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(Daniel P. Tucker/WNYC)
The current contract to service NYC's payphones expires this October. Jay Cassano, senior writer at Fast Company Labs, talks about the various
proposals being floated to re-purpose the old kiosks (free wi-fi anyone?), and takes your calls with your ideas for how these phone booths should be re-purposed.
proposals being floated to re-purpose the old kiosks (free wi-fi anyone?), and takes your calls with your ideas for how these phone booths should be re-purposed.
Post by Brian Lehrer.
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Jay Cassano- Leave a comment
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Comments [25]
Conventional metallic copper
analog landlines have for 100+ years been powered centrally from
respective phone companies facilities. In telephony lingo, this is
known as the Common Battery system and is time-proven, tried-and-true,
to be highly reliable even when electricity (and mobile cellular)
services fail -- provided Verizon and/or other utilities maintain the
infrastructure, which is barely the case at present. Where is the
reporting on this aspect of proposed changes?!
Aug. 06 2014 06:15 PM
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das187 from NYC,
I went to PS 94, JHS 80 and Clinton.
I went to PS 94, JHS 80 and Clinton.
Aug. 06 2014 01:54 PM
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With payphones gone, will the NYFD fire alarm call boxes be next?
Not everyone has a cellphone with a charged battery.
What happens when there is a Blackout?
The land lines work when there is a Blackout because Verizon generates its own power.
This is more bad news due to short sightedness and MONEY.
Not everyone has a cellphone with a charged battery.
What happens when there is a Blackout?
The land lines work when there is a Blackout because Verizon generates its own power.
This is more bad news due to short sightedness and MONEY.
Aug. 06 2014 01:47 PM
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Keep some functioning as pay
phones, while equip others with a punching boxing glove, for those who
have cell phones and want to be punched in the face for the price of a
quarter.
Aug. 06 2014 11:49 AM
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Cell phone charging stations??
(What would Post say about all this? Probably nothing. He probably
wouldn't bother listening....) Can't those people just carry an extra
battery around? Or a little charger, duck into a Starbucks and charge it
there?
No, these things should probably go the way of the old 3rd Avenue "L" (yes I remember that being torn down, right to those remnants in the Bronx -- sorry, I'm in a Steve Post state of mind, always have been). Weren't the remains of the 3rd Avenue "L" sold off to the Japanese car companies back in the late '70s and turned into those early '80s Hondas and Toyotas and Datsuns that naturally rusted out from the bottom up (lousy steel)?
Why not find some sucker to BUY these phone kiosks to melt down for re-use the same way?
BUT -- leave one for the Smithsonian. (If one more caller says "Hi Brian, LOVE YOUR SHOW, ALWAYS LISTEN...." I think I'll put 18" needles through my eyes. OBVIOUSLY they love the show and always listen -- why else would they be calling???!!!!)
(Sorry. We folks from the Bronx, especially Mosholu Pkway like Post, tend to respond with negative sarcasm. It's always late afternoon in the Bronx. Time for Andy Lanset to get his Steve Post archives in order -- and stop wearing that same sweater he's been wearing since college.)
No, these things should probably go the way of the old 3rd Avenue "L" (yes I remember that being torn down, right to those remnants in the Bronx -- sorry, I'm in a Steve Post state of mind, always have been). Weren't the remains of the 3rd Avenue "L" sold off to the Japanese car companies back in the late '70s and turned into those early '80s Hondas and Toyotas and Datsuns that naturally rusted out from the bottom up (lousy steel)?
Why not find some sucker to BUY these phone kiosks to melt down for re-use the same way?
BUT -- leave one for the Smithsonian. (If one more caller says "Hi Brian, LOVE YOUR SHOW, ALWAYS LISTEN...." I think I'll put 18" needles through my eyes. OBVIOUSLY they love the show and always listen -- why else would they be calling???!!!!)
(Sorry. We folks from the Bronx, especially Mosholu Pkway like Post, tend to respond with negative sarcasm. It's always late afternoon in the Bronx. Time for Andy Lanset to get his Steve Post archives in order -- and stop wearing that same sweater he's been wearing since college.)
Aug. 06 2014 11:43 AM
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Hi Amy,
Thanks for making your acquaintance and for posting this. The entire network depends on slave labor etc. If anyone really looked into it, I don't know how people could be proud of their gadgets!
Thanks for making your acquaintance and for posting this. The entire network depends on slave labor etc. If anyone really looked into it, I don't know how people could be proud of their gadgets!
Aug. 06 2014 11:43 AM
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Betsy, check out CREDO
(credomobile.com) & Earth Tones (earthtones.com) mobile phones. Some
of the cell phones they offer are eco-friendly (made w/some
recycled/recyclable materials) &/or refurbished. Those aren't
available all the time, though--I've had to wait to order them
sometimes. And some phones are low-cost or even free w/2-year plan. The
companies also have green policies.
Aug. 06 2014 11:37 AM
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What about digital info about environmental conditions locally ie air quality, noise level, huminidty
Also info on city conditions..... And announcements for the specific area ie missing persons , street repair and local meetings
Also info on city conditions..... And announcements for the specific area ie missing persons , street repair and local meetings
Aug. 06 2014 11:25 AM
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The city needs public restrooms. Can google come up with a uber cool and clean new approach to that?
Aug. 06 2014 11:23 AM
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"free Spacers" While on the
outside there are many phone charging slots, the inside could be a free
space to re organize yourself'' a flat surface to put down your iPad or
paper tablet and pen, a slot for coffee cup… all spaces are slanted now
so we desperately need a simple unoccupied flat space
Aug. 06 2014 11:21 AM
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Brian, you must live close to a
subway station. I agree w/the caller who advocated Metrocard charging
machines--not only for people who live a long bus ride away from the
nearest subway station but for people w/disabilities who live a long way
from the nearest accessible one. And if you don't have a full fare
& use your card on a bus, it takes the money you *do* have on it,
you have to pay the rest in cash, & it doesn't put a transfer on the
card. Drivers will offer a transfer, but it's only good for another
bus--if you need to transfer to the subway, you're out another fare.
Aug. 06 2014 11:21 AM
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Vending machines for healthy
snacks/beverages as alternative to fast food places, particularly in
food desert neighborhoods and expensive touristy locations like Times
Square. I'm thinking about the wide range of food stuffs you can get
from vending machines in Japan.
Aug. 06 2014 11:21 AM
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Not everyone in the city has a
mobile phone. Discontinuing access penalizes those of us who will only
have access to telephone service when in their home.
Aug. 06 2014 11:20 AM
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One of my concerns for charging
stations would be the ability to infect the cell phones or other
devices, since most of them are charged via the USB port. I'm sure
someone would be able to distribute some sort of malware through them.
Aug. 06 2014 11:20 AM
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In Japan they've been turned into
really gorgeous aquariums!
http://media.treehugger.com/assets/images/2012/10/kingyobu-phone-booth2.jpg
Aug. 06 2014 11:19 AM
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LOOKOUT! If an energy utility, or
group of investors, buys them for a song, make sure that the airspace
is not included. In many parts of the country energy companies like PSEG
rent or own so-called telephone poles, which today also host a junkpile
of wires, telecom dishes and solar panels.
Aug. 06 2014 11:18 AM
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Keep some of the old school phones, but others could be made into cell phone juice stations.
AND, a great idea--- they can be 311 stations. To communicate your concerns to the City Government.
AND, a great idea--- they can be 311 stations. To communicate your concerns to the City Government.
Aug. 06 2014 11:15 AM
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I need those phones.
I will never get a cell phone - aside from the monetary cost, the cost to human, animal and earth life is devastating - look up coltan, look up bush meat - the mining, manufacturing and the demanufacturing toxicities are overwhelmingly horrendous. I don't understand how any activist can support any portable devise.
I will never get a cell phone - aside from the monetary cost, the cost to human, animal and earth life is devastating - look up coltan, look up bush meat - the mining, manufacturing and the demanufacturing toxicities are overwhelmingly horrendous. I don't understand how any activist can support any portable devise.
Aug. 06 2014 11:12 AM
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Convert them to public pissoirs. This way those public urinators won't be seen. Perhaps deodorize them too.
Aug. 06 2014 11:10 AM
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I second, third and fourth the
motion to keep some pay phones around. There are people who have no
phones or whose cell phone batteries have died (mostly from listening to
music and playing bejeweled) and tourists who don't have SIM cards for
local carriers and they need phones.
As for cabbies who use pay phone booths as bathrooms, we most certainly have the technology to put some kind of DNA collecting mat down that is triggered by the moisture. Once the DNA is analyzed and matched up with cab drivers, they get fined $5,000 and have to do 5,000 hours of community service cleaning pay phone booths. "Let the punishment fit the crime."
As for cabbies who use pay phone booths as bathrooms, we most certainly have the technology to put some kind of DNA collecting mat down that is triggered by the moisture. Once the DNA is analyzed and matched up with cab drivers, they get fined $5,000 and have to do 5,000 hours of community service cleaning pay phone booths. "Let the punishment fit the crime."
Aug. 06 2014 10:59 AM
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How about making sure that there is a comm link for those who don't have cell phones.
Emergency access to 911 & other needs to make calls when away from one's land line for other needs should be part of the plan.
Emergency access to 911 & other needs to make calls when away from one's land line for other needs should be part of the plan.
Aug. 06 2014 10:09 AM
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Make them in to a network of libraries.
Or each could house art.
or Street-side confessionals?
Or each could house art.
or Street-side confessionals?
Aug. 06 2014 10:07 AM
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Free WiFi is a hacker's idea of paradise.
Passwords, ID, account info -- it's a gift that keeps on giving.
Passwords, ID, account info -- it's a gift that keeps on giving.
Aug. 06 2014 09:32 AM
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Many years ago - just as cell
phones were beginning to take hold - I witnessed an enlightening
incident while eating a hamburger at Chelsea Commons at 10th and 24th:
cabbie pulls up with emergency flashers on, goes to phone and removes
receiver, pretends to talk but proceeds to urinate. Saw it happen again
and again after that - apparently a common practice among cab drivers.
Aug. 06 2014 08:55 AM
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Turn the payphones into ultra modern compact apartments.
Think PayphoneBnB.
Aug. 06 2014 06:37 AM
Think PayphoneBnB.
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