Austin Expands Downtown Digital Kiosk Network: 10 Planned by Year-End, Two Already Operating
AUSTIN — Austin is a city in Travis County, Texas. Downtown Austin is expanding its network of interactive digital kiosks, with 10 installations planned by the end of the year and two already operating, according to Fox 7 Austin.
The kiosks, operated by IKE Smart City, offer interactive maps, transit information, event listings, community resources and emergency notifications, along with free Wi-Fi; users can also send directions to their phones. The two operating units are at Congress Avenue and Barton Springs Road and at Second Street and San Antonio Street. Two more are due by the end of October — at Second Street and Guadalupe Street and at Congress Avenue and 10th Street — with six additional units to follow before year's end. The city evaluated 50 candidate locations and will notify nearby property owners before installations.
City officials say the program uses an advertising-supported model at no cost to taxpayers, with advertising revenue shared with the city and discounted rates for small local businesses. The kiosks have no cameras and are not designed to collect personal information.
Source: GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: Austin 的 South Congress Avenue（公共领域图片，via Wikimedia Commons）
