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Background

ZoomSystems builds custom automated kiosks called ZoomShops that combine the convenience of online shopping with the immediacy of traditional retail.  The units sell high-end gifts such as electronics, software, and cosmetics in high-traffic areas including airports and shopping malls.  According to ZoomSystems, there are currently over 1 million automated retail systems in use today.  ZoomSystems came to Speck Design to re-design the existing dispensing door with an increase in interface requirements, while adding additional features, functionality and Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance.  Speck Design was hired due to our extensive experience in mechanisms and packaging in a wide range of fields including retail systems, dispensing units, consumer electronics, and medical and industrial instrumentation.  The goals of the project were:

• Create a retrofittable dispense door that is ergonomic and has an ADA compliant user interface.
• Design for modularity to accommodate interchangeability, reconfiguration, and variations in component classes and sizes.
• Design for serviceability for field access and replacement.
• Upgrade the security camera, touch-screen monitor, sound system, receipt printer and payment module.
• Add a bar code scanner and gift card dispenser.
• Create a user interface that reads and writes to USB, SD, compact-flash, and other storage media formats.
• Update the aesthetics and design the system to be resistant to wear and tear.
• Provide complete ID and ME.

Challenge

ZoomSystems wanted to work within key parameters established for its already successful automated retail system, yet evolve the unit to allow for greater usability.  This required overcoming several challenges including retrofitting the unit with a new interface door while keeping in line with ADA requirements, mounting new components on the existing hardware, and creating a smaller footprint of the system to help create more physical space surrounding the unit.

Solution

Speck Design conducted a series of brainstorming sessions to clearly define the high level mechanical concepts and architecture of the product.  With an understanding of product specifications, and thinking strategically about the expanded requirements, Speck Design's ID team developed new design opportunities for the main interface of the system.  They mocked up 1/4 scale models to present the range of aesthetic and architectural directions possible for the client.  Based on client preference for a uniform, modular design that allowed for easy replacement of various key panels as needed, Speck then worked on a full-scale aesthetic mock-up that focused only on customer interface.  At the same time, Speck created a computer-aided database of the main interface panel.  Continuing to use physical mockups and CAD layouts to communicate the evolving design, Speck Design moved through user interface module issues and into rapid breadboarding, integrating its system with the ZoomShop control system to ensure complete functionality.  With the industrial design in place, Speck Design proceeded with further mechanical engineering work, performing detailed design of the structural and cosmetic aspects of the interface panel and verifying the design through two rounds of fabricated prototypes.  Each prototype was verified against the functional requirements and specifications and was approved by the client to go into phased tooling release.  Finally, Critical To Function (CTF) drawings were then created and released for production along with the associated 3D CAD data and other materials to support inspection of the finished parts.  In the end, the retrofitted modules met all goals and addressed all challenges within the very aggressive timetable.

Results

In recognition of its ability to develop inventive solutions within tight timelines, Zoom Systems hired Speck Design for other projects, including the exploration of creating a system architecture for a new delivery robot.  Another project involved a new concept in display treatment, which was highly customizable, modular, and fully collapsible.  For the project, Speck Design designed a production assembly which allowed units to be mass manufactured and assembled onsite with two people, significantly improving the cost, installation, and maintenance structure relative to Zoom’s constructed treatments.

PROJECT INFO

• Client:

  ZoomSystems

• Project:

  ZoomShop Automated Retail Door Retrofit

• Industry:

  Industrial & Commercial