Touch4 Software (Features and Benefits)

Before getting into the features it is important to take a quick look at the principle of the system we have built. The system works on a ‘hub’ principle where the kiosks update themselves from the hub and the administration software shares its data and updates with the hub for the kiosks.

Touch4 is designed around the principle of fault-tolerance. Individual Touch4 kiosks copy data to their own local hard disk where possible so they can continue to operate even if they lose their network connection for a time. When a network connection is available, they check for any updates to the content they are showing, and also to the software they’re running.

All this makes the system robust as it is not reliant on constant direct access to perform; it simply updates itself when it has connectivity. Usually the screens/kiosks update themselves (assuming a broadband connection) every 5 minutes so any changes you make on your administrator or in your content will be distributed to the whole network within minutes.

Administration System



Administration is the back end scheduling and content management system for authorised users and the content editors.

Key features

• Add and remove new screens or kiosks
• Group multiple kiosks by area
• Schedule content for individual or groups of screens – content supported includes HTML pages, Flash Files and MPEG Video (and Touch4’s own content module)
• View logs of use/errors
• Monitor screens to ensure they are running efficiently
• Set defaults for screens if not being used i.e. an “Attraction Mode” that will show looped media until a user touches the screen. This also assists in preventing static images being on the screen for too long a period.
• Set up questions and available answers if you feel that the additional Questionnaire Module would be of benefit

Kiosk/Screen ‘Player’

The Touch4 ‘player’ runs on each individual screens PC and is responsible for keeping the unit running at all times and looking for changes in media and scheduling given to it by the Administration System. The Touch4 engine also uses its own proprietary method of displaying media ensuring that no problems occur such as unwanted pop ups or other applications appearing on screen that are not required, overrides the kiosk PC’s power management, screen saver and locks down access to the Start menu, keyboard, etc to ensure no one can gain unauthorised access.

Key Features

• Always runs above all other applications ensuring the screen only displays what it has been requested to do
• Constantly checks for updates of media and schedule. If the unit does find an update it will ensure it is not in use and then proceed to update
• Health Monitor – the application can manage itself and the host PC to ensure no problems are occurring and report problems back to the Administrator.

The 'Hub'

Data is supplied to the kiosks through a shared folder called the “Hub”. This can be located on any network machine; the only requirement being that it be visible to all kiosks and all Administrators who will be configuring the kiosks and their content. It acts as a ‘go-between’ for data sent to or received from the kiosks and the people who administer them

There are considerable benefits in this ‘loose linkage’ between kiosks and administrators. There may be times when Administrator PCs are switched off or network connections fail. By using the Hub as an intermediary, which is accessed as and when available, Touch4 continues to run where other kiosks systems may fail.

Network Information

The Touch4 system is designed to cause as little problem as possible for IT and support personnel. All the Administration system requires is a common folder to be located anywhere over the wide area network that is appropriate. The common folder or “hub” (as we call it) is then the central point for the Administration and each individual Front End Screen System. It therefore does not require to be installed on any server specific platforms or locations.

Security - is High

All settings and log files are encrypted for security using 2336 bit keys during their journey across the network