Touch screen kiosks are becoming more popular at trade shows. Here at D2 Creative we’ve done a few, using various types of display devices, and we’ve learned a thing or two.

Here are five rules for creating great touch screen presentations:

• KEEP IT SHORT.
  Average length of time spent at a trade show display is shorter than you think.  So focus your message and make sure you get it to the user within half that time.
• KEEP IT SIMPLE.
  Create a road map of where you want the user to go, and help them get there by making the route as uncomplicated as possible. It’s easy to imagine that because you have assets, (testimonials, case studies, data), including them into your interactive piece will make it better. Au contraire, mon frere. Think of this as a poem where every word and every cadence supports the central idea.
• KEEP IT FUN.
  It’s a touch screen, it should be engaging. Think outside the box when you create your user interface. Examples we’ve seen or done:
  -When the screen is touched, water ripples across the screen
  -Use a real word object (a key, a cell phone, a face) and interacting with it via a camera.
  -Using technology that allows hand gestures to take the place of a mouse
• WAIT LOOP TELLS ALL.
  Your wait loop will be running just like a screen saver whenever no one is using the display.  It should not be an afterthought. The wait loop needs to arouse curiosity.  It also needs to tell your story, in case people don’t have time to stop.
• DON’T FORGET THE TAKEAWAY.
  Give people something to take home to remember their kiosk experience. It allows them to explore at their leisure, and spread the word.