The idea of location-aware city guides, running off mobile devices, has been about for a bit. Usually the concept makes use of the GPS capability of smart phones, to feed the user rich media info about where they are. Augmented reality overlays frequently get a mention too. Have a look at companies like mTrip and Layar for more in these spaces.
As exciting as these concepts are, there are issues. First off, bigger cities will (obviously) get more attention, particularly where content is user-generated. Secondly, the tech is still in development. Finally, there’s a marketing issue – how will the average tourist checking out the streets of London, New York or Singapore know which app to check out.
A slightly less technical option might suggest something of a solution on these fronts.
City Insights, which has recently launched in London, uses bright yellow on-street signage to notify tourists (and locals) of places of interest. These signs point users to a mobile site (accessible from just about any internet-enabled phone) where they can access interesting stories about the landmark in question.
The company has rolled out its first project across 40 locations on the streets around Southwark in London, as part of the London Festival of Architecture.
Although not as technically innovative as other projects in the pipeline, this approach is relatively simple to implement, accessible and effectively overcomes the marketing problem. It could easily serve as a model for towns, cities and places of interest just about anywhere.
Site: www.city-insights.com
Subscribe for Free: RSS | EMAIL
{ 0 comments… add one now }