These teens had just the right touchThey look almost like a video game a tall, oak case with a CRT recessed in the top at a convenient angle. There are no joysticks, though, nor any other of the controls one might expect of the electronic toys teens are so fond of. These are Attatouch kiosks, and they were designed by teens, not for them. The two kiosks, located at the Cedar Street Bridge and the Old Power House, are the brainstorm of kids from Clark Fork and Sandpoint high schools. With merely a touch to their screens, the kiosks provide users with information about Sandpoint and the surrounding area, including lodging, events, shopping and recreational possibilities. The Attatouch project was brainstormed by the Clark Fork entrepreneurship class of Brian Powell and the Sandpoint marketing class of Brad Judy in January 1997, and became a reality through the efforts of Powell's class working with Sandpoint High computer whiz Zach Snyder. Using screen-activated CPU's from local computer vendor DataDay and a multimedia software named Superlink, Attatouch built and programmed the two machines. Start-up funds came as donations from Panhandle State Bank, salad dressing maker Litehouse, and businessman Al Czap. Attatouch operates out of the Bonner Business Center, as directed by Brian Powell, the members of his entrepreneurship class, and Zach Snyder. The high-school students who have contributed to this project are J. P. Huguenin, Ryan Farwell, Stacy Slona, Thea Dreisbach, Nicole Rainey and Tessa Bennett of Sandpoint; and Sara Johnson, Mike Conn, Jason Stevens, Brent Stevens, Nate Stutzke and Adam Beers of Clark Fork. - Sandy Compton |