Yes, we have drafted a ‘Best Practices’ document which provides information which we hope will help answer the questions we get asked the most.

Storm’s Assistive Technology Products (ATP) offer a highly tactile and audio enabled interface to navigate menu based information that would typically be presented via a visual display or touch screen. These keypads feature an illuminated audio jack socket through which an audible description of available menu options is transmitted to the user via a headset, handset or cochlea implant. Menus can then be navigated and selections made by pressing the distinctively shaped, tactile keys of the keypad.

The functionality of the AudioNav, NavPad and NavBar is essentially the same, it is just the format and key layout (style) that differ. The keypads are available with 6, 8 or 9 buttons, with under panel or above panel installation options, integrated audio jack or separately housed audio jack socket, linear or rectangular designs and different colour options.

By offering a range of different build styles we hope that kiosk manufacturers can find a keypad which is suitable for their application, regardless of any size/installation limitations or other restrictions.

Please note: Successful implementation of Storm’s Assistive Technology Products does require a compliant host application featuring synthesized or recorded human voice audio-tags.

All Storm ATP navigation keypads share the following features:

• Weather resistant construction (IP54 or IP65), for use in exposed, semi-supervised and public applications.
• Key top colours, shapes and tactile symbols make them readily identifiable by both sight and touch.
• Integrated sound volume control or sound volume controls featured in a separate audio module.
• USB connectivity (the keypads enumerate as a combination HID keyboard/advanced audio device). USB cable usually supplied separately
• Codes transmitted by key presses can be reset/customized via configuration utility software (for Windows PC).
• Key press confirmation beep can be enabled/disabled and duration set via configuration utility software (for Windows PC). Available for download at storm-interface.com.
• Brightness of the audio jack socket and keytop illumination (where available) can be set via configuration utility software (for Windows PC). Available for download at storm-interface.com
• APIs, configuration and test utility software can be downloaded from storm-interface.com

Successful implementation of Storm’s Assistive Technology Products requires a compliant host application featuring synthesized or recorded human voice audio-tags. Storm ATP products are used in a variety of business sectors and applications such as ticketing machines, kiosks, vending machines, voting terminals etc. The host application software and audio tags are not provided by Storm because each application is different and has its own unique requirements.

However, Storm does work closely with qualified partner organisations that can advise or provide accessible software and audio content suitable for use with Storm ATP devices. If you need help to source or create a compliant host application with audio content, we would be happy to provide an introduction and relevant contact information. Please do not hesitate to ask.  

The functionality of all the different NavBars is the same, it is just the format and styles that differ. They can be installed under or on to the surface of a panel, are available in different colour options and with or without illumination.

By offering a range of different build styles we hope that kiosk manufacturers can find a keypad which is suitable for their application, regardless of any size/installation limitations or other restrictions.

The table below provides an overview of the product features associated with each part number:

All Storm keypad products use a unique proprietary switch technology that is laboratory tested (and field proven over more than thirty years) to provide more than 4 million operational cycles without failure. The electronic components and circuitry in the keypad assembly are calculated to achieve an MTBF in excess of 100,000 hours.

However, the limiting factor in calculating the ‘whole assembly’ MTBF (or MTTF) is the sealed jack plug socket. This third party electro-mechanical device is rated by the component manufacturer for 5000 insertions of a compliant jack plug. I can confirm that Storm have conducted an independent ‘in-house’ operational life test to more than 5 times the component manufacturer’s rated insertion life without component failure.  The life of this component is directly related to the number and frequency of jack plug insertions during the duty cycle of the host kiosk. 

Please note that the jack plug socket is not a field serviceable or replaceable component. In the event of a jack plug socket component failure the whole keypad assembly would need to be replaced. For this reason, at the estimated frequency of use, the MTTF is calculated to be in excess of 10 years.