Touch Screen Kiosk Guide: Design & Deploy with Look

The thing about touch screen kiosks is that the better they work, the less users even notice them. People tap, swipe, and move on without ever realizing the careful decisions behind each button, each screen flow, or each layout. But the reality is, effortless interactions don’t just happen – they’re designed.

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Every interaction shapes how people perceive your business. Get it right, and you create an easy, forgettable moment — in the best possible way. Get it wrong, and users notice immediately.

Consider this your go-to manual for creating effective kiosk experiences. And because every kiosk lives or dies by the quality of its behind-the-scenes management, we'll unpack how Look Digital Signage brings everything together in one tidy dashboard.

Why Choose a Touch Screen Kiosk?

Empower Customers and Reduce Queues 

Touch screen kiosks give people the ability to handle everyday tasks on their own. Whether it’s ordering food, checking in, or finding directions, they don’t have to wait for staff to assist them.

A large majority of shoppers already prefer this kind of setup. A Commerce Experience report by NCR Voyix found that 77% of people choose self-checkout because it’s simply faster than waiting for a cashier. 

Interactive Engagement and Data Collection

Interactive kiosks invite people to poke, swipe, scroll, and decide for themselves. Autonomy and engagement meet in the same moment when a customer explores the menu, navigates a map, or checks stock availability. It feels intuitive to them and incredibly useful to you.

Every interaction leaves a trail of insight you can track. What do people care about? What are they skipping? Such data helps you refine content and measure impact. Companies are already seeing tangible payoffs from kiosk engagement. Fast-casual restaurant chain, Portillo, reported a 15% lift in average check size after adding self-service kiosks, thanks to smart upsells and more targeted ordering paths. 

Easy Setup with Built-in Touch Support 

Look Digital Signage is a modern digital signage platform that makes it straightforward to deploy touchscreen content. It comes with built-in touch capabilities, so you can design interactive screens without custom coding. 

Using the web-based dashboard, you can create interactive pages with buttons for user input. These can be published to any connected kiosk display with a few clicks. The result is a professional, self-service kiosk interface that’s centrally managed. 

Because the heavy lifting (like touch input handling and content scheduling) is handled by the Look platform, rolling out kiosks at scale is much easier for IT and operations teams. You don’t need to “reinvent the wheel” with custom apps. Look provides free templates and an intuitive layout editor to get you started quickly.

Effective Touch Screen UI Design (Using Look’s Layout Designer)

Look’s Layout Designer supports multi-scene layouts, meaning you can create an entire interactive flow, like a mini-app, right in the CMS. You simply design each scene (page) and define which scene to jump to when a button is pressed. 

Here are some best practices for touch UI design, and how Look’s Layout Designer helps implement them:

Large Touch Targets 

Button and interactive elements should be big enough to tap easily. UX guidelines recommend a minimum target size around 44×44 px (about 20 mm on a touchscreen), with at least 5 mm of padding between tappable elements. 

In practice, on a 21″ kiosk display (p resolution), that equates to roughly an 82-pixel button with ~21 pixels of spacing around it. In Look’s Layout Designer, you can simply drag UI elements and set their dimensions so that no button is too small or crowded.

Readable Text and Icons

Remember that a kiosk might be used by someone standing a few feet away, so text should be larger than on a or desktop. For example, important text should be kept at ~4 mm height or more on screen (which is roughly a 20–24 px font on a p 21″ display). 

In Look’s editor, you can choose font styles, colors, and sizes easily for each text box. Stick to clean sans-serif fonts or other ADA-compliant typefaces, and use a color scheme that is color-blind friendly and high-contrast (e.g. dark text on a light background or vice versa).

Straightforward Navigation 

Each kiosk should guide the user step-by-step. Avoid clutter – limit the amount of information on one screen and use clear headings. If multiple steps or pages are needed, provide consistent navigation cues (like a “Back” or “Home” button). 

Keep the navigation controls in familiar locations (e.g. a back arrow at top-left) and make sure buttons change appearance when touched (to give feedback).

Accessible Layout and Touch Cues

Use simple language on buttons (“Start Order” instead of jargon). Include visual cues or instructions like “Touch to Begin” on an attract screen, so people know the display is interactive. 

Additionally, design with accessibility in mind, e.g., avoid tiny touch targets, and don’t rely solely on color to indicate a selection (use labels or icons too).

Interactive Button Scenarios with Look Digital Signage

So what kinds of interactive experiences can you build with Look? The possibilities are wide-ranging, since the platform is flexible. Let’s explore a few common kiosk scenarios and how you can implement them using Look’s interactive features:

Directory & Wayfinding

In large spaces like offices, malls, or hospitals, kiosks help people find their way. With Look, you could create a multi-page directory: the home scene might list main categories (e.g., Departments A–F, G–Z), and when a user taps one, it navigates to a scene listing names/rooms in that category. Each entry could then show a map or directions when touched. 

All of this is built by linking scenes with button actions without any coding. 

Interactive Product Catalog / Menu

Retailers and restaurants can use a kiosk as a self-service shopping or ordering station. Using Look’s Interactive Scenarios feature, start with a product gallery or food menu, then use buttons to open detailed views, show specs, or move to a checkout scene.

Each of these steps can be a scene: Menu -> Cart -> Thank You message, etc., tied together by button triggers. The benefit is a faster ordering process and increased upselling. 

Information and Feedback Collection 

In informational kiosks, you can easily design a simple survey interface (e.g. “How was your experience today?” with a few options or a satisfaction slider). The platform allows you to capture input by triggering actions – for example, a button could send an or webhook with the feedback data, or you might simply collect counts of button presses. 

Setting this up could be as easy as a few “Rate us” buttons (Great, Okay, Poor) that when pressed, log the choice and perhaps display a thank-you message.

Engagement & Gamification 

Look’s button scenarios also support adding gamified scenarios. You can build quizzes, virtual prize wheels, or outfit match games by connecting scenes in a logical sequence. For example, tapping an answer might take users to a correct or incorrect screen, or a game scene might change based on a random selection. 

You can also embed simple web-based games in your layout, embedded via HTML widgets or third-party apps integrated in Look. These features work well for trade shows, retail promotions, or lobby entertainment, using the same drag-and-link approach with buttons.

Restaurant Menu

Suppose you want to create a simple restaurant self-order kiosk with Look. You’d start by designing a menu layout in the Layout Designer by customizing a pre-designed template. Then, you’d add interactive buttons for each menu category (Appetizers, Mains, Drinks, etc.). 

Each button navigates to a scene showing items in that category. For each item, an “Order” button could either add the item to a running list displayed on screen (via a dynamic text field) or take the user to a confirmation scene. Look’s Scenes and Actions would handle moving between “pages” as the customer builds their order. 

Finally, a “Submit Order” button might trigger an or send the order to a kitchen printer using Look’s API or integration with a POS via Zapier. The kiosk could then reset to the attract screen for the next customer. 

Selecting Appropriate Touch Screen Hardware

Designing a great kiosk experience is one side of the coin; choosing the right hardware is the other. Here’s what to consider for hardware, along with how to ensure compatibility with Look Digital Signage:

Touch Technology (Capacitive vs. Infrared)

The two most common technologies for interactive kiosks are projected capacitive (PCAP) and infrared (IR) touch. 

Capacitive touchscreens (like those on smartphones and tablets) are very responsive and support multi-touch; they have a smooth glass surface and work by sensing the electrical properties of the user’s touch. They are durable and precise, but very large capacitive screens can be costly. 

Infrared touch frames, on the other hand, use IR light beams around the screen edges to detect fingers. They can be added to almost any display and allow for larger sizes (think 32″, 55″ or more) at a reasonable cost. The downside is that sometimes IR touch is slightly less precise, especially if the frame gets dirty or in very bright light, which can cause false touches. 

For most indoor kiosks up to, say, 32 inches, a capacitive touch monitor will provide a smartphone-like smooth experience. If you’re going huge (e.g., a video wall with touch or a 55″ directory), IR or optical touch systems might be more practical. 

Also consider touch points: if you need multi-user interaction or gestures like pinch zoom, ensure the screen supports multiple simultaneous touch points (most modern ones do). The good news is Look’s software will work with any standard touch input – it’s hardware-agnostic, so you just need the OS to recognize touches as mouse clicks. Many commercial touch displays come with Android or Windows OS built in, which can run the Look app or player software directly.

Environment and Durability

Match the hardware to where it will be used. An indoor kiosk (e.g. in a retail store) can use a standard commercial-grade touchscreen or even an iPad/tablet in a kiosk stand for smaller applications. But an outdoor kiosk (like a tourist info station or drive-thru order screen) needs to be weatherproof, high-brightness (readable in sunlight), and often has to work in hot/cold temperatures. 

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Outdoor-rated touchscreens have protective enclosures, cooling/heating elements, and very bright panels – they are a specialized class of hardware. 

Another consideration is durability against heavy use or vandalism: in a public transit station, you’d want a thick tempered glass and maybe an anti-glare/anti-scratch coating. 

Compatibility with Look’s Platform

Whichever screen and player you choose, ensure it can run the Look digital signage app or a web browser in kiosk mode. Look’s CMS is cloud-based, so the device just needs internet connectivity and the ability to install the Look player software (or use Look’s web player). 

Here is a list of digital signage hardware that is fully compatible and tested to run smoothly on the Look platform: 

• Compatible Operating Systems – Android, Windows, WebOS, Linux, and others.
• Recommended Media Players – including consumer sticks & boxes, professional players and mini-PCs. 
• Look HDMI Player  - For the ultimate plug-and-play experience, this compact device comes preconfigured to run Look right out of the box. 
• Professional Touch Screen Displays – tested touch panels and tablets for interactive kiosks

One advantage of the Look solution is that you can manage hardware from different manufacturers from the same platform. As long as it’s registered in the CMS, you can push content to it remotely.

Indoor/Outdoor and Mounting 

For indoor use, decide if the kiosk will be freestanding, wall-mounted, or countertop. Freestanding kiosks often come as an integrated unit (screen + enclosure). Wall-mounted touch displays save space but consider ADA height requirements (generally, interactive elements should be reachable between about 15″ and 48″ off the floor. 

Countertop tablets can work for things like feedback stations or small self-checkouts at cafes; just secure them against theft. For outdoor use, you’ll likely need a specialized enclosure or buy a purpose-built outdoor kiosk unit. Ensure a stable network connection, too. If Wi-Fi is spotty outdoors, you might need a wired connection or a 4G/LTE modem for that kiosk.

Accessibility and Compliance

In many regions (such as the U.S.), public-facing kiosks may be subject to regulations like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) or guidelines like WCAG (Web Content Accessibility Guidelines) if they present digital content. But beyond legal requirements, designing for accessibility ensures all your customers or visitors can use the kiosk effectively, including those with disabilities.:

Physical Accessibility and Reach

For users in wheelchairs or those with limited reach, screen placement can make or break the experience. ADA guidelines place touchable elements between 15" and 48" from the floor for forward reach, with similar limits for side approaches or counters.

Many kiosk setups place the screen center around 48" high, often with a slight tilt to reduce glare and improve visibility. A 30" by 48" clear space in front allows a wheelchair user to approach without obstruction. Card readers, printers, and other components usually fall within the same reach zone and benefit from touch or lever-style activation instead of grip-and-twist motions.

Screen Content and Touch Targets

For users with low vision or limited dexterity, high-contrast visuals and generous touch areas help reduce frustration. ADA suggests a minimum 3:1 contrast ratio between text and background, along with fonts like Helvetica and text heights between 5/8" and 2" on physical signage. On screens, that translates to 20px or larger for core content.

Touch targets around 20mm (0.8") accommodate a wider range of motor skills. Missed taps or skipped fields can be addressed with visual cues—highlighted buttons, clear error messages, or confirmation states. 

Audio and Assistive Options

Audio output becomes more inclusive when paired with features like headphone jacks or hearing loop systems. For blind or low-vision users, experiences can be extended with tactile interfaces, physical buttons, or voice guidance.

Screen readers aren’t always supported by default in digital signage platforms, so touch-free interaction or a staff-assist mode often fills the gap. Where instructions are spoken, pairing with on-screen text helps users with hearing impairments. Flashing visuals may also need adjustment—ADA recommends avoiding sequences that exceed three flashes per second.

Software-Level Accessibility

Look supports flexible layout design, so it’s possible to build interfaces with large fonts, high contrast, and accessible touch zones. The platform’s preview and testing tools help visualize how content looks across different screen sizes and orientations.

A more complete breakdown of compliance considerations is available in the ADA compliance for digital signage guide. 

Maintenance & Reliability Tips

Regular Cleaning and Calibration

Touchscreens collect fingerprints, dust, and the occasional smudge from lunch. In high-traffic areas, that buildup can start to mess with responsiveness, especially on infrared displays where blocked sensors can throw things off. A regular wipe with screen-safe cleaner keeps things usable and looking decent.

Older IR or resistive screens may need occasional calibration, while capacitive ones usually stay accurate longer. It’s worth checking if buttons still respond where people expect them to. Look software can assist by providing remote screenshots and monitoring which can help you catch any issue before someone calls it in.

Software Updates and Content Refreshes 

Look pushes software updates through the cloud so you always run the latest version with new features and fixes. Applying these updates is usually just a click in the dashboard, and they can even be scheduled during off-hours to avoid disruption. 

Content refreshes are just as quick. Menus, promotions, or notices can be updated through the CMS and pushed out instantly. You can even pull data from external sources or use scheduling tools to display seasonal content on specific dates.

Remote Monitoring and Troubleshooting

You can keep an eye on all your kiosks from one place. The dashboard shows which ones are online and flags any that lose connection or hit a playback error. If something looks off, you can view a live screenshot of the screen to see what’s actually happening.

If a player freezes or shows an error, you can often fix it with a remote reboot. When auto-launch is enabled, the player will restart and return to normal without anyone needing to be on-site.

Hardware Maintenance

Eventually, something might give out. Maybe the screen stops responding or the internal player crashes. Since the system runs on common hardware like Android or Windows, it’s usually a matter of swapping in a new device, installing the app, and reassigning it to the right channel. Content and settings live in the cloud, so there’s no need to rebuild anything.

If a screen stops reporting activity, that can also be a sign that something’s not right. You can use Look’s proof-of-play and statistics to know that content is running as intended. For example, the Statistics tool can show you if content has been playing and how often; if a kiosk stops reporting stats, it suggests it’s down or stuck.

Analytics & Measuring Kiosk ROI

Usage Frequency

How often are people using the kiosk? Metrics like sessions per day or button taps per hour show whether it's being noticed and used. If a “Start” button is tapped 100 times daily, that’s 100 interactions without staff involvement.

Session Length and Navigation Flow

Longer sessions might signal engagement or friction. If people spend too much time on a simple task or drop off mid-flow, it’s worth checking where they exit. Scene view stats in Look help spot where users stop navigating.

Conversion Rates

For goal-driven kiosks like placing orders or signing up, conversion rate matters. If 50 people start and 45 finish, that’s a 90% conversion. A low number might point to unclear steps or a clunky process.

Financial Metrics

If the kiosk handles transactions (like a self-order or retail point-of-sale kiosk), then sales per kiosk and average order value are vital metrics. You can compare the sales data from kiosk orders vs. cashier orders. 

Reduction in Staff Workload

This one might be more qualitative, but you can estimate how kiosks reduce strain on staff. Perhaps measure queue lengths or wait times pre- and post-kiosk. Shorter queues or the ability to run with fewer checkout staff (redeploying them to other tasks like customer service on the floor) can be directly tied to cost savings.

Customer Satisfaction

Kiosks can collect instant feedback. A quick “How was your experience?” prompt helps measure satisfaction. A survey found 65% of customers would visit more often if self-service was available. Repeat use or loyalty sign-ups can also hint at how people feel about the experience.

Turning Screens Into Touchpoints That Matter

Touch kiosks are a direct extension of your customer experience. And the way you design, deploy, and maintain them will decide whether they serve people well or frustrate them quietly in the background.

It’s easy to delay a project like this. Maybe the current setup is “fine for now.” Maybe the hardware feels overwhelming, or the content strategy hasn’t been mapped out. But the longer you wait, the more moments you miss and the less control you have over the touchpoints that shape customer perception.

THE BEST TOUCH SCREEN TYPES FOR INDUSTRIAL USE

VIEW ALL TOUCH SCREEN MONITORS                             

Touch displays enable the user to interact with a computer, control system or device without the use of a keyboard or mouse. We have a variety of HMI touch displays and touch screens compatible with HMI from Automation Direct for Human Machine Interface. A touch screen display can be found nearly everywhere. You interact with a touchscreen monitor constantly; they have become very commonplace in our daily lives. Cell phones, ATM’s, kiosks, ticket vending machines, manufacturing plants and more all use touchscreen monitors. Read further to discover the 5 types of touch screens. 

TRU-Vu Monitors offers a wide range of industrial touch screen display monitors, including  Sunlight Readable touch screens, panel mount touch monitors and Medical touch screens with P-Cap touch. We also offer Resistive touch, Capacitive touch, SAW touch,  and IR industrial touch panels, with USB and RS-232 interfaces. New models are HID Compliant, eliminating the need to load drivers. We provide the best heavy duty LCD touch screen panels for industrial use; all are TAA-Compliant.  Which one Is right for you?

TRU-Vu Touchscreen Drivers

Click HERE for TRU-Vu Touchscreen Drivers

What is the best TYPE OF touch SCREEN technology?

The most important decision in choosing the best touch screen display for your application will be the type of touch technology screens to use. There are five major types of touch screens, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.  Some have multi touch capability.

5  TYPES OF TOUCH SCREEN TECHNOLOGY:

• 5-Wire Resistive Touch Screens
• Surface Capacitive Touch Screens
• Projected Capacitive (P-Cap) Touch Screens (with or without TRU-Touch Technology)
• SAW (Surface Acoustic Wave) Touch Screens
• IR (Infrared) Touch Screens

To help you guide you through the advantages of the 5 most common types of touch screen technology, see our tutorial on touch screen basics.

Our convenient touch screen comparison chart will provide a quick overview of advantages and disadvantages of each type. We offer over a dozen models of HMI touch displays.

GUIDE TO CLEANING & DISINFECTING TOUCH SCREENs

Touch screens will obviously require cleaning and disinfecting due to the high number of contact and touch points. Special care must be taken not to damage the touch screen display face, especially for 5-wire resistive touchscreen monitors. Their surface can easily be permanently damaged by corrosive cleaning agents (bleach, ammonia, etc.) or abrasive materials (dirty cloths, steel wool). Please see our monitor cleaning guidelines, and monitor COVID-disinfecting guidelines for more specific details. These guidelines will help ensure you keep your touch screens clean, and safely disinfected from germs or viruses.

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