What piece of public infrastructure has become ‘smart’?

The ‘smart tech’ revolution has come to the classic public bench. While very useful for giving people a place to rest, the average public bench doesn’t really serve any other useful function. That is, unless said public bench happens to be from Croatian startup Include.

Include recently announced three new versions of its Steroa smart bench, and they really pack in the tech. First up is the Steora Classic, the cheapest of the three, which sports a seating surface cooling system and pressure, temperature and humidity sensors. It’s powered by a Li-ion battery, which in turn gets its power from a city’s power grid or solar panels in the seat. It also comes with additional optional features including a seat heater, USB chargers, a GPS locator, a Wi-Fi hot spot and air quality and noise sensors.

The two higher-tier options are the Steora City and the Steora Cyclo, respectively. In addition to the features of the Classic, the Steora City comes with additional sensors, LCD displays, and an AI camera that can gather data on passersby. For privacy reasons, the camera does not store any footage.  

The Steora Cyclo is geared towards users of electric micro-mobility options like e-scooters and e-bikes, offering charging stations for these types of vehicles. It also has hand tools and a built-in air compressor, turning the bench into a handy little self-service station.