Casino Case Study

Traditional desktop computers are an eyesore for any casino.

Casinos offer an exciting escape from the mundane. A chance to dive into another world.

From the bellhop’s friendly “Welcome” to the little umbrella on your cocktail while sitting by the pool, you enter a world where you are pampered like royalty for a day.

Until technology ruins the show.

“Just swipe here, sir.”

“Oh, sorry, we seem to be having computer trouble. Hang on a moment.”

This is a sure-fire way to ruin the experience. Nobody wants to “hang on a moment,” they want to enjoy themselves. Kinks in technology disturb an otherwise wonderful time. Better technology must improve the experience, not ruin it.

And let’s not forget the decorative disaster that a big, ugly, gray computer is for the decor.

In this case study, we’re going to dive into the deep end and drudge out the exact details of how we solved all these reliability and styling issues. Also, we’ll show you how we’ve done this without sacrificing the benefits the technology brings to business operations.

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Waterproof PCs Explained

Water is the enemy of electronics.

One fateful night after putting my laundry in the wash I realized I couldn’t find my phone.

I didn’t think too much of it and figured I’d just look for it later.

Well, as I lifted my clothes out the wash I heard a loud, thud, and guess what, there was my phone lying in the bottom of the washing machine.

“Arrggghhhh.”

All ended well and I left the phone out to dry for a day or two and it started just fine (my bank account thanked me for saving it the expense).

Now don’t be like me and just leave this up to chance.

Water Ride

Why invest in waterproof?

Yep, I said, “invest”.

The more waterproof you need, the more the device will cost. Parts need to be of higher quality and there is less tolerance.

Of course, this depends on the application, but here are a few places where some level of water protection could play a role.

Frequent water contact:

It goes without saying that any place which has frequent exposure to water would need a waterproof panel PC for day-to-day operations.

Intermittent water contact:

These are often machines that are exposed to water during cleaning. One method would be to just be careful, but it’s safer to just be prepared.

Some examples…

Milking System

Milking Machine

This system is covered in our milking system case study, but essentially a panel PC was simply attached to the machine that is used for milking cows.

In day-to-day use, the system is almost exclusively exposed to extreme amounts of dust, which can be amply covered by less protection.

In this case, however, it is important that the machine can be washed down. During these cleanings, the computer can be exposed not just to water, but to high-pressure water.

By using a higher IP rated computer, they can circumvent possible accidents.

Building Automation

Panel PC Installation

The needs of a building automation system are much less in terms of waterproofness.

They are installed indoors and mounted onto cabinets.

Panel PCs in the system that are accessed by users regularly may have dust protection, but only limited water protection.

Usually enough to withstand wiping down with a wet cloth or handheld cleaner, but not much more.

They are primarily designed to keep dust out.

You can read more about this in the building automation case study.

Car Wash

The water in a car wash is limited to the inside of the wash.

Having a fully waterproof computer is optional, and you would probably get away with a panel PC with a waterproof front panel only if the back is protected by an enclosure.

Adding a panel PC with an enclosure requires an enclosure to be created as part of the washing equipment.

The advantage of using a standalone waterproof panel PC is that it can be attached directly to the machine without worrying about needing further water protection.

Self-payment Kiosk

Payment Kiosk

These are typically placed in covered areas and so have limited water protection.

But they do get grubby fingers on them all day long, and they will often be rubbed clean with little thought to the delicate electronics within.

Weighing System

Like other systems that are designed for public use, a weighing system needs to be built to take abuse.

A weighing system is designed for customers to weight items in the store by themselves, saving the shop the allocation of an employee for this task.

What was needed

For this particular installation, a 12” screen was needed as a balance between size and cost. Too big and there is a waste of space unnecessary extra cost. Too small and users with poor eyesight like the elderly will be unable to use it.

The panel PC also needed to connect to the keypad so required the peripheral connections necessary to do that.

What we chose

Weighing

The following were chosen as possible candidates for this installation.

AFL-12A-LX
AFL-12A-N270
Extra: extra-durable resistive touch

These models differ only in the design of their internal hardware, but share most of the other features.

The more durable touch screen was the clincher, as it ensured the long life of the weighing system.

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This case study is part of the IEI Panel PC Case Study Series.

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Time Logging

Time logging takes the traditional punch card clock and automates employee time tracking.

The time logging equipment is typically situated at the employee entrance or similar area.

What was needed

The installation was for 150 units at a large medicine factory.

Time Logging

The old model is the light gray one shown in the images.

Due to the nature of the equipment the touch screen gets a lot of use. A more durable touch screen is needed to withstand the constant use it gets.

A fully flat screen was required, as well as a mounting system.

What we chose

The AFL2-12A-D525 was the right choice for this application.

Time Logging

It has a full flat screen and a very durable touch screen.

The VSTAND-A12 was designed for mounting the system.

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This case study is part of the IEI Panel PC Case Study Series.

Download the full document below:

IEI Case Study – Panel PC.pdf

Self Payment Kiosk

Self payment kiosks can be found pretty much anywhere nowadays.

Because of the places they are installed, the environment is not too harsh. Although there is some exposure to dirt and perhaps a little water, the installations are places that are comfortable for people, so are usually under cover.

Payment Kiosk

What was needed

The panel PC is installed within the kiosk.

The screen is available for user input. As the front panel takes the majority of daily use the touch screen needs to be tough. The touch screen is pressed day in and day out.

The screen also needs to be big enough for clear viewing and be able to withstand the ambient dirt in what are sometimes outside installations.

What we chose

The AFL-W15A-GM45 was selected for this application. The AFL3-W15A-BT is the next generation model that will be phased in.

Payment Kiosk

A 15” screen provides just the right amount of screen real estate for easy use.

Download

This case study is part of the IEI Panel PC Case Study Series.

Download the full document below:

IEI Case Study – Panel PC.pdf