Digital Kiosks Offer Information And Security Risks (Updated)

Exploring the city just got easier, thanks to interactive digital kiosks. 

IKE Smart City kiosk, Chinatown
Photo: Tom Eats Houston

UPDATE, July 16:  The kiosk at Bellaire and Corporate has disappeared. The reason is unknown, but it sure looks like a vehicle took it out. 

Strewn around the kiosk's base was what looked like the remnant of shattered car parts, typical when a vehicle strikes something. 

Gone, 7/16/2023

On April 10 in Chinatown, I came across this digital kiosk at the southeast corner on the intersection of Bellaire Boulevard and Corporate Drive. I was intrigued. I visit Chinatown frequently, and don't recall seeing it just a couple of weeks ago. My initial reaction was, "Cool!" but I also wondered if the changing images on each side would be a distraction to drivers at this very busy intersection.

Like electronic ambassadors, these kiosks will help you find your way around a neighborhood that you're not familiar with — and maybe show you new things in your own part of town.

The kiosks do concierge duty, showing you nearby things to do, parks, clubs, aquariums, reviews, museums, dining, local activities and more. You can have the kiosk send details to your email or phone. It will help you with public transit, and because it's a hot spot it can connect you to Wi-Fi. 

But there's also a dark side to all of this, as I'll get into below.

A press release from the mayor's office in February 2022 announced that "wayfinding kiosks called IKE (Interactive Kiosk Experience)" would gradually be appearing around Houston – not all once.

Digital kiosk, a guide
for any neighborhood
Photo: Tom Eats Houston

"The City of Houston released an RFP (Request For Proposal) for Interactive Digital Kiosks in March of 2020 and selected IKE Smart City as the vendor in March of 2021, which was later approved by City Council in May….Installation will occur in phases of 25 kiosks throughout several neighborhoods including Downtown, Uptown, Midtown, Montrose, Museum District, Texas Medical Center, Greater Third Ward, EaDo, Upper Kirby, and more. Further, at least 10% of all IKE kiosks will be located in underserved neighborhoods, as defined by the City, including Gulfton, Sunnyside and others," the press release noted (emphasis mine). Full Press Release