Imagine a remotely managed, touch-screen kiosk with no power cables or data lines. Executives from Ireland-based EcoTech Computers not only imagined it, they've already built one and deployed it in the form of a turnkey information kiosk.

The company, whose slogan is "Making Modern Technology Green," plans to deploy the kiosks in every major town in Europe in the next four years and also is seeking U.S. investors and manufacturing partners.

How it works

The outdoor computer system is powered by the user via a hand-crank generator, its gearing system controlled by a software interface and solar panels. The kiosks provide 24-hour access to a broad range of information controlled by the deployer in a secure, lock-down browser.

Peter McManus, managing director of Eco Tech Computers, said the software monitors the solar power intake and power consumption. When the day is overcast, the screen will notify deployers to turn it off when not in use. However, the crank will reactivate the machine, giving users two minutes of usage per full rotation of the crank. The bottom-right side of the screen displays the remaining time in green via a count-down application. It flashes to red when the crank needs turned.

Although the unit can run soley from solar power and the hand crank, it also can be subsidized by wired electricity. For example, a wired power supply would be necessary if a deployer wanted to run streaming videos after dark, McManus said.

Designers also built in a component that can send detailed analysis and survey results to a specified e-mail address, allowing deployers to learn how consumers are using the kiosks and what areas of service they like or dislike.

Who benefits

Eco Tech Computers' customer base is mainly local town councils that provide visitors with event, accommodation and restaurant info, maps and contact numbers. However, the system is suited for nearly any type of organization or business, McManus said.

"We plan to expand to cover basically anyone needing to give access to Web-based information for the end-user outdoors," he said.

Tourism boards that keep strict office hours could deploy kiosks to offer information 24 hours a day. By featuring standard information or answers to frequently-asked questions, kiosks also could keep employees from being inundated with questions during office hours. Another benefit of Eco Kiosks is that deployers won't have to waste time or money printing new schedules or brochures about changing events. Instead, they can easily change the info featured on the kiosks, McManus said.

Where it all began

The first Eco Kiosk was installed in July 2010, at the entrance to Western Europe's largest Norman castle, Trim Castle in Ireland. It provides 60,000 annual visitors with information about the castle and its surrounding areas.

The cost
Pricing is different in each case depending on the range of support and contract but usually ranges from $12,500 to $16,600, McManus said. Discounts are available for large orders.

"With the unit being solar, mains powered or both, the installation costs are at a minimum as the unit can be mobile or fixed with no need to dig up paths to run power and data cables," McManus said.