for the first time, given historical context, and embedded in a clear explanation of the core concepts behind multimedia. Multimedia will be required reading for anyone who has built a Web site, studied computer graphics, or wondered at the rapid birth and evolution of the new media now changing every aspect of our lives. Introduction by William Gibson.

Health information: an evaluation of the use of touch screen kiosks in two hospitals.

An exit questionnaire survey of 150 hospital users of a touch screen health information kiosk was undertaken. It was compiled by Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS to evaluate kiosk use and was reanalysed by researchers at City University to determine whether the information obtained went anyway to meeting patients' information needs. The study established two effective outcome variables on kiosk use: whether the information found answered the users' questions and if users intended, after using the kiosk, to find more information elsewhere. Two-thirds of respondents said that the information found had answered their question, whilst 16% said that after using the kiosk they still had further questions and intended to talk to a health professional to obtain this information. The variables found to have an impact on the information outcome included: gender, navigational ease, object of search, and ease of reading and understanding the information.

Establishing metrics for the evaluation of touch screen kiosks

Public touch screen information systems or kiosks have become a popular way of delivering consumer information and much of the user activity is automatically recorded in electronic log files. Fortunately for the information professional, log files are a significant source for understanding the information seeking behaviour of consumers., Surprisingly, however, there has been no discussion in the literature on what metrics are available for their evaluation. This paper seeks to address this problem and examines the metrics that can be generated from touch screen kiosk logs. The research reported here forms part of a Department of Health funded study, which is evaluating the use and impact of 70 health kiosks located in medical and other locations throughout the UK [1]. The way that kiosks function and the contents of their log files are described. Metrics are discussed in the context of the data generated from a touch screen health kiosk in Wakefield. Aggregate use, user numbers and descriptive statistics generated on age, gender and pages viewed are examined. An examination of the distribution of time-based variables, such as session time, found them to be highly skewed; in consequence, robust estimates were generated and compared. A metric for depth of session was developed by grouping users according to their patterns of use and a method for assessing kiosk ‘utilisation’ is proposed.

Establishing metrics for the evaluation of touch screen kiosks

Establishing metrics for the evaluation of touch screen kiosks

Determinants of Health Kiosk Use and Usefulness: Case Study of a Kiosk Which Serves a Multi-Cultural Population

329 patients in a multi-cultural surgery in Nottinghamshire, England used a touch-screen health information kiosk in the practice and then filled in an online questionnaire after they had searched the system. This questionnaire sought background information on the patient's age, gender, country of birth and employment status as well as data on the use and usefulness of the kiosk. Ease of kiosk system use was found to be significant in determining both use and satisfaction variables. Older users and those not born in the UK were less likely to find the system easy or very easy to use. Employment status was also found to impact on kiosk use; both UK born and non-UK born skilled workers were found to use the kiosk more as compared to other groups. These findings help identify user populations who are good targets for information kiosks as well as the most effective ways to provide consumer health information via kiosk.

Use of a Computerized Kiosk in an Assessment of Food Safety Knowledge of High School Students and Science Teachers

A multimedia touch-screen kiosk was used to assess food safety knowledge and convey food safety principles to 93 high school science teachers and 165 students. The kiosk program based on the FightBAC™ messages informed users of correct responses and reasons for the response. Teachers correctly answered more questions than students; however, for the areas of hand washing, sources of foodborne illness, and handling of leftover foods, at least 40% of both students and teachers provided incorrect answers.