Across the five boroughs of New York City, there are currently 11,000 payphones, which some might argue have become a thing of the past. Recently, the city held a contest to determine the future of these payphones. Urban designers, planners, and technologists created physical and virtual prototypes for new public payphones.
The contest was judged on a set of criteria including connectivity, creativity, virtual design, functionality, and community impact. After narrowing down the 125 submissions, here are the winners of the Reinvent Payphones Design Challenge.
1. Connectivity Award: NYfi, designed by Sage and Coomse
This concept was recognized for its ability to connect New Yorkers and enable communication. The payphone would be an interactive portal and a hub for free wireless Internet access. The NYfi team proposed a 10-ft model for manufacturing districts and a smaller model with limited capabilities for residential areas.
2. Creativity Award: NYC Loop, designed by FX FOWLE
The NYC Loop design was granted the creativity award based on its originality, innovation, and quality of idea. This payphone’s model employs sound technology and a smart screen to make calls. “The Loop also features a responsive projector that creates an ‘information puddle’ on the sidewalk with which any passerby can interact.” (This would also offer a virtual advertising space.)
3. Visual Design Award: Beacon, designed by frog
The Beacon was awarded the best virtual design due to its visual appeal and user experience. The concrete and stainless steel structure would enclose LED matrix screens that could function as digital signage and would adapt to city events such as mile markers for marathons and parades. This payphone would be touch free and include solar cells that would charge an integrated battery, offering a constant power supply, even during a blackout.
4. Functionality Award: Smart Sidewalks, designed by Syracuse University, UC Davis, Parsons, Rama Chorpash Design LLC, Cheng+Snyder
This team was granted this award based on the phone’s flexibility, scalability, accessibility, and sustainability. This concept works within the existing sidewalk grid and features a combined sensor and display on the ground as well as a virtual touchscreen, Wi-Fi hub, energy source, and charging station.
5. Community Impact Award: Tie
This category resulted in a tie between two concepts due to the design’s support of local residents and cultural institutions.
First was The NYC I/O: The Responsive City, designed by Control Group & Titan.
This concept includes an array of sensors and displays that would create an input/output system for an open computing platform.
Second in the tie was Windchimes, designed by NYU ITP, Cooper Union, and Parsons.
This group of students and recent grads envisioned environmental sensor stations that could plug in to existing technologies and offer real-time records of rain levels, pollutions, and other conditions.
The contest is not over yet. There’s still time to vote for the sixth prize category, “Popular Choice,” on the City of New York Facebook page.
The concepts will be considered in the revamping of New York City payphones set to begin October 2014.
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