JCDecaux is a well-known outdoor advertising company whose latest project 'Escale Numerique' is causing many "oohs" and "ahhs" in Paris. Having a penchant for creating creative street furniture, JCDecaux paired up with designer Mathieu Lehanneur to created an outdoor haven for pedestrians that is wifi-connected on the corner of Rond Point des Champs-Elysées. Even better, the connection is high-speed and free.
The wifi-enabled rest stop is only the tip of the iceberg though. Escale Numerique also comes equipped with a touch screen that allows the many tourists of Paris to access news, guides and even augmented reality.
The cherry on top of this addition to Parisian streets is its design. Many public seating areas and info centers are an eye sore and even annoying to some residents, but Escale Numerique aims to be beautiful all-around. The roof is a garden, so when it is viewed from the ground or from a residence, it blends into its serene natural surroundings.
Hi-Tech Tourist Centers
'Escale Numerique' Looks to Take Tourism to the Next Level
Trend Themes
1. Outdoor Connectivity - Creating wifi-connected rest stops with high-speed and free internet access for pedestrians.
2. Interactive Information Centers - Installing touch screens in public areas to provide news, guides, and augmented reality experiences for tourists.
3. Aesthetic Street Furniture - Designing beautiful and visually pleasing public seating areas and info centers that blend into natural surroundings.
Industry Implications
1. Tourism - Leveraging outdoor connectivity and interactive information centers to enhance the tourist experience and provide seamless access to information and services.
2. Advertising - Utilizing wifi-enabled rest stops as innovative advertising platforms to engage and target pedestrians in high-traffic areas.
3. Urban Design - Integrating aesthetic street furniture with functional technology to transform public spaces and create harmonious environments.