Since this thread has included discussions of computer kiosks, I hope no one
will object if I indulge a pet peeve and ask a question about this term.  As
a confirmed language conservative (some might say "nut"), I've always been
annoyed about the appropriation of the architectural term kiosk for something
that would appear to have no relationship to a traditional kiosk.  If I could
have had a say in naming such computer stations, I would have opted for
coining an entirely new word.  I realize that it's probably too late to
modify this terminology, but I've never understood why a publicly accessible
computer sitting on a counter, pedestal, or column would become a kiosk.
This is not an exclusively museum-related issue, but it occurred to me that
there are enough technologically-savvy people on this list that someone out
there might know the answer.  Does anyone know the history or rationale for
using "kiosk" in this context?  Is there any particular reason this word was
selected, as opposed to, say, some other architectural reference, such as,
oh, bungalow or pergola?  Who was the genius who settled on "kiosk"?

David Haberstich

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