| What is the purpose? | Allows you to lock down your kiosk or computer, so that it can be used securely as a digital sign or self-service tool. In other words, when using KioWare, you ensure that no one can turn off your kiosk/computer, hack into it, or damage any applications you are running on it. You can also limit which applications are run on it, as well as which websites the browser can access. |
| What are the key components? | KioWare (a browser shell application) and the KioWare Configuration Tool (Config Tool), which contains all the settings for running the KioWare browser |
| How does it work? | You first use the Config Tool to set up how you want KioWare to work. The Config Tool then “talks” to the KioWare browser, telling it how to run. The browser is opened by selecting a desktop icon or option in your Windows “Start” menu, and once it runs, it creates a safe environment for public use of your kiosk/computer. |
| What is the application type? | Browser-based and is based on the Chromium browser, the underlying project for Google's Chrome browser |
| Where is it installed? | KioWare is a desktop application. Both its Config Tool and browser application are typically installed in a default folder on your kiosk/computer (see Installation, Installation Instructions, Default Install Directories), but if you want to, you can install them in any other folder. |
| I do not need all of KioWare's features. Can I buy a limited or “light” version? | Three models are available: Lite, Basic, and Full.
- Lite lets you lock down your browser for the most protection, set custom security for each of your users, place limits on other software that can be run, customize the main screen, import/export settings, and create start/logoff schedules.
- Basic gives you everything that comes with Lite, plus support for using additional displays, external devices, and addins.
- Full gives you everything that comes with Basic, and also allows you to monitor multiple kiosks/computers from a central location.
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| Can it be used with some type of server application? | Only the Full model can, which includes a KioWare Server product. This is installed on your server, and can be set up to “talk” to multiple kiosks/computers that are running KioWare. Or, if you don't want to spend the time and hassle managing a server by yourself, you can subscribe to KioCloud. With KioCloud, we do all the work involved with hosting your server, so you can quickly get started and focus on your kiosk/computer—not your server. For more information on KioWare Server or KioCloud, visit the KioWare website or email KioWare Sales. |
| What is in it? | Multiple tools to give your browser and kiosk/computer the highest security, set custom passwords, open your favorite web pages or software, limit what other software can be run, add custom toolbars, stop certain keys or key combinations from being used, automatically load/update settings saved to a file, schedule days/times for certain shutdown and start actions, and use addins and devices. (See KioWare Tools below.) |
| Who can access it? | Whomever you want. An exit password (passcode) and other security features keep unwanted users from exiting the KioWare browser and accessing system files and other items on your kiosk/computer. |
| What are some important things to know about running it? | You will want to set a home page (see Configuration Tool, General Tab, Start Page URL) that appears when you open the KioWare browser. If no home page is set, the KioWare Welcome screen will show.
Also, by default, the KioWare browser is not locked down for the highest protection; you must change settings in the Config Tool (Quick Start Guide, Configuration Tool) to be fully secure and ready for public use.
Though optional, it is highly recommended that you set the browser shell to KioWare for best results in running the KioWare software (see Configuration Tool, System Settings Tab, Utility to Change User Settings, Change User Settings). This can also be set using the Guided Setup (see Note below).
KioWare runs in Demo mode. Demo mode simply means that it will periodically show a nag screen until you buy a license. Other than that, KioWare is fully functioning (for more details on the License tab and licensing, see Configuration Tool, License Tab, Single User).
Additionally, be sure to set the default Windows printer for users of your kiosk (see Configuration Tool, Printing).
Note: When using the Config Tool, there is a menu button at the top left corner (shown as three horizontal lines). Selecting this button opens a pane that shows more buttons (see Configuration Tool, Config Tool Menu), including the Start Guided Setup button. If you know how you want to use your kiosk/computer but are unsure of how to set up the Config Tool to achieve this, select this button and let the Guided Setup help you (see Configuration Tool, Config Tool Menu, Guided Setup). On the Select Mode screen, choose the mode (how the kiosk/computer is to be used), and the Guided Setup will take you step-by-step through all the settings for that mode. Though the Guided Setup only contains commonly used settings, these and all other settings can be set or changed directly in the Config Tool.
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| General tab | Provides basic settings for using your kiosk/computer and KioWare (e.g., sets home page, enables KioWare to auto-load or auto-update settings from a remote settings file, and tells KioWare if users need to enter a passcode to exit) |
| Browser tab | Determines how the KioWare browser will run during a user session (e.g., how zooming, popup windows, script errors, SSL errors, printing, media capture, and geolocation are handled) |
| Attract/Inactivity tab | Determines how the KioWare browser will run when sitting idle between user sessions (e.g., what screens will show, when and for how long, if alerts should appear, and if screens should loop) and what actions KioWare should complete when a user session ends (clear cookies, clear print queue, etc.) |
| User Interface tab | Used to set up multiple browser windows, spacers (blocks of space between items in the browser), and toolbars (e.g., size, position, buttons for using both KioWare and other software applications, address bar, indicators, and pictures) in the KioWare browser, and also sets how scrollbars, Windows taskbar, mouse cursor, message dialogs (windows), context menu, and virtual keyboard/language are handled |
| Keyboard Filtering tab | Tells KioWare to allow or block certain keyboard keys (e.g., Delete, Escape, and the Function keys) and certain combinations of keys (e.g., Ctrl+Alt+Delete and Alt+Tab), and also used to set up hotkeys (and AudioNavTM hotkeys) |
| Security tab | Sets up security for KioWare and your kiosk/computer (e.g., web pages or web page scripts and protocols that the KioWare browser will allow or block, monitoring of the health of the KioWare software such as for crashing or hanging up, and windows such as Open, Print, or Save that the KioWare browser will allow or block for certain applications) |
| Scheduled Actions tab | Allows you to schedule actions (e.g., shutting down or rebooting your kiosk/computer, putting it to sleep, or auto-starting a software application/program) that KioWare will automatically complete on select dates and times or the same dates and times each week, month, etc. |
| Assistive Technologies tab | Tells KioWare to allow or block use of specific devices and software that assist those with special mobility and accessibility needs (e.g., KioTouchTM touchless kiosk interaction technology, JAWS® screen reader, ZoomText® Magnifier, and AudioNavTM) |
| Communication tab | Provides support for high-definition video and audio conferencing, content sharing, and other collaboration using KioCall (video chat feature built into KioWare) |
| Devices tab | Allows KioWare to use devices that are connected to or built into your kiosk/computer (e.g., scanner, barcode reader, or printer), as well as monitor devices (e.g., PJL printer, system battery, and Watchport T/H) |
| Kiosk Management tab | Allows KioWare to “talk” with either the KioWare Server product you loaded on your server or the KioCloud that we host for you (e.g., send to the server information on the running state of KioWare, logs about how the system and software are running, and usage statistics, and download from the server any updates to the Config Tool settings) |
| System Settings tab | Used to tell KioWare what system settings you want to use (e.g., automatic logon to KioWare when you log onto Windows, automatic start of KioWare when you start Windows without a password, and what user shell you want to use with KioWare) |
| License tab | Shows information on your KioWare license and can be used to get a license |
| Addins tab | Allows KioWare to be expanded and customized further by using addins (e.g., performing additional actions at session start or end, providing custom JavaScript functions that allow access outside of the browser framework, etc.) |
| Advanced tab | Provides advanced settings for computer programmers and testers to use when monitoring and debugging custom code or software running with KioWare (e.g., set the debugging port number for running Google Chrome outside of KioWare and viewing your JavaScript for errors as it is running, enable quick exit, tell KioWare how to handle messages, use Chrome flags or injection JavaScript, tell KioWare to allow use of Windows power options, and define substitution variables that will be unique to your kiosk or computer) |
KioWare allows the use of JavaScript. You can use JavaScript commands to tell KioWare to complete special actions. For more details on how to do this, see Scripting.