Cool Ideas: 10-foot Touchscreen is New Look of NYC Payphones

New York City is one step closer to a technological makeover. It comes in the form of a 10-foot double-sided touchscreen.

The New York City's Reinvent Payphones Design Challenge called for physical/virtual prototypes of new payphone infrastructures. There are over 11,000 public payphones throughout five boroughs, and the current vendor agreement expires in 2014.

The competition yielded 125 submissions, which were narrowed down to the top six in five categories (connectivity, visual design, creativity, functionality and community impact). The winner was then chosen through a vote on New York City's Facebook page.

In the end, NYFi, the winner of the connectivity category, won the popular choice award.

Click on "view this slideshow" in the blue bar to see these cool payphone ideas.