Greatest People on Earth

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Kiosks Everywhere!


As humanity evolves and we face an increasing amount of problems, we've got to solve these issues with the ingeniousness and innovation that makes being human kick ass. Through that ingenuity, I foresee                      


KIOSKS EVERYWHERE!  

 We've had kiosks for a long time now, and none of them provide anything that I'm willing to pay for. The local ATM wants to charge me two dollars for withdrawing ten. That's unforgivable. The gambling kiosks wish to pick my lucky numbers for me. I doubt it has ever won someone over a thousand dollars within three days with $3, so I'll ride along my own luck-train, thanks. What types of kiosks are out there?

ATMs- The "Automated Teller Machine" was the worlds first kiosk. Starting in 1960, the ATM was there to help pay bills and give receipts without teller assistance. It took seven years to get one that dispensed cash.

 Vending- Some wouldn't qualify vending machines in the category of kiosks. I say that if you've got a digital display and products that cost more than seven bucks, then you're most likely a kiosk, not a vending machine. Instead of snacky-cakes and demon-swill, machines now dispense language software and wine to the masses through these stand-alone technological wonders.

 Campsites- Yes! Now I can just punch a few codes in to get my personal transformed sleeping quarters! Not really. Reservations and power management are the primary uses of the current models. Most of these allow use only after registering on their system online. Then you have to set up the reservation and pay. Once at the kiosk at the campsite, input your information and it prints your receipt. At that point it turns on the facilities for you. If you were me, you'd go wild camping, which costs nothing. There are no facilities or kiosks in the wild, but that's for another blog.

 Computing- It hasn't caught on in the U.S. yet as it has in Europe. Kiosks in Italy and elsewhere in the E.U. seem like glorified laptop cases to some. Others are free of the need to carry around their own equipment. Portable programs and files are all they need on their usb or sd memory devices.

 Gold- Having already listed vending, I thought this was in a class of its own. There was a kiosk in the U.E.A. that had pure gold coins in it, and now they've come to the Unites States with bars in them. With the declining dollar, investment opportunists seized whatever they could in a mad scramble that could rival one moment of the original gold rush.

 Shelter- Japanese capsule hotels have been selling the tickets to tiny 'capsules', or "lit coffins", as I like to call them, through vending machines for years. The capsules are separate from the machine, so technically this doesn't qualify for a shelter kiosk. Having a real transformer expand from the box to take shape into a corresponding shelter would be nothing short of perfect It could do anything from pup-tents to double-wide mobile home. I can just smell the hyphens from here. But, I digress. We shall continue on.

  Work- Kiosks at employment centers can assist people with creating resumes, finding local jobs, and take various tests. These are like the ones they have at local stores for applying there, but better. Here you can try for jobs that you actually want. I can't wait to see the day that work kiosks pop up. These would actually employ the citizen that used them.

 In conclusion I say that I have a hate/love relationship with these things. I hate to have to use them, but love when they provide me with what I need. Once people figure out that helping each other equals more than dollar signs, we'll see some great kiosks on the corner. Everywhere!

36 comments:

  1. Kiosks are the future, more so though is just technology everywhere. I watched a TED lecture a year or two ago where the guy was talking about packs of cereal and can's of juice all having touch screens in them and stuff, was crazy.

    ReplyDelete
  2. interesting read. Looking forward to more posts! = followed :D

    ReplyDelete
  3. Same here. Most definitely a love hate relationship with Kiosks.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I used to work at a photography kiosk in a theme park when I was 14... Wanted to shoot myself in the face

    ReplyDelete
  5. i will not use kiosks for any reason whatsoever

    ReplyDelete
  6. Of every virtue gives renown to men! Following!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Combine this with the 3d printer and you're on to something!

    ReplyDelete
  8. I like them, convenience and space saving wrapped up in one machine :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. don't mind kiosks either! and i like teh name :P

    ReplyDelete
  10. Brilliant idea, great story to write about.As matter of fact in my part of the world, many people use kiosks as shelter as well for commercial purposes due to urban migration and other factors. I hope with time development and positive ideas initiatives like yours will make great turn around to salvage lives and properties.
    Thanks for passing by and stay connected. Email me at niiebenez@gmail.com ..We could make louder noise and influence society at large utilizing the power of masses.I'm following you.Good day.
    (EBENEZER ADOKWEI)
    AUTHOR:
    "FREE YOUR MIND" / 5 STEPS TO MIND LIBERATION"

    ReplyDelete
  11. pretty sure these things are on every corner anyway haha

    ReplyDelete
  12. Cmon man, how can you possibly hate kiosks? you know deep inside you love em.

    ReplyDelete
  13. You forgot 'bout all those whacky Japanese kiosks like used panty dispensers and new panty dispensers...

    I'm certain they have plenty more, it's just those are the two that are the most notorious, y'knowwhatImean?

    Followin' ya~!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Atm's that charge are ridiculous, i usually have to walk out of the city to find one that doesn't

    ReplyDelete
  15. I love looking at kiosks even if I don't buy anything. I've seen some that hold iPods, DVD players, handbags, sunglasses. It seems like everything is being sold in them now.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Robots will take all of our jobs!

    ReplyDelete
  17. kiosks aren't bad if they don't overcharge :)

    ReplyDelete
  18. You forgot the marijuana kiosks in California! :P

    ReplyDelete
  19. they need a japanese capsule thing here in america

    ReplyDelete
  20. I sat there staring at the picture for a good two minutes wondering what it was. And I still don't know.

    ReplyDelete
  21. J, it was an interpretation of what I thought an alien ATM display would look like.

    ReplyDelete
  22. ha, kiosks are a mixed bunch!

    ReplyDelete
  23. I'd be tempted to buy gold from a vending machine actually.

    ReplyDelete
  24. interesting stuff i learned something new today haha

    ReplyDelete