All Dallas-area “Citypost” kiosks have been upgraded to address COVID-19 concerns in Texas, with touchless mobile activation of all broadcast content now available at DART bus and light rail stations.
“With COVID-19, one of the biggest public concerns is the transfer of the virus by touch. We wanted to help address that directly without any disruption of the valuable information we’re providing for the community,” said Tom Touchet, CEO of Smart City Media.
DALLAS (PRWEB)
August 20, 2020
All Dallas-area “Citypost” kiosks have been upgraded to address COVID-19 concerns in Texas, with touchless mobile activation of all broadcast content now available at Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) bus and light rail stations. The system upgrade makes the DART information contactless and viewable from mobile devices through embedded QR code activation. Smart City Media (SCM) managed the feature development to help as DART responded quickly to passengers’ needs – fusing critical transportation services, access to opportunities and public health preservation.
DART, SCM, and Landmark Infrastructure Partners unveiled the new kiosk network in February with a broader goal of bridging the digital divide by providing information and digital connectivity at mass transit stops. The kiosks, which are interactive alert stations housing smart city technology, provide transit alert data, route and community billboard information, hyperlocal advertisements, and will soon also offer 5G connectivity as well as public Wi-Fi to riders.
“The process began in March, when SCM began sharing public health information about COVID-19 from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and other trusted sources,” said Tom Touchet, CEO of Smart City Media. “That said, with COVID-19, one of the biggest public concerns is the transfer of the virus by touch. We wanted to help address that directly without any disruption of the valuable information we’re providing for the community.”
SCM’s work for DART in North Texas is a sampling of its wider initiative to broaden government policy forums, enhance digital broadcasts and create opportunities for collaboration and commerce while adhering to six-foot safety zones.
Commenting on SCM’s network, Bob Bennett, chair of the Cities Today Institute, a city-focused think tank based in London and Kansas City, Mo., said, “A kiosk, when developed correctly, is more than a simple advertising platform or ticketing machine. It is, instead, a communications node that empowers organizations to link behavior, validate medical expertise and analyze critical data to better secure public health.”
Jennifer Sanders, co-founder and executive director of the Dallas Innovation Alliance, also noted, “Dallas-area firms, including DART and SCM, are taking the innovation challenge to keep our residents and visitors safe while continuing to provide world-class service.”
Citypost, which has a presence in 30-plus major U.S. cities, collaborates with local firms and uses Internet of Things (IoT) technology to provide digital displays in high-traffic areas. SCM is also working in other regions to perfect a variation of the kiosk which integrates cameras, temperature sensors and artificial intelligence to expand access to public health screenings. SCM expects organizations to begin deploying public health variations of the kiosk within weeks.
About Smart City Media
Smart City Media (SCM) is one of the fastest growing companies in the Internet of Things (IoT) market and aims to connect the unconnected by infusing media, technology and interactivity into places and spaces it has never been before. SCM blends virtual and physical worlds together with great thought, cause and care. For more information, visit: http://www.smartcitymedia.us.
About Landmark Infrastructure Partners LP
Landmark Infrastructure Partners LP owns and manages a portfolio of real property interests and infrastructure assets that the partnership leases to companies in the wireless communication, outdoor advertising and renewable power generation industries. For more information, visit http://www.landmarkmlp.com.
About DART
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is the public transit agency for Dallas and 12 surrounding North Texas cities. It operates a multi-modal network of buses, light rail, Trinity Railway Express commuter rail and paratransit. It is a global leader in the emerging field of Mobility as a Service (MaaS), which incorporates smartphone technology into fare payment, trip planning and scheduling. DART moves more than 220,000 passengers per day across its 700-square-mile service area. For more information, visit http://www.dart.org.
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