News

Kiosks provide tourism, weather information to travelers

July 1, 2004

LINCOLN, Neb. - Thirty new touchscreen interactive information kiosks, equipped with up-to-date weather and tourism information, are being placed at Interstate 80 rest stops and along scenic byways throughout Nebraska, according to a story in USA Today.

Tourism is a $2.8 billion industry in the state, according to Gov. Mike Johanns' office. If the half-million estimated travelers stay just a half day longer, it would add more than $2 million to the state's tourism revenue.

Johanns touts the new kiosks, dubbed N-View, as a way to increase tourism and keep travelers safe - thanks to the weather information feature.

The kiosks offer information about places to spend the night, events, and state attractions. Additionally, the weather information feature includes wind speeds and direction, satellite images, road conditions, warnings and the latest forecast.

The $300,000 project is funded with 80 percent federal money and 20 percent from the state. According to the article, one of the prototype kiosks has been averaging 100 users per day since it was put in nine months ago.