"Urban WiFi Applications" brainstorm requested.
Assume a 20 sq mile free access wifi network covering the downtown area of a given city. What sort of applications would be compelling? ...Real-time mass-transit positioning? Restaurant reservations, seating, payment, to-go orders? Happy hour hotspot offers? Taxi request service? Hotel concierge services? Chamber of Commerce services? Government support services? Kiosks for homeless shelter room/bed availability?
Ideas and real examples would be most welcome.
Answers (5)
Sebastian Raul W.
CEO at Nektra Advanced Computing
Best Answers in: E-Commerce (1), Computers and Software (1), Software Development (1), Web Development (1)
Hi Paul,
We can spend hours speaking about WiFi applications.
If you want a quick peek look at the following research groups (links included):
- Microsoft Research Social Computing Group
- IBM Research Social Computing Group
- MIT Media Lab
To search for more information I recommend these queries:
- Google: social computing site:edu
- Google: wifi social computing (inurl:research OR intitle:research)
- http://del.icio.us/ : social computing
Hope it helps.
Links:
David S.
Sr. Manager - Professional Services at Cincinnati Bell Technology Solutions
Hi Paul, Here are some thoughts.
Colleges:
Order books, register for classes, schedule change alerts, check grades, meal plan charges and real time balances
Access to library applications
Municipal:
Emergency broadcasts
911 location services and live video of emergency scene or interactive information and instructions
Access to security video
Disaster access options
Business:
Instant language interpretation services with both audio and video
Mobile Video for opt-in product information or promotions while looking at the product in the store. This could also use presence based information to target promotions in nearby stores.
Instant mobile access for various POS applications beyond just payments
Minimize cell minutes used by using VoIP on the WIFI network when in range
Access to live or on-demand interactive procedures and training
Consumer:
Replace their ISP if local
Electronic coupons to the screen to be scanned, printed or wireless transfer
Allow consumer to instantly compare store pricing to other stores at the point of purchase
Allow access to theme park attraction wait time
Social networking
Live video transmission and video e-mail.
Dave
Ray M.
Energy expert, educator, award winning sculptor
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Paul,
It sounds like you have all the bases covered.
Mass transit data, here in Cinci ARTMIS data
Restaurant reservations, health department inspections, etc.
Taxi service is good
ATM interface for cash at retailers?
Wireless payment at gas stations
and all the other stuff you mentioned.
Clarification added January 25, 2008:
On college campuses, streaming video of courses, RSS,etc.
Bookstore shopping, ordering for pick up.
Campus calendars, sporting events, etc
Paul:
If it is my home city, I'll be interested in knowing what the traffic flow into or out of the city looks like as I prepare to leave, complete with suggestions on how to avoid problem spots. I may be interested in purchasing tickets for a show, making reservations for dinner, ordering box lunches for a working lunch, ordering on-site car detailing services, etc.
If I'm in a city I'm visiting that I'm not really familiar with, I may be interested in directions to or from just about any point of interest including hotels, resturants, etc. I would also be interested in hailing a cab, accessing and confirming or changing travel (airline, train, etc) reservations.
If I'm looking for homeless shelters, I'm betting I will already have bartered my wifi device for meal. What would stand between me and bartering it away? Being able to use it to chase short-term job leads.
Just some thoughts.
Don't forget that it isn't just people that can beneift from the Wi-Fi network. In any downtown area there's a lot of street furniture that can be monitored and controlled. With energy and maintenance costs rising, there's translates into a lot of potential for smarter control of eveything from street lights to parking meters. None of these devices transmit much information or need much bandwidth, but they can be a more credible financial justification for an urban Wi-Fi network then the hope of getting money from someone with a PDA or smartphone.
