Seattle council gives final OK to large digital kiosks, paving way for installation of devices on city streets
The Seattle City Council approved a permit ordinance Tuesday that paves the way for the installation of large digital wayfinding kiosks around the urban core and eventually in neighborhoods across the city.
By a 6-2 vote, the council granted the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA) permission to install and operate the interactive media kiosks from IKE Smart City.
The dual-sided, touchscreen kiosks — the first of which are expected to be in the ground within the next year — feature free Wi-Fi access and can relay information related to transportation, community events, safety, health, arts and entertainment, with advertising included.
DSA plans to bring 30 of the devices to Seattle's Metropolitan Improvement District during Phase 1 of the project, in time for the FIFA World Cup and 750,000 visitors in 2026. Phase 2 would bring another 30 kiosks downtown and 20 more in Business Improvement Areas in the city, such as the SoDo, Ballard, University District and West Seattle neighborhoods.
Council President Sara Nelson, sponsor of CB 120992 and chair of the Governance, Accountability & Economic Development committee, called it a 'win for Seattle.'
'These kiosks represent a near-term opportunity to enhance the pedestrian experience, improve public safety communications, and support downtown's economic and cultural revitalization — in addition to multiple public benefits including free Wi-Fi and multilingual wayfinding,' Nelson said in a statement.
There is no cost to the City of Seattle for the installation or upkeep of the kiosks, which could generate, on average, $1.1 million per year via advertising revenue that would go to DSA. The organization says it would invest that money back into downtown. The city would also share in any additional revenue that exceeds an agreed-upon threshold.
Concerns about the devices were raised during the proposal's move through the council. Some objected to the visual clutter of the kiosks in the city's landscape, oversaturation of advertising, and light pollution. Others were worried about potential surveillance and privacy issues.
Seattle City Council President Sara Nelson discusses the need for digital wayfinding kiosks in Seattle alongside Markham McIntyre, director of the Office of Economic Development, center, and Jon Scholes, president and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association, at City Hall in May. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)
The kiosks are a product of Columbus, Ohio-based advertising company Orange Barrel Media. There are currently 23 U.S. cities where the IKE program has been implemented.
GeekWire got an up-close look at the devices during a demonstration of the devices at City Hall in May.
Each IKE (interactive kiosk experience) measures just over 8 feet tall and 3 feet wide, with a depth of about 1 foot. The screen size is 12 1/2 square feet and can be interacted with like any smart touchscreen, with users scrolling through city-specific apps and content, such as maps, nearby restaurant listings, the city's Find It, Fix It app, and more. There is also a button on the side of each kiosk which allows for 911 calls.
The kiosks include a selfie camera that is part of a popular 'Photo Booth' application, where users can interact and snap pictures to send to themselves. But IKE says photos are not stored on the kiosks or retained by the company and no video cameras are included for surveillance.
Seattle's IT department previously reviewed the IKE proposal and said it complies with the city's surveillance ordinance.
As for other privacy and data concerns, IKE says it does not collect or sell personally identifiable information or any other data, and the kiosks collect usage analytics data only. They record which applications are opened and for how long, and an anonymous tally is kept of user visits to each kiosk.
DSA President CEO Jon Scholes called the kiosks 'a smart, zero-cost solution that benefits everyone who lives, works and visits downtown.' He said the devices will 'help people navigate the city, discover local businesses and stay connected, all while generating revenue to support cleaning, beautification and events in downtown.'
The legislation will now to go Mayor Bruce Harrell — a supporter of the project — for signature.
'With these tools, residents and visitors will be able to better navigate our city, discover hidden gems, and stay up-to-date on events throughout the city — building a more connected, welcoming Seattle every single day,' Harrell said in a statement.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Patterson-UTI (PTEN): Among the Best Oil and Gas Stocks for Dividend Income
Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTEN) is included among the 12 Best Oil and Gas Dividend Stocks to Buy Now. A drilling site in the wilds of nature, highlighting the company's commitment to exploration. Following its 2023 acquisition of Nextier, Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTEN) has emerged as a dominant player in US drilling and completions, boasting the country's largest pressure pumping fleet. The company returned $51 million to shareholders in the first quarter of 2025, including $20 million for share repurchases. PTEN also declared a quarterly dividend of $0.08 per share in April and offers an attractive annual dividend yield of 5.37% as of the writing of this piece. Over the 18 months from September 30, 2023, through March 31, 2025, Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTEN) used approximately $387 million to repurchase shares and reduced its share count by 8%. The company still has $741 million in remaining share repurchase authorization as of the end of the first quarter of 2025. PTEN revealed in its investor presentation last month that it has a target to return at least 50% of this adjusted free cash flow to shareholders, supported by a strong capital structure with no senior note maturities until 2028. Patterson-UTI Energy, Inc. (NASDAQ:PTEN) is a leading provider of drilling and completion services to oil and natural gas exploration and production companies in the United States and other select countries. While we acknowledge the potential of PTEN as an investment, we believe certain AI stocks offer greater upside potential and carry less downside risk. If you're looking for an extremely undervalued AI stock that also stands to benefit significantly from Trump-era tariffs and the onshoring trend, see our free report on the best short-term AI stock. READ NEXT: 10 Best Nuclear Energy Stocks to Buy Right Now and The 5 Energy Stocks Billionaires are Quietly Piling Into. Disclosure: None. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
The Best $250 You Can Spend on Retirement Planning Before the End of 2025
Do you feel like you're grappling in the dark when it comes to retirement planning but aren't sure where to turn or if you should spend money to get those plans in order? If you have even a few hundred dollars, there are a few ways you can use that money to make a significant difference in your retirement goals. Be Aware: Read Next: Christopher Stroup, a CFP and owner of Silicon Beach Financial, offered tips on the best $250 or less you can spend on your retirement planning before this year is up to feel confident in where you're going. An Hour With a Fiduciary Advisor If you only have a couple hundred dollars to spend, Stroup recommended you spend it on a one-time planning session with a fiduciary advisor who specializes in retirement planning. 'A targeted session can identify overlooked tax strategies, prioritize savings vehicles and help avoid costly missteps,' he explained. Even just a single hour of personalized advice can provide more clarity than weeks of online research, especially for entrepreneurs or tech professionals navigating equity, cash flow and multiple income sources, he said. 'Look for advisors who offer project-based or hourly services and focus on tax strategy, Social Security and withdrawal planning,' he said. You should come away from a one-time session 'with clarity, not a sales pitch.' Learn More: A Social Security Timing Analysis Another great way to spend a few hundred dollars is to get a Social Security timing analysis, Stroup said. 'For under $250, you can model break-even ages, spousal benefits and the impact of delaying benefits.' This analysis is important because this single decision can mean tens of thousands more over your lifetime, especially for dual-income households or individuals with uneven earnings histories, Stroup explained. Strategic Tax Planning If you feel you have more questions for a fiduciary advisor than can be summed up in an hour, consider focusing the session around strategic tax planning, Stroup urged. This can help you avoid future Medicare surcharges, minimize required minimum withdrawal (RMD) taxes and better time Roth conversions. 'A well-timed projection can reveal opportunities that disappear at retirement or when tax brackets shift. Spending a few hundred now can prevent five-figure tax mistakes later.' Invest In Planning Tools, but Be Cautious For a low annual cost, tools like Boldin's retirement planning tool allow users to stress-test income scenarios, Social Security timing, Roth conversions and healthcare costs, Stroup said. Retirement planning tools that map out your income, expenses and drawdown strategy can be useful. They can also help you understand your 'burn rate' and how to sequence withdrawals to prevent common missteps that derail early retirement plans. However, Stroup warned that the simpler, more DIY tools can make it too easy to 'underestimate taxes on withdrawals, mistime Social Security or hold too much in cash or high-fee funds.' Thus, a small investment in expert guidance or advanced planning software can flag these risks early before they compound over decades. More From GOBankingRates How Much Money Is Needed To Be Considered Middle Class in Your State? This article originally appeared on The Best $250 You Can Spend on Retirement Planning Before the End of 2025 Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Over 5.2 million pools sold across the U.S. and Canada are under recall after reports of nine deaths
NEW YORK (AP) — More than 5.2 million aboveground swimming pools sold across the U.S. and Canada over the last two decades are being recalled after nine drowning deaths were reported. The recall covers a range of Bestway, Intex Recreation and Polygroup pools that were sold by major retailers as far back as 2002. According to Monday notices published by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, these pools have compression straps running along the outside of the product — which 'may create a foothold' for small children and allow them to access the water unattended. That can pose a serious drowning risk, the safety regulatory warn. To date, the CPSC believes nine children across the U.S. have drowned after gaining access to these now-recalled pools in this way. Those deaths occurred between 2007 and 2022, involving children between the ages of 22 months and 3 years old. No additional fatalities have been reported in Canada. Consumers in possession of these pools are urged to immediately contact Bestway, Intex and/or Polygroup to receive a free repair kit — which will consist of a rope to replace the compression strap. Owners of these pools should otherwise ensure that small children cannot access the pool without supervision, regulators note — and could alternatively drain the pool until the repair is made. All of the pools being recalled are 48 inches or taller — and can be identified by brand and model names listed on both the CPSC and Health Canada's recall notices. Sales of the pools ranged by model and location, but date as far back to 2002 and as recently as 2025. About 5 million of these now-recalled pools were sold across the U.S. — including both online and in-stores at major retailers like Walmart, Target, Lowe's, Costco and Amazon. Another 266,000 were sold in Canada. The Associated Press Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
