A Uniform Network of Digital Neighbourhood Screens
Digitopia developed an innovative concept: a digital information screen per neighbourhood, placed at eye level (55”), strategically positioned in locations where residents pass by, slow down, or gather daily. These outdoor totems literally bring city information, neighbourhood news, and events to the heart of every district. The project was named "Beacon in the Neighbourhood: The compass for your local news."
Direct Added Value for Neighbourhood Residents
- Accessibility for everyone: Not everyone follows the city on social media or reads newsletters. The digital totems are always visible, easily accessible, and reachable for young and old, including those who are less digitally skilled.
- Local relevance: The screens display information that truly matters to the neighbourhood: local news, events, announcements from local associations, practical city information, etc. Residents recognise their own living environment on the screen, which fosters engagement and trust.
- Strengthening the sense of community: By placing the screens in places where people gather (squares, community centres, schools, churches), they become a social anchor point. They stimulate encounters, conversation, and participation.
- Fast and reliable communication: In the event of urgent notifications (e.g., roadworks, emergencies, events), the message immediately reaches a wide audience, without being dependent on digital channels.
- Safety and comfort: The screens are positioned so they do not distract motorists but are perfectly visible to pedestrians and cyclists. They are vandal-resistant and durable against all weather conditions.
From the neighbourhood, for the neighbourhood
Residents experience the screen as a platform "from the neighbourhood, for the neighbourhood," which greatly increases adoption and appreciation. Practice in Ostend shows that the screen quickly becomes a familiar and valued part of the streetscape.
Why is this interesting for your city or municipality?
- Strengthen neighbourhood-focused communication: Bring information, events, and services to *every* resident, including those less digitally active.
- Connect the community: The screens become a social anchor point, stimulating encounters and involvement.
- Flexible and scalable: Start with one neighbourhood, expand at your own pace. The approach is fully adaptable to the local context.
- Future-proof: The digital totems are ready for new applications (interactive information, notifications, emergency communication, etc.).
Conclusion: Beacon in the Neighbourhood as a Blueprint for Every City
With the concept of digital neighbourhood screens, Digitopia Group offers a proven, scalable, and well-supported solution for modern city communication. The approach combines technology, local embedding, and social relevance. In this way, every neighbourhood is literally and figuratively connected to the beating heart of the city. Want to know how this concept can work in your city or municipality? Contact us for a non-binding demo, site visit, or inspiration session. Together, we'll make every neighbourhood a connected, informed, and proud community!
