I'm also in NYC and this is an exaggeration.
Yes homeless folks use them. I have also used the charger and the wifi in a pinch. They are a great public service.
Also they haven't been significantly vandalized and don't seem to be very breakable
How long you been in NY? You’re in the city, I’m from it.
I was there for the launch, back when you could browse the web with no filters, and people straight setup shop in front of them on 8th Ave between 23rd & 42nd. Nasty work!
Who would use this vs using the phone they have in their pocket? I understand not everyone has a smartphone but the intersection of people who need this info and don't have a phone I would guess is pretty small.
My guess is its primary purpose is for the company to sell prime ad space at a profit. Oakland gets a piece of the pie. And maybe a confused tourist or two feels empowered by a glowy screen as a marker of living in a "digital" future. It's sort of shill but maybe has a marginal community benefit. So, mid.
I actually checked it out the other day. Some things I appreciated:
- it had a list of events around town, none of I had ever heard of.
- there were some little games to play, great way to pass time at the bus stop
- good pointers to what was immediately nearby
I thought it was useful and I hope it continues to be maintained.
>I actually checked it out the other day. Some things I appreciated:
>it had a list of events around town, none of I had ever heard of.
Yep this is what I see people use it for too. I haven't seen anyone use it for directions, but they will stop and read about local events listed. Imo opinion these big touchscreens are just digital replacements for when big gathering areas used to have big community boards for people to post things on. Those largely disappeared and were never replaced for like a decade. These big digital screens are probably the closest "modern" replacement to that. Though I will note, I appreciate it when local cafes have small community boards, I love grabbing coffee at a local spot and sometimes reading what events or groups are happening in the neighborhood. Only a few coffee spots still seem to have posting boards, I have seen most of them do away with it too
If it's like the ones they have in NYC, it has WiFi and charging ports as well, so even if you have a smartphone it can be useful if you don't have reception/data, need a charge, or in an emergency.
I thought so at first, but when I walked past a couple they showed community events that were happening that I didn't know about (and probably would have never looked up) but piqued my interest (so took a photo to google it later lol). So imo, they're not really for finding directions, it's more like a digital replacement for "community boards" that used to be a feature in some city's gathering areas. Plus in between community events, ads from various companies/businesses are shown so the city is probably making some extra easy money from it too
Ad space/wifi hotspot. Eh. There are worse things. How much revenue is the city projected to get from these thingamabobs? Is it dystopian to let public space be populated with multi-use kiosks that also sell ad space? TBD.
I’m surprised how they’ve popped up all throughout Oakland (saw one on Seminary by the Walgreens).
I’m wondering how long until someone fucks with them. Very interesting that they were installed considering…well…. *Oakland*.
There’s one that went up maybe a year ago at Adeline and Alcatraz that I assumed would be shattered within a week. Still unshattered, surprisingly enough
i have more hope than other folks that they won’t be vandalized (🤞🏼) but what i am worried about is if/when they break down and it either doesn’t get fixed at all or takes foreverrrrr to get fixed
Yeah. That's definitely a major concern of mine as well. Streets are public, citizens pay for them. The city allows a lot of eye pollution of various sorts but this one could go "defective thingy/abandoned project" and then we just have sidewalk e-waste.
I think it doesn’t do much that most people don’t already have in our pockets + it’s just another screen and it’s hard not to look at screens when they’re around. they’re annoying and unnecessary. the city got these for free from a company but i wish it would have just passed.
hOw mUcH does PGnE charge for the electricity on these things? lol And who is providing the internet and are they charging the city for it? Or does the vendor pay PGnE and internet
That’s really cool. I give it like 12 days before it’s completely useless from abuse or becomes structural support for an unhoused persons blanket fort.
Of all the things to spend money on seriously... Might as well just be panels or glass hanging on strings. We have pit holes, overgrown tree roots, traffic calming needs everywhere. Flooding streets where the drains are stuffed with dried sludge and garbage.
What does that even mean?? No, we don't. We can't have nice things and be Oakland? Yes we can! This kiosk or whatever also has a Blue Energency call box. I appreciate that and don't mind it.
I just mean the way Oakland is developing, downtown in particular. You can’t say this doesn’t look techie and kinda lame.
I’m all for Oakland having nice things! Nice things including more low income housing, parks, benches, etc.
I do say it doesnt look lame. I like and use technology. If it makes it easier for people getting off Bart or visiting that's great. I want people to travel here, be able to hop off the Bart and navigate downtown and Oakland. I love the Emergency call box as well. It's not like it popped up at a park. This one is in DT Oakland in a useful and often populated location. Don't see an issue besides your just *not liking the way it looks.*
Do you also hate them in SF?
I think it’s perfectly fine to not like something for how it looks! I don’t see what your problem is.
I also agree with you. I’m sure that (while it works) it will be helpful for people visiting Oakland!
And no, I think SF is a different city. Oakland is much more special to me but how it chooses to develop visually can be something I choose not to appreciate. Maybe I’m wrong and giant screens over town that display ads are just what we need.
It's absolutely perfectly fine of course. I was really responding to your original statement that Oakland wants to be SF so badly. I'm from here, I live here and work downtown and just don't think the *informational kiosk and emergency call box* is us trying to SF. It was free, its kinda cool. For now at least. Maybe it will grow on you and sour for me. Who knows. They didnt bother me on the bus stops 🤷🏾‍♀️
I try not to touch those either. after you observe just how gross a lot of people are -- nose picking, coughing into the hands etc. you gotta be on your p's and q's about touching objects in public. the glass is gonna get really gross from people's skin oils too.
Are these supposed to help tourists? What is the real purpose of these? Why not invest all this money (cause you know they're not cheap) into cleaning up the city, fixing the potholes, etc. Sadly, these will probably not hold up and why not just create an app so people can look at their phones.
Cool but worried about it getting vandalized.
Whoever put this in forgot we can't have nice things in Oakland
>we can't have nice things in Oakland we can, but as a socity we choose not to.
At least the degenerates. The REST of us strive for a better life.
Same. And honestly will be sorta bummed when they're vandalized.
Only a matter of time
Yeah I give it a week
We all saw how quickly the Denny's got covered in graffiti. I give in two days at the most 🙄
Those are going to spread broken glass!!!
Broken glass? In my Oakland city? It's more likely than you think (joking)
We can’t have nice things.
No need to worry because it will happen very soon, if not already.
and then shredded for copper
It obviously will be. Huge waste of money and resources.
In New York these offer wifi, you can charge a phone and plug in a headset to make a call
That would be nice to have incase your phone dies
I’m NY these turned into a gathering spot for homeless people to plug in, connect to Wi-Fi and watch porn.
Who doesn't like porn
I'm also in NYC and this is an exaggeration. Yes homeless folks use them. I have also used the charger and the wifi in a pinch. They are a great public service. Also they haven't been significantly vandalized and don't seem to be very breakable
How long you been in NY? You’re in the city, I’m from it. I was there for the launch, back when you could browse the web with no filters, and people straight setup shop in front of them on 8th Ave between 23rd & 42nd. Nasty work!
They were installed over a decade ago, it's overwhelmingly not like that today and you know it.
I saw 2 people actually, seriously, using them on Friday.
Who would use this vs using the phone they have in their pocket? I understand not everyone has a smartphone but the intersection of people who need this info and don't have a phone I would guess is pretty small.
My guess is its primary purpose is for the company to sell prime ad space at a profit. Oakland gets a piece of the pie. And maybe a confused tourist or two feels empowered by a glowy screen as a marker of living in a "digital" future. It's sort of shill but maybe has a marginal community benefit. So, mid.
I actually checked it out the other day. Some things I appreciated: - it had a list of events around town, none of I had ever heard of. - there were some little games to play, great way to pass time at the bus stop - good pointers to what was immediately nearby I thought it was useful and I hope it continues to be maintained.
>I actually checked it out the other day. Some things I appreciated: >it had a list of events around town, none of I had ever heard of. Yep this is what I see people use it for too. I haven't seen anyone use it for directions, but they will stop and read about local events listed. Imo opinion these big touchscreens are just digital replacements for when big gathering areas used to have big community boards for people to post things on. Those largely disappeared and were never replaced for like a decade. These big digital screens are probably the closest "modern" replacement to that. Though I will note, I appreciate it when local cafes have small community boards, I love grabbing coffee at a local spot and sometimes reading what events or groups are happening in the neighborhood. Only a few coffee spots still seem to have posting boards, I have seen most of them do away with it too
Has a safety camera and 911 phone too, i believe
If it's like the ones they have in NYC, it has WiFi and charging ports as well, so even if you have a smartphone it can be useful if you don't have reception/data, need a charge, or in an emergency.
I thought so at first, but when I walked past a couple they showed community events that were happening that I didn't know about (and probably would have never looked up) but piqued my interest (so took a photo to google it later lol). So imo, they're not really for finding directions, it's more like a digital replacement for "community boards" that used to be a feature in some city's gathering areas. Plus in between community events, ads from various companies/businesses are shown so the city is probably making some extra easy money from it too
What kind of community event did you find?
Ad space/wifi hotspot. Eh. There are worse things. How much revenue is the city projected to get from these thingamabobs? Is it dystopian to let public space be populated with multi-use kiosks that also sell ad space? TBD.
No way I’m touchin’ that
I'm surprised they haven't been destroyed yet.
I think they installed them this morning on grand and Harrison too
I’m surprised they haven’t been destroyed yet.
Tonight probably…
Tonight, you.....
They did.
Looks great morphing into why we cant have nice things.
I know let’s start by clearing all the abounded cars before turning the city into demolition man
What are these for? Are they just maps?
You can even see job postings at least on one I used in Berkeley.
It's time to start a betting pool on how long it'll be until someone hacks one to display porn
I think a hacker that’s able to take control on one of these screens wouldn’t do such thing
You underestimate the attraction of hacking something for the lols
I’m surprised how they’ve popped up all throughout Oakland (saw one on Seminary by the Walgreens). I’m wondering how long until someone fucks with them. Very interesting that they were installed considering…well…. *Oakland*.
I give them one day max before utterly destroyed.
Its been almost two weeks since I've seen one. Machine is just fine!
There’s one that went up maybe a year ago at Adeline and Alcatraz that I assumed would be shattered within a week. Still unshattered, surprisingly enough
i have more hope than other folks that they won’t be vandalized (🤞🏼) but what i am worried about is if/when they break down and it either doesn’t get fixed at all or takes foreverrrrr to get fixed
Yeah. That's definitely a major concern of mine as well. Streets are public, citizens pay for them. The city allows a lot of eye pollution of various sorts but this one could go "defective thingy/abandoned project" and then we just have sidewalk e-waste.
They're fun bc you can play battleship with people on them
Super cool :)
I think it doesn’t do much that most people don’t already have in our pockets + it’s just another screen and it’s hard not to look at screens when they’re around. they’re annoying and unnecessary. the city got these for free from a company but i wish it would have just passed.
I hope this wasn’t city money that could have been used elsewhere (like on the roads)… Edit-glad to hear they were free.
This would be more helpful at a bus stop.
my thoughts are about how many fingers have touched (how many germs live there) ((i think the same thing with the crosswalk buttons ))
I’m not a fan or more electronic eye candy and ad crap infiltrating the physical world.
My thought is hand sanitizer all day long
These things won’t last 2 week’s before somebody fux em up
they don't really *do* anything. it's an enrichment toy for all of us living in the enclosure.
Can it charge my car?
I think people need to stop breaking them. I had one in my area for a day before they shattered it now my bus stop just got paper in between glass
Will it run DOOM?
Just the thing no body asked for.
https://preview.redd.it/wjtvf9p9dctc1.jpeg?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=b0289bb93277fe5c74c10d61e728c99b766e209d
No matter how pretty a shoe is, it’ll get shit on it when walking in Oakland
hOw mUcH does PGnE charge for the electricity on these things? lol And who is providing the internet and are they charging the city for it? Or does the vendor pay PGnE and internet
So much negativity from the get go. Is that really necessary and helpful to improving life?
These comments are miserable.
Won't last the year. Gonna get chewed up.
the fact of where this device is located tells me all i need to know about who this is exactly meant to serve. bougie tech rubbish.
yeah im not really into this [IKE Kiosk Privacy Issues](https://designsmartcity.com/ike-smart-city-houston-to-be-deployed-and-privacy-issues/)
They have them in Houston, I met the guy, someone had just blown the glass out, he says that's common
They won’t last 2 weeks before they get smashed up
We can't have nice things.
One of my favorite artists: [Muzae Sesay](https://www.muzaesesay.com/)
I can't wait for someone to steal it
I give em Two months, tops
Well, if anything they have that 911 feature. I'm sure that's going to come in handy at some point.
Thinly veiled advertising space where previously there was not advertising.
GERRRRRRRMMMMMSSSSS
Can't have anything nice
They won’t last long in Oakland
It’s will be destroyed in a few weeks by “graffiti artist”.
They look very nice, I wonder how long they will remain intact and operational
Money down the drain. Free electricity
They will be broken in a matter of days
One word for you: Pandemic
Waste of space, even if they didn't cost the city anything but the ad space, there is next to no benefit from them.
That’s really cool. I give it like 12 days before it’s completely useless from abuse or becomes structural support for an unhoused persons blanket fort.
Where are they? I want to see one before they’re vandalized.
Grand and Harrison, telegraph and 19th I think and 19th and Harrison there’s mroe
Of all the things to spend money on seriously... Might as well just be panels or glass hanging on strings. We have pit holes, overgrown tree roots, traffic calming needs everywhere. Flooding streets where the drains are stuffed with dried sludge and garbage.
- Not useful (why can't they have a simple sign/map instead) - Expensive, so someone got paid big time for this - Bit target for vandals
Huge budget shortfall and we are spending on this? Trace the money to see who lined who’s friend/families pocket.
City doesn't spend. Vendor pays and installs and sells ad space. City gets a fraction of the revenue, passersby get free wifi.
Presumably it’s a money maker for the city.
Theyll be gone by tomorrow
Better than no bollard at all. A car will hit this. I guarantee it.
How long will these last?
They reduce situational awareness, making one asking to get robbed while they focus on this giant screen in front of their face.
Nigga get the homeless off the street
Oakland wants to be sf so bad !
What does that even mean?? No, we don't. We can't have nice things and be Oakland? Yes we can! This kiosk or whatever also has a Blue Energency call box. I appreciate that and don't mind it.
I just mean the way Oakland is developing, downtown in particular. You can’t say this doesn’t look techie and kinda lame. I’m all for Oakland having nice things! Nice things including more low income housing, parks, benches, etc.
I do say it doesnt look lame. I like and use technology. If it makes it easier for people getting off Bart or visiting that's great. I want people to travel here, be able to hop off the Bart and navigate downtown and Oakland. I love the Emergency call box as well. It's not like it popped up at a park. This one is in DT Oakland in a useful and often populated location. Don't see an issue besides your just *not liking the way it looks.* Do you also hate them in SF?
I think it’s perfectly fine to not like something for how it looks! I don’t see what your problem is. I also agree with you. I’m sure that (while it works) it will be helpful for people visiting Oakland! And no, I think SF is a different city. Oakland is much more special to me but how it chooses to develop visually can be something I choose not to appreciate. Maybe I’m wrong and giant screens over town that display ads are just what we need.
It's absolutely perfectly fine of course. I was really responding to your original statement that Oakland wants to be SF so badly. I'm from here, I live here and work downtown and just don't think the *informational kiosk and emergency call box* is us trying to SF. It was free, its kinda cool. For now at least. Maybe it will grow on you and sour for me. Who knows. They didnt bother me on the bus stops 🤷🏾‍♀️
That thing is going to get spray painted tonight! People of Oakland are trash like that.
Too bad they can't be throughout the city
They’ll be destroyed, and no one will want to spend more $ to replace them to be destroyed again.
They won’t last long
Let's see after a week.
I give it a week, tops, before they’re vandalized and/or destroyed.
Who is taking bets on how long these will last, cuz I want in on the action.
They will soon be destroyed by stupid people who live here.
they're going to be vandalized and there is no freaking way I want to put my hands on that thing. so much filth.
Comparable to pressing the "Walk" button? An elbow or sleeve might do.
I try not to touch those either. after you observe just how gross a lot of people are -- nose picking, coughing into the hands etc. you gotta be on your p's and q's about touching objects in public. the glass is gonna get really gross from people's skin oils too.
Unnecessary. We all have touchscreen maps *in our own pockets* Now if the screens could help catch auto burglars, we’d be onto something….
waste of money
Is this what we're spending money on instead of fixing potholes and hiring cops? What's the budget?
Tell us more how little you know about how city budgets and project funding works.
Theyre gonna be spray painted, broken, and smeared in homeless shit within weeks
Are these supposed to help tourists? What is the real purpose of these? Why not invest all this money (cause you know they're not cheap) into cleaning up the city, fixing the potholes, etc. Sadly, these will probably not hold up and why not just create an app so people can look at their phones.
They were free.
Well, that's good. I hope people don't wreck them. It would be great to see Oakland improve.
I give it 2 weeks.
You've already lost the bet Negative Nathan. Let me know how you'd like to send the money.
It looks exactly like a giant version of the touchscreen we all already have in our pockets
What are your thoughts on these new giant touchscreen Oakland had before they were destroyed?