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Excuse us for name-dropping but it’s always nice to get a bit of national TV exposure, and it doesn’t come much better than a slot on BBC’s Working Lunch! 
The popular business, consumer and personal finance show that airs every lunchtime decided to feature our very own kiosks, focussing on how they are being used to help people get online. There are currently40 kiosks in Lisburn, N.Ireland, in public places such as colleges and supermarkets with plans to roll-out another 100 kiosks.
People can use the kiosks to book their MOT, re-new and apply for their passport, claim for benefits, pay for online services and tickets and much more. In one particular example, an Australian girl was able to use the kiosk to search for a local job.
The kiosks were particularly popular with teenagers who wanted to check their email accounts, social networks and sports results.
Basel Davidson – Head of Digital Inclusion Unit, Ireland, said: “The kiosks are providing access to Government Information via the IM Direct website that makes all public information available in one place, so you don’t have to remember all the different website addresses.”
Protouch manufactured all kiosks, which are supplied by KDS.
First introduced in the UK in the 1990s, the number of self-service checkouts is set to double in the next few years. This is because they offer supermarkets quick cost savings and in today’s economic and highly competitive retail climate, that has got to be a good thing.
Tesco, the UK’s biggest supermarket, leads the do-it-yourself checkout league, with self-service counters in 256 stores. The tills process 25% of all transactions in those shops. Sainsbury’s has them in 220 stores and is planning more. 
BBC looked into the self-service checkout phenomenon, discussing why consumers are still not embracing them fully, and here’s a selection of user replies…
“I love self-service checkouts. I can buy those embarrassing items without anyone knowing, don’t have to stand behind women or old people fiddling with their purses, and can avoid all form of contact or ‘conversation’ with the checkout assistants.”
Mike Wright, Birmingham
“I always use self-service checkouts, I rarely have issues and it is much much quicker. I don’t understand why people moan about these tills, after all its a choice, if you don’t like them, don’t use them.”
Sarah, Essex
“I use these machines for small amounts of shopping. What annoys me most about them is the way that they make you jump through their hoops – the back and forth with the bag and the ‘unexpected item’. I needed a staff member to swipe their card to allow me to use my own bag last time. Lastly, I’ll add they’re too talkative for me. Sometimes I just wish they’d shut-up and let me get on with it – ‘unexpected item in the bagging area’, ‘do you have a loyalty card’, ‘please take your shopping’, etc. You can turn it off – but it never seems worth it for 5 items or less.”
Barnabyp, London
“I always opt for the self-checkout if I’m not doing a large shop! It really annoys my wife who would rather wait for longer and be served by a person but I quite like it. Not having to answer questions like: ‘what’s the weather like?’ (look for yourself the window is just there!)or ‘are you having a nice day?’ (I’m in the supermarket on a Saturday – NO!) I know that the machine telling you off is patronising but I’d rather a machine patronise me than a real person. ”
Alex Cootes, London
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