(CIVIQ Rendering)

Smart kiosks featuring free Wi-Fi, charging ports and 55-inch touch screens may soon be coming to Portland.

Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and Commissioner Dan Saltzman announced Wednesday that the city is working with CIVIQ to explore deploying its smart-city system throughout Portland.

CIVIQ advertises its WayPoint kiosks as a way to make cities more interconnected. In addition to WiFi, the interactive kiosks offer real-time transit schedules and feature intercoms for information or emergencies. Two outdoor screens can display emergency alerts or advertising, which Portland says it will use to subsidize the cost of the network.

The kiosks have built in cameras and microphones that can record action in front of the device – CIVIQ says this is a safety feature – and can tailor content for specific users.

(CIVIQ Image)

“We are excited to explore a new, innovative way to engage residents with the city, Mayor Wheeler said in a statement. “By meeting people where they are with an easily accessible hub of services, the city can enhance its communication and response with the public.”

Such kiosks are already being implemented in New York, Chicago and Miami. It’s not immediately clear when they will come to Portland or how much it will cost the city up front.

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