HOME Developers Information Interaction HELP

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Glenn M. Gruber

VP, Sales and Marketing

Golden Screens Interactive Technologies, Inc.

Tel: 212/983-5212

[email protected]

 

 

Golden Screens Interactive Technologies, Inc. Awarded Contract to Deploy Traveler Information Public Access Terminals Throughout Tri-State Area

Public/Private Partnership Brings Up-to-the-Minute Traffic Updates and Traveler Information to Major Transportation Centers, Rest Areas

February 2, 1999 - New York, NY. Today Golden Screens Interactive Technologies, Inc. (GSIT) was awarded a $1.4 million contract to deploy the initial 20 interactive public access terminals in major transportation centers and Rest Areas in the Tri-State area providing real-time traffic and transit information. The Service Area Traveler Information Network (SATIN) project was initiated by TRANSCOM, a consortium of 15 transportation and public safety agencies in the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut metropolitan region using funding from the Federal Highway Administration of the US Department of Transportation (USDOT). The funding for the project originally came from monies earmarked through Transportation appropriations legislation by Senator Frank Lautenberg of New Jersey. The project goal is to provide real time transportation, tourism and weather information to the traveling public.

The terminals will utilize an intuitive graphical user interface that will make the information and applications easily accessible to both sophisticated computer users and non-computer users alike. GSIT will draw on its 10 years of experience in developing friendly and simple user interfaces, working together with TRANSCOM officials, to create the interface for the terminals.

"The signing of this contract with Golden Screens to provide Traveler Information Services kiosks is an important milestone for TRANSCOM and our member agencies" says Michael Ascher, Chairman of the TRANSCOM Board and President of MTA Bridges and Tunnels. "Our mission is to be able to provide traffic, transit and tourism information to commuters and tourists when and where they need it, and these kiosks will provide the means."

"This is a very exciting day for Golden Screens too," said Glenn M. Gruber, VP of Sales and Marketing for Golden Screens. "Advanced Traveler Information Services are an integral part of any Intelligent Transportation System Architecture, and one of the most visible to the traveler. We are very proud to be part of one of the largest such projects in the country."

Beyond the SATIN applications, these interactive terminals will also provide additional services including News, Sports, Business News, Internet Access, on-line shopping via a secure connection and remote e-mail access. It is expected that some of these services will be available at the initial date of deployment and the others will be phased in over time.

Public/Private Partnership

TRANSCOM has formed a public/private partnership with Golden Screens Interactive Technologies, Inc. to develop and deploy an extensive network of Internet-based public access terminals that will enable the travelling public to benefit from the valuable transportation information that TRANSCOM currently shares among its members. Dennis Merida, New Jersey Division Administrator of the Federal Highway Administration noted "Both business and government will contribute to the development and deployment of the system and will share in the revenues generated. This type of public/private partnership is one of the first of its kind and is a model for the future."

The initial phase calls for the installation of terminals in 20 locations, beginning in the 2nd Quarter of 1999 in prominent locations such as the Port Authority Bus Terminal and Newark Penn Station. The information will be disseminated to the public via Internet-based terminals located in such locations as highway rest areas, train and bus stations, park and ride lots in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Once the initial phase is complete, the project has the goal of being self-supporting by generating revenues from advertisements that will be placed both on screen and on the side panels. GSIT will be responsible for the on-going maintenance and growth of the network. It is anticipated that the network will grow to 250 terminals within 3 years.

SATIN Applications

The terminals will convey the information via 12 unique applications that include:

  • Real time incident information
  • Construction information
  • Transit routing
  • Roadway routing
  • Train and bus schedules and information
  • Park and ride locations
  • Real time roadway speeds
  • Tourism and special events
  • Events information
  • Service area locations and descriptions
  • Updated weather conditions
  • Local emergency services

In addition, the terminals will utilize an LED "news ticker" to notify the public of major activities that may affect their journey.

Golden Screens Technology Framework

The SATIN terminals will be built upon Golden Screens' Technology framework. This framework consists of two main components, e.Planet and rt.Net.

  • e.Planet is a computing framework with Java class libraries and reusable software components that can be used to quickly develop custom applications which can be deployed on internet-based self service terminals, web-enhanced payphones, PCs or any Java enabled devices. e.Planet has components that control GUI development, peripheral devices such as credit cards and printers, multimedia components, and a secure e-commerce component which can support 128-bit encryption and digital certificates.
  • rt.Net provides a single point of administration for monitoring and managing applications, hardware devices and content for GS Planet public access terminals and networks. Through rt.Net, Golden Screens will be able to control and manage the terminals remotely ensuring high uptimes.

Additional Services

Beyond the SATIN applications, these terminals will provide a variety of additional applications to the public including:

  • News. Up to the minute local, national and international news.
  • Sports. Check the latest sports scores, stories and team information.
  • Business. Latest business news, Stock market updates, check specific company stock quotes.
  • Internet Browsing. Using GSIT's embedded web browser specifically designed to be used in a touch screen environment by both experienced web surfers and non-computer users.
  • On-line Shopping. Purchase gifts, toys, flowers, etc. with a simple swipe of a debit or credit card.
  • Remote Access to E-Mail. Check your e-mail on the road without carrying a heavy notebook or searching for a phone line.

Some of these applications will be free of charge, while others will have usage fees based on time or transactions made.

 

About Golden Screens

Golden Screens Interactive Technologies, Inc. is the leading provider of enabling software and electronic commerce applications for Internet-based self-service terminals and the next generation of Web-Enabled Public Telephones.

The Company's GS Planet™ product suite is a comprehensive platform for developing Internet-based terminals that offer secure Web access through intuitive touch-screen interfaces. GS Planet also includes an extensive software library for developing custom E-Commerce applications and a set of monitoring and diagnostic tools that ensure maximum system uptime and reliability.

Founded in 1989, the Company became a leader in the Israeli out-of-home self-service terminal market by developing leading-edge software applications, and turnkey systems for several government agencies and private organizations in Israel. In 1995, GSIT relocated its corporate headquarters to New York City where it also established a sales and marketing operation. Currently, nearly all of the Company's business development activity is focused on US clients.

About TRANSCOM

TRANSCOM is a consortium of 15 transportation and public safety agencies in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut metropolitan region. It was created in 1986 to provide a coordinated approach to regional transportation management. The member agencies are:

Connecticut Dept. of Transportation, Metropolitan Transportation Authority, MTA Bridges and Tunnels, MTA New York City Transit, New Jersey Dept. of Transportation, New Jersey Highway Authority, New Jersey Transit Corporation, New Jersey Turnpike Authority, New York City Dept. of Transportation, New York State Dept. of Transportation, New York State Police, New York Thruway Authority, Palisades Interstate Park Commission, Port Authority Trans-Hudson Corporation, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Through its various federally funded projects, TRANSCOM implements transportation management technologies to improve the quality, timeliness, and dissemination of its transportation information. One of those is a "Regional Architecture" to ensure that member agencies' current and future Intelligent Transportation Systems can communicate with each other and share information.

Contact Information

TRANSCOM/Member Agencies

Shelley Prettyman

111 Pavonia Avenue

6th Floor

Jersey City, NJ 07310

Phone: (201) 963-4033

Fax: (201) 963-8376

Golden Screens Interactive Technologies, Inc.

Glenn M. Gruber

220 East 42nd Street

22nd Floor

New York, NY 10017

Phone: (212) 983-5212

Fax: (212) 983-6736


Thanks Kinetic!

© 1998 Kiosks.Org.
All Rights Reserved.



>