Setting up a face attendance kiosk: placement, light, power and network
A good kiosk position makes scanning fast for everyone. Height, light, power and network — the details that matter on day one.
← All articles · Published 16 Oct 2026 · FaceBiometric team
A face attendance kiosk is only as fast as its position. A few simple choices — height, light, power, network — decide whether people walk past in a second or stop and adjust. This guide is based on how FaceBiometric kiosks are used at college gates, but applies to any face attendance setup.
The device
- An Android phone or tablet, Android 7.0 or newer, with a working front camera.
- A recent mid-range device with good battery life is ideal; tablets give a bigger preview for people to see themselves.
- Keep the device dedicated to attendance — FaceBiometric locks each Device ID to one phone and the app locks itself when idle.
Placement and height
- Mount the kiosk at face height — roughly 145–160 cm from the floor to the camera for adults — on a wall mount or a stand.
- Put it where people naturally slow down: just inside the gate or beside the entry door, not in the middle of the walkway.
- Leave space for a short queue so people don't crowd around the screen.
- For separate IN and OUT flows, use two kiosks — the records still come out in the right order.
Light
- Light should fall on faces, not come from behind them. Avoid a bright window or open gate directly behind the people being scanned.
- Indoor tube or LED light in front of or above the kiosk works well. In dim corridors, add a small light near the kiosk.
- Avoid direct sunlight on the screen; it also heats the phone.
Power and network
- Keep the device always on charge from a nearby socket; use a good cable and charger.
- Wi-Fi or mobile data is needed only to sync. If the internet drops, attendance continues and uploads later — but keep the connection reliable so dashboards stay live.
How many kiosks?
One kiosk marks people one after another in about a second each. Plan by your morning peak: if a large part of the college arrives within the same 10–15 minutes through one gate, add a second or third kiosk there. Separate buildings or floors usually get their own kiosk.
Day-one checklist
- Kiosk mounted at face height, light on faces, charger connected.
- Device linked on the Devices page; app-lock PIN set.
- Faces registered (a few seconds per person) — after consent where required.
- A test scan by an admin, then a look at the dashboard.
More: Face attendance without a machine.
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