4SGate Supplies Barrier-Free Kiosks to Mediin Hospital

The Act on the Prohibition of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities, which mandates the provision of reasonable accommodations to ensure that persons with disabilities can use kiosks in public places such as hospitals on an equal basis with non-disabled persons, is set to be compulsorily enforced starting January 2023.

Once the Act on the Prohibition of Discrimination Against Persons with Disabilities is implemented, all types of persons with disabilities must be provided services at the same level as non-disabled persons on all types of kiosks, in accordance with the technical standards established by the government to guarantee accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Focigate announced that it has introduced a barrier-free kiosk equipped with hardware and service solutions for this purpose, integrated with existing hospital patient information databases, enabling all types of users visiting hospitals to receive services without discrimination.

[Demonstration of Barrier-Free Kiosk at Medin Hospital]

Focigate Co., Ltd., a hospital kiosk manufacturer (CEO Jinwoo Kim), supported by the National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA / President Sungwook Heo) under the Ministry of Science and ICT, has formed a consortium with Multics (CEO Seungsoo Yoo), an AI-based sign language guidance specialist company, and Dot (CEO Jooyoon Kim), a specialist company in solutions for visually impaired persons such as braille printing. Through two years of technological development, they have introduced an AIoT-based barrier-free kiosk for hospitals shared by persons with and without disabilities.

This was pilot-tested and refined through usability surveys by user type at Paju Medin Hospital (Chief Director Haksoo Lee) and is now being expanded for widespread distribution. The pilot service operation at Medin Hospital enabled improvements and refinements of the service, significantly enhancing the convenience of hospital use for local residents and is expected to play a leading role among hospitals nationwide.

Until now, hospital kiosks have been criticized for being provider-centered without considering the types or levels of users. Based on Focigate’s know-how from operating services at over 100 large hospitals nationwide for more than 20 years, the advanced AIoT solutions of Multics and Dot have been integrated to innovate the kiosk service paradigm from provider-centered to user-centered, making kiosk services focused on user convenience rather than provider convenience for the first time in the industry.

The barrier-free kiosk allows users to select their preferred method according to their type, such as sign language, voice, or screen touch, and users can adjust the service environment optimally by themselves according to their level, including features like replay, magnifier, and volume control.

Additionally, starting from July this year, the kiosk industry’s first application of a mobile ID verification service using blockchain-based DID technology, which is being expanded nationwide by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, was implemented. By capturing a mobile QR code instead of screen touch, the service automatically inputs the resident registration number, leading government policy initiatives.

Considering hospitals’ concerns about the burden of introducing expensive kiosks equipped with all services from the start, the kiosk is provided as a hybrid modular type, allowing additional services to be added at the necessary time without replacing the main kiosk, with all parts and services modularized.

To accommodate all types of kiosks currently operated in hospitals, the system consists of a Regular model capable of issuing prescriptions and unmanned payment, and a Slim model for services such as arrival guidance and body measurement. Visitors to hospitals with these systems installed can conveniently complete various hospital administrative procedures non-face-to-face at the kiosk without seeking help from others or visiting a counter, including ▲appointment confirmation and registration ▲medical fee payment ▲external prescription issuance ▲certificate issuance, and more.

Focigate stated, “We plan to expand distribution of the newly launched kiosks for persons with and without disabilities to large hospitals nationwide after passing the accessibility certification test for persons with disabilities conducted by the Public Procurement Service,” and added, “Through close cooperation with consortium companies, we will continuously develop the system into one that users from digitally vulnerable groups can use without any restrictions or inconvenience by advancing cutting-edge AIoT technology.”