In the past I have looked into creating Kiosk Systems*, but it was the size and cost of the hardware that was the offputting factor. Previously the only options were either a bespoke hardware setup that was high in cost, or a PC based system, with a touch sensitive screen, that was also high in cost and bulky in size.

*Kiosk systems are systems which achieve one purpose only and lock away the Operating System and other applications from the end user. Here is the Wikipedia definition for Kiosk System

We now have a small, light, powerful touch screen device, that can easily be deployed with outstanding applications that contain awesome interfaces.... the Apple iPad. This device that can be cradled in a sleek but secure Kiosk stand, for example from Olea Kiosks Inc.These type of products IMHO, give a pleasing and cool solution, as it seems at the moment the only way to lock the device down to one app is to cover the Home button. I'm wondering if Cocoa Touch and iOS will give us developers a software solution in a future release?

An iPad based Kiosk App could be used to...

• Conferences, to show attendees the location of sessions, maybe even allowing the attendees to log in and alter sessions or submit evaluations
• Car Show Rooms, to build a car of your own specification and price it immediately
• etc...
  

Ultimately being able to capture client information and transmit it back to a central processing point.

Check out my article on synchronizing data from iOS devices, here. Or even using Apple's External Accessory framework, which supports communications with external hardware connected to an iOS-based device... build iPad based Kiosks that interface with payment systems or more. Check out a previous article here. Whatever its use, it will also need Mobile Management & Security, for the ability to push new application updates and secure the device.

Whatever happens, I am expecting to see the iPad appear more in areas where Kiosk based devices have either been to pricey to create or bulky to deploy.