Downtown San Diego is getting a tech upgrade with the rollout of new digital interactive kiosks to aid navigation and provide information to locals and visitors. Mayor Todd Gloria, together with the Downtown San Diego Partnership and IKE Smart City, unveiled the first of these wayfinding kiosks, known as IKE (Interactive Kiosk Experience), in a ribbon-cutting ceremony earlier today.
These kiosks feature dual-sided digital touchscreens with applications designed to help people discover local businesses, explore diverse transportation options, and access essential resources like safe shelters and addiction recovery programs. According to an article published byInside San Diego, Mayor Gloria stated, “These interactive kiosks will help make Downtown San Diego more accessible and connected. It was further detailed that the devices provide 24/7 access to various city programs.
The City Council approved installing at least 50 of these kiosks in June 2023, and they will be installed throughout downtown over the coming two years. The first kiosk has been positioned in the City Center neighborhood at the intersection of 1200 Fourth Ave. and B Street, close to the office of the Downtown San Diego Partnership.
An interesting feature of the IKE kiosks is their capability to directly connect users to the Downtown San Diego Partnership s Clean and Safe Team. This comes through the “Downtown security call button” on each kiosk’s side. As documented byInside San Diego, “Users will have direct access to a live team at all hours to report safety concerns, request an escort to their car late at night in the Downtown area and more. This feature is expected to enhance public safety and offer peace of mind to those navigating downtown.
Beyond aiding navigation and safety, these kiosks will also serve as a new revenue stream for the city. Advertisements and branding opportunities on the kiosks are projected to generate nearly $15 million for the City of San Diego and another $7 million for the San Diego Downtown Partnership. The deployment strategy is to have the network of kiosks spread across various downtown districts, including the City Center, Columbia District, Marina District, East Village, Cortez, and the Convention Center District within the next two years. The successful launch of this first kiosk suggests a positive stride towards a more connected and technologically enlivened San Diego.
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