Our photo column

We took our inspiration for the self-service photo kiosk from photo booths: Employees should be able to take photos on site without their own equipment and without prior knowledge. However, instead of printing the employee photos , we would feed them directly into Photo Collect 's digital photo workflow. In addition to ease of use, uncomplicated installation, a high-quality camera, data transmission with 4G/5G/Wifi and network-independent operation were important to us.

We quickly found the solution for a reliable and high-quality device platform: we can use the good selfie camera of the iPad Pro and the flawless and fast touch interface for operation. A 5G connection and a stable operating system are included with the iPad Pro. However, the search for a suitable, high-quality and beautiful iPad stand was unsuccessful, which is why we decided to design and manufacture one ourselves.

Our requirements were:

• The photo column should be practically impossible to tip over. We wanted to rule out the possibility of accidents caused by columns toppling over. The solution: the column has an extremely low center of gravity and a high weight (25 kilograms) thanks to solid steel plates that are invisibly embedded in the base.
• The iPad should not wobble or swing after triggering. High stability is essential because of the camera function. The solution is two massive steel pins that connect the vertical column to the base. They make the column stiff and insensitive to vibrations.
• The power saving mode of the Photo Collect Kiosk app enables a mains-independent operating time of up to 27 hours, but the iPad should still be easily rechargeable. The solution is an internal cable routing to the base; the photo kiosk can therefore be connected to the mains or a power bank via USB-C.
• The iPad must not be removable without tools. Since a locked iPad cannot be used or sold, the photo kiosks are not located in public spaces, and no photos are stored on the devices, theft protection of the iPad is not a primary concern. The iPad can be removed with a tool via an inconspicuous maintenance access point; however, without the appropriate tool, the iPad remains locked in place.

We were able to test and adjust our design using an initial hand-planed prototype. For series production, we opted for CNC-controlled manufacturing in the Zurich area. The solid oak wood for this comes from the Canton of Zug and is planed for us and then milled with the CNC machine. After assembly, the column is oiled and made available to our customers.

The photo kiosk is an ideal complement to image acquisition via email or SMS link. The wide-angle camera and uniform illumination lead to excellent results. In addition, a photo kiosk increases the visibility for on-site photo gathering. You can rent the photo column, including the iPad Pro, for your project. 

Did you know? The Photo Collect license already includes use of the kiosk app - our customers can also set up and operate their own stands and iPads as kiosks at any time, e.g. for ID cards .

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