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Local Tourist Guide in a (Linux) Box

Posted by timothy on from the long-long-long-overdue dept.

Andrew Sealey writes "Antenna Audio, the largest heritage and tourism interpretation company has just licensed a location-based media platform and associated linux portable media device from a UK company called Node to enable them to do some pretty cool stuff with traditional tourist attractions. People will hire the linux based device at their entry point and then as they walk around and explore the attraction the device will search huge archives of rich media video and audio dependent on who a user is, where they are and what they are looking at. Their top sites in the US are places such as Alcatraz, MoMA in New York and Elvis Presley Graceland's property and the rumour is that Elvis's property may be one of the first to be converted to this new technology."

6 of 79 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Distraction? by shawn(at)fsu · · Score: 2, Informative

    You know you could always turn it off, or not get it at all, I don't think they are suggesting that using it at all times is mandatory... I myself would like something like this. I live in the metro DC area and would use this often if they implemented it at the Smithsonian.

    --
    500 dollar reward for tip(s) leading to the arrest of the person(s) who stole my sig.
  2. Only new on linux by ear1grey · · Score: 1, Informative

    This application isn't exactly novel, and not really "new technology" - the story is just pandering to Linux fanboys. Please, put the iconic evanelism aside, get over the my OS is better than yours tedium and concentrate on the usefulness and usability of the service that's delivered.

    Companies such as Lapavalley have been successfully delivering portable multimedia guides for many years already. I've used them in Marwell Zoo where they'd used Palm Tungsten's to great effect, with kids, grannies, teachers and geeks all having an equally enriching experience.

    "Node" may have a novel application that delivers knowledge in a new way, but fundamentally nothing is new, apart from using linux, and that doesn't matter to the overwhelming majority of device users.

    --
    boakes.org
  3. Already implemented by Kuruderu · · Score: 3, Informative

    A small county in Denmark has already implemented this idea, aCon allows tourists to dial a phone number from their cell phones and via the phone recieve a detailed description af the attraction or site they are at. Not as "media rich" as this story's device this i think is more user friendly and less invasive in terms of privacy. Also it can be done via _any_ cellphone that works in Denmark, Europe.

    --
    Good or bad, It is in the eye of the beholder. Don't confuse luck with skill.
  4. Re:Gadgetry by corporatemutantninja · · Score: 2, Informative
    I was just at MoMA on Sunday (one of the locations using Node technology) but I didn't even bother with the official audio tour. Instead I subscribed to Art Mobs' podcasts. Best audio guides to an art museum I've ever heard.

    Now if they could combine the guerilla art commentary with GPS contextualization it'd be perfect.

    --
    Actually, I was trying to be Insightful, not Funny.
  5. Anyone seen the Experience Music Project by eWalker · · Score: 2, Informative
    This sounds a lot like the devices used at the Experience Music Project in Seattle, WA. They have a short piece on the technology on their website
    Museum Exhibit Guide (MEG) Device The perfect virtual "companion" while visiting the museum, this handheld technology provides a completely customized tour of EMP. Delivering to the visitor hours of superior, high-quality audio, video, and graphic content, the MEG device represents one of many ways EMP redefines what it means to be a museum. The MEG device utilizes the Microsoft Windows CE operating system, is capable of storing 20 or more hours of CD-quality audio, and uses the latest audio compression technologies. This audio content enriches EMP by giving visitors personalized access to more information about a particular gallery, exhibit or artifact. Items of particular interest can be bookmarked for future reference in the Digital Lab.
    The EMP device uses some version of portable windows (the first device I used crashed and showed me a bunch of windows errors!) It's great to see linux used in this type of technology.
  6. Re:Yes, but can it... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative
    Windows is just an interrupt vector on stereoids with a GUI that looks like something by Andy Warhol.

    Windows is mostly known for:
    • BSOD (Blue Screen Of Death): just before a crash the display turns blue and displays so called information about the reason for the crash.
    • a very logical "Click on Start for shutdown".

    Another feature of Windows is its constantly changing GUI... every version got a new and "improved" GUI...

    Windows is manufactured by a company called Microsoft.