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Axios
03-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
Seattleites divided on digital kiosks in public spaces
Many locals are wary of Seattle's plans to install 30 digital wayfinding kiosks downtown, according to an informal survey of Axios Seattle readers. Why it matters: An ordinance signed Tuesday by Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell will allow the Downtown Seattle Association to install the touchscreen kiosks throughout the central business district. Each kiosk measures more than 8 feet tall by 3 feet wide, and will display slides that are mostly advertisements when not in active use. Zoom in: Axios Seattle recently asked readers to share their thoughts about the incoming kiosks, and some questioned if the benefits will justify increased advertising and privatization of public space. Of the 51 people who responded, two-thirds had negative reactions, with 49% strongly disapproving of the kiosks' installation and about 18% saying they somewhat disapprove. What they're saying: Advertising was the most common concern mentioned, followed by the kiosks' appearance and size. "It's crowded in Seattle already — now we will have to dodge bulky, unwanted advertising too?" wrote reader Joni Bosh, who described the kiosks as "billboards at face level." Even some who like the idea of the kiosks as a way to relay public information worried they'll quickly become defaced and vandalized, turning them into eyesores. Others raised concerns about privacy, given that the kiosks will include cameras as part of a user-operated selfie booth feature. The city ordinance says the kiosks won't retain those images, nor take other types of photos or video. The other side: Some readers said the devices — which are already in use in about two dozen other U.S. cities — are useful tools that Seattle should embrace. Reader Peter Kulseth described them as "another awesome way to demonstrate the tech-focused and futuristic feel that Seattle embodies so well." A few people described privacy concerns as overblown, noting that the kiosks will be placed on public streets where there is little expectation of privacy. What's next: The Downtown Seattle Association expects to have all 30 kiosks installed by next summer, when Seattle is slated to host six matches as part of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Axios
25-06-2025
- Business
- Axios
Seattle council greenlights digital kiosks on city streets
Dozens of digital kiosks are slated to appear across downtown Seattle early next year, after the City Council granted final approval for their installation this week. Why it matters: The interactive kiosks — each more than 8 feet tall and more than 3 feet wide — will offer information about local events and attractions, alongside a heavy dose of advertising. The latest: Mayor Bruce Harrell is expected to sign off on the plan, which he supported in a news release this week. That would greenlight the Downtown Seattle Association to begin installing the kiosks in public spaces. By the numbers: Thirty kiosks are planned for the business district between Denny Way and Pioneer Square, with installation expected to wrap by next summer — just in time for Seattle to host six FIFA World Cup matches. Another 30 kiosks may later go up downtown. Twenty more could be installed across business hubs in West Seattle, SoDo, Ballard and the University District. Follow the money: The first wave of kiosks is expected to generate about $1.1 million annually in advertising revenue, which the Downtown Seattle Association plans to use for downtown improvement projects. Additional revenue would go to the city. Yes, but: Privacy advocates have raised concerns that the devices, which include cameras, could eventually be used to record or track passersby. The City Council's ordinance bans the kiosks from taking photographs or video, except for a user-operated selfie booth feature. Those images wouldn't be retained, the ordinance says.
Geek Wire
24-06-2025
- Business
- Geek Wire
Seattle council gives final OK to large digital kiosks, paving way for installation of devices on city streets
An IKE Smart City digital kiosk along a street in Baltimore. The technology is coming to downtown Seattle in time for the FIFA World Cup soccer tournament next year. (IKE Smart City Photo) 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.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘Graffiti drives me crazy': DSA stresses what work needs to be done ahead of 2026 World Cup
This story was initially published on Seattle is just days away from officially being one year away from hosting the 2026 World Cup, and there is still a ton of work to do, according to the Downtown Seattle Association (DSA). 'It's nice to have a marker, a milestone, a big event that everybody can sort of rally around,' Jon Scholes, president and CEO of DSA, said on 'The John Curley Show' on KIRO Newsradio. 'A date in a line in the sand out there in June 2026, so there's been a lot of good work to date. I mean, we should be doing this stuff anyway.' That 'stuff' Scholes cited includes the removal of graffiti that covers much of the downtown neighborhood. 'The graffiti drives me crazy,' Scholes said. 'I would say, in the city and in downtown, we have a lot less graffiti than we did two years ago, and I do credit the mayor for his actions there. I think where we all see it, where we haven't seen as much progress, is on the freeway walls, and we need a lot more help from our friends at the State Department of Transportation (SDOT) and WSDOT on that front to make a better experience.' Approximately 750,000 visitors are expected to come to Seattle for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. With this surge of tourism incoming, Seattle is working toward hiring more police officers, a trend Scholes is already seeing come to fruition. 'We have more officers and have more folks that have applied to be officers in the last three, four months than we've had in 10 years,' Scholes said. 'We are on pace to hire 170 officers this year. We've got a great new police chief who is a terrific leader and has the respect of his officers in this department and the business community. I hope we can use this World Cup event to mobilize more action, and we should then sustain it.' Violent crime in downtown Seattle has been on the decline, according to the DSA's latest State of Downtown report, starting late last year. From September to December 2024, violent crime in key areas, including Third Avenue and Pine Street, dropped by 50% compared to two years ago. Observed drug activity also fell by 30%. 'We're in a better place when it comes to violent crime and drug activity, but it's not as good as it needs to be,' Scholes said. 'We have too many guns in the wrong hands, and what used to be a fist fight is often a gunfight, and that's not so much a downtown thing, that's also regional, statewide. 'It was chaotic in downtown two, three years ago,' Scholes added. 'We had tents everywhere, and we had sex trafficking and drug trafficking out of those tents.'
Axios
22-05-2025
- Business
- Axios
Touch-screen kiosks may come to Seattle streets
Seattle officials are debating whether to install dozens of digital kiosks, each measuring over 8 feet tall, in public spaces downtown and in business districts. Why it matters: Supporters of adding the interactive kiosks say they'll relay valuable way-finding tips and public safety messages, along with information about local events and restaurants. But they'll also be vehicles for digital ads — and privacy advocates worry they could one day be used to record passersby or collect people's data. Catch up quick: The Seattle City Council is considering legislation to allow 30 of the touch-screen kiosks to be installed downtown before next summer's 2026 FIFA World Cup events. Another 50 kiosks could be installed after that, with some potentially going up in business improvement areas in Ballard, SoDo, West Seattle and the U-District. Zoom in: Each digital kiosk would measure 8.25 feet tall by 3.15 feet wide and would be equipped with apps to help people find local attractions and transit service. When not in active use, the kiosks will cycle through eight digital slides, seven of which could be private advertisements. The kiosks, which can translate information into multiple languages, would also act as free Wi-FI hubs and could be used to call 911. What they're saying: Jon Scholes, president and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association, told Axios that the technology could help "people discover and engage with the urban area," including by finding events and businesses "that they may not even know to search for." Each kiosk's content would be customized to show what's directly nearby, he said. They'd go up in public rights-of-way, adjacent to sidewalks and roadways. Between the lines: Scholes said Seattle's kiosks wouldn't include security cameras. At most, they'll have a manually operated selfie camera, he said. (A city memo says those photos wouldn't be retained.) But Tee Sannon of the ACLU of Washington told KUOW there's a danger of "mission creep" should the kiosks go up. "It's easy to then start adding new features that could be invasive," Sannon said. With that in mind, "strong forward-looking policies and protections should be in place before any kiosk is installed," Caedmon Magboo Cahill, the ACLU-WA's policy advocacy director, said in an emailed statement to Axios. The big picture: Kiosks made by the same company are used in about 20 other cities, including San Diego, Baltimore, Miami and Denver, Scholes said. Follow the money: The Downtown Seattle Association, which would run the kiosk program at no cost to the city, expects to collect about $1.1 million per year in advertising revenue from the first 30 kiosks. That money would go toward downtown improvement efforts, Scholes said, with any additional revenue to be directed back to the city. What's next: The Seattle City Council could vote in early June on a resolution that would grant "conceptual approval" for the kiosk program.
