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KTSC launches kiosk system(Knoxville News-Sentinel, The (TN) Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Feb. 21--With the help of a pooch mascot, the Knoxville Tourism & Sports Corp. is launching a system of electronic kiosks that will give people information on restaurants, shops, tourist sites and other local attractions in Knoxville and Knox County at their fingertips. Called TouchKnow&Go, the KTSC has four kiosks -- one in front of the Knoxville Visitor Center at 301 S. Gay St., one on Market Square, one at the Knoxville Convention Center and another slated to be installed at the convention center. They are like an electronic version of the concierge at a hotel or a mini version of the visitor center, said Gloria Ray, KTSC president. "If I want to find out where a restaurant is, (It will) tell me about the restaurant and here is a map of how to get there. If you want to go shopping, we can direct you to shopping," The kiosks are tied into an extensive data base that will be regularly updated, work by touching a screen and are ADA compliant. An online version is available at www.touchknowandgo.com. KTSC will promote the system through a television spot featuring the "Data Dog," which is a 2-year-old boxer owned by Brent Collier. Collier, along with fellow KTSC employee Bob Adkinson, developed the kiosks. There are both indoor and outdoor versions of the kiosks and Ray said the KTSC wants to make more of them available throughout Knoxville. The Knoxville Hilton and Crowne Plaza hotels have expressed on interest in the kiosks, and so have some area hospitals, Ray said. KTSC will provide them at cost, considering them a public service, she said. Depending on what features are needed or whether it is an indoor or outdoor model, the kiosks cost $5,000 to $17,000, Ray said. Other cities have electronic information kiosks but Knoxville's will be a bit different, Adkinson said. Most others rely on businesses paying to be on them, so users do not get a full listing of businesses and attractions and are often inundated with advertising while trying to use the kiosk. The TouchKnow&Go kiosks rely on a database that the KTSC staff tries to make comprehensive and that doesn't involve advertising, Adkinson said. Other cities have kiosks with approximately 100 restaurants that pay to be included on the kiosk system, Adkinson said. KTSC kiosks currently include information on more than 100 restaurants and the KTSC goal is to eventually list every restaurant in Knoxville and Knox County, Adkinson said. To see more of The Knoxville News Sentinel or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.knoxnews.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Knoxville News Sentinel, Tenn. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |