Residents and visitors in the city of Manchester will soon be gifted with the ultimate social guidebook, as Manchester City Council have commissioned an outdoor media first that will come in the form of digital information kiosks known as 'MiGuide'.Working alongside outdoor agency MediaCo, Manchester City Council will fund production costs by allowing advertisers to feature on the kiosks, allowing brands to become part of a leading digital project. The new MiGuide screens will complement an anticipated network of 20 CityLive screens that launch on the 4th November across central Manchester, bringing the city to the forefront of digital out-of-home.
Councillor Nigel Murphy of Manchester City Council said: "Manchester is intent on becoming one of the world’s leading digital cities and one aspect of that is innovations such as MiGuide which use the latest technology to improve people’s experience of the city. It’s not just about getting around the city – it’s about getting the most out of it."
MiGuide - the Manchester Interactive Guide - will supply the public with instant data regarding their surroundings, from finding out which coffee shops are open during the morning rush hour right through to checking out nightlife options. MiGuide will also display the latest Manchester Evening News headlines
Shopping and dining will obviously be a welcome factor across MiGuide, and users will be able to plan their time in Manchester thanks to comprehensive data mapping out the local area, allowing them to plan their route and even get transport information if they wish. Bespoke searches will generate useful options based on parameters set by the individual, such as narrowing down restaurants to fit a particular cuisine.
Murphy also went on to say: "These digital kiosks will be an informative, useful and engaging addition to our city centre streets and I’m confident they will prove popular. What people will see when they use the screens now is just the start. In the months ahead the content will keep growing and we’ll keep looking at imaginative ways which people can use the screens to interact with the city."