Sunday, December 21, 2008
Travel Technology
Note: This post will be updated soon. I'm on vacation, with limited Internet access.
From a previous vacation: Information Display with No Information
Technology and Travel: Blurred Cellphone Camera Shot of Unruly Man on US AIR flight from Charlotte to Miami, December 20, 2008
I had just settled into my seat on a flight from Charlotte to Miami and stowed my cellphone away. At the time, I was thinking about taking a few pictures of airport technology once I arrived in Miami.
Most people would probably be anticipating the beautiful Caribbean scenes they'd like to capture, but not me. I like taking pretty pictures, but whenever I have the opportunity to capture technology out in the wild, my geeky streak takes over.
At that very moment, a very loud, bespectacled older man came barreling down the aisle. As I had an aisle seat, I got the full frontal view, and it wasn't pretty.
The man was naked! He promptly squeezed himself into a seat two rows ahead, right next to a baby, shocking the parents and those of us who had boarded the plane up until that point.
There was a flurry of commotion. Several men came out of nowhere and managed to get the man out of the seat, up the aisle through the first class section, and out of the plane. The flurry of commotion was not limited to the "rescue team". Much of the commotion came from the passengers who were looking for their cell phones and cameras to take pictures or video clips of the scenario.
The man bellowed loudly, "YOU... WILL.... NOT....PREVAIL!"
The passengers? "I'll put this on YouTube!" "I'll post this to Flickr". Some of the passengers traded their photos via phone messages.
Technology Supported Human World Interaction, right in front of my eyes.
I'll never make it as a CNN iReporter, given the results of my cell-phone photography skills:
I DID manage to get some shots of the paramedics. Pretty boring.
I'll post more pictures related to airport and cruise travel technology soon.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Airport Technology: Interactive Information Touch-Screens at the Edinburgh Airport (Scotland)
Seven of these wall-mounted interactive displays were installed at the Edinburgh airport in ScotlandThis interactive kiosk doesn't look cutting edge, as has the look of a pleasant, familiar ATM. It looks easy-to-use, for both the adult and child. This is important for rushed travelers in airports. by Scrimsign Microelectronics, LTD.
According to the company's website, options include a sunlight readable LDC, a thermal ticket or A4 printer, choice of cases, and a rugged keyboard.
I'm still looking for interactive displays in airports and other public spaces that are easy-to-use, yet also possess the "Wow!" factor.
Related:
Edinburgh Airport Buys Pods to Drive Public Transport Use
"Interactive access to Traveline Scotland from the arrivals hall is seen as a key element in encouraging a modal shift. By presenting passengers with practical public transport options the service is expected to influence both visitors’ choice of transport mode and destination, helping tourists to explore the historic city." -Transport Briefing
