Here the key themes that have emerged from our Neighborhood Feedback Days and other conversations thus far:

• Content:
  • We started out just focused on showing local news, and then expanded the content in our prototype based on neighborhood feedback.
  • In addition to local news, people are interested in seeing upcoming local events in the neighborhood, community resources, local cats and dogs, art from local artists, and interactive games.
• Interaction:
  • In our prototype, we use QR codes for people to read more about what they're seeing.
  • We've also heard the desire for a text-based way to interact with the screen, i.e. sending a text message to answer a question on the screen. This might be especially relevant if we add games to the boards.
• Hardware design:
  • A neighborhood news publisher in SF told us that they would prefer that the design include a space for them to place copies of their print publication.
  • Many SF residents have asked for creative designs of the actual hardware holding the screen. Not just a metal kiosk, but something that looks more like a work of art reflecting the local neighborhood, with texture and light.
• Location:
  • Where we place the screens is important to us and to many people we’ve spoken to.
  • Prioritizing low-income neighborhoods, who are more likely to be news deserts, is important.
  • Placing them in areas where residents are likely to walk by and pause is also important.
  • While everyone we’ve spoken to is excited about the idea of seeing these installed in public sidewalks, many have asked why we don’t start by placing them inside local businesses, since that would be a faster place to start, and might also limit vandalism. Because we believe on principle that community information should be in free public spaces, we are currently pursuing the sidewalk direction first.

Concerns:

• Content: A neighborhood news publication expressed concern about giving us their content for free.
• Location: an NYC resident shared that having a LinkNYC kiosk right outside his Brooklyn apartment generates light and noise from people congregating close to his window.