World premiere at the 19th ITS World Congress in Vienna: The “Kongressnavigator” is the first app to combine all the most important things at a Congress. It helps visitors navigate through the city and the Congress Centre and it integrates the conference programme transportation schedules and tickets. All this comes together on the smartphone – now available for the iPhone Android and as a mobile web application.

Arrival at the airport followed by a quick stop at the hotel – there’s not much time to spare: The opening ceremony of the ITS World Congress will start in just a few minutes. In the lobby visitors pull out their mobile phone and let the Kongressnavigator show them the way from the hotel to Messe Wien and directly to hall 2. Naturally the app knows when the next metro will leave and is aware of any delays in real time. The ticket for public transportation comes automatically to the mobile phone through the app. Along the way the app provides an overview of the presenters and demonstrations and it creates a personalised Congress programme. The app also shows the shortest route from the metro station to the conference hall. At the entrance visitors show their mobile phone and receive their delegate name tag to hang around their neck.

All-in-one navigation on the smartphone

The Kongressnavigator is the first app to combine navigation through the city with guidance at the Congress Centre. Participants in the ITS World Congress can try out the seamless transition in navigation on their own smartphone: GPS-based navigation outdoors plus real-time information about public transportation. In the conference hall and the Congress Centre the mobile phone uses sensors and QR codes to lead the way. The Kongressnavigator gives a whole new meaning to the term “multimodal” and allows visitors to experience it for themselves: The app suggests the best routes for travelling by metro and bus as well as by rental car city bike or foot.

Those who opt to bike or walk can collect eco-points in one of the themed “challenges”. So the Kongressnavigator also appeals to participants’ play instinct. People who choose to participate in the challenges receive tasks related to a topic on their mobile phone – for example to visit a certain exhibitor or participate in a session or technical demonstration. The participants answer questions or research a route. In this way they collect points and also gain better insight into an important topic of the Congress.

In the exhibition hall the Kongressnavigator takes over route planning between the stands. When preparing for the Congress at home visitors can already mark the stands they want to visit using QR codes and they receive the fastest route to hit them all. They can bookmark sessions and demonstrations that they don’t want to miss and receive timely reminders. Those who would you like to know more about a speaker or exhibitor can leave a virtual business card using the Kongressnavigator. During the sessions participants can give the speakers direct feedback on their speeches ask questions and give comments with the Kongressnavigator. And of course the events in the evening and various sights in Vienna are integrated into the app.

Available for iPhones Android smartphones and as a web app

The Kongressnavigator is available for iPhones in the App Store and for Android smartphones on Google Play and can be found by searching for “Kongressnavigator”. It is also available as a web app.

The app can be used throughout the Congress Centre via Wi-Fi – which means no additional data roaming charges and a longer more intense taste of personal mobility for visitors.

The Kongressnavigator was designed by AustriaTech a subsidiary of the Federal Ministry for Transport Innovation and Technology (BMVIT). The project is being funded by the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund. The project partners are Fluidtime ITS Vienna Region CSS-Computer-Systems-Support TechTalk and Salzburg Research.

The ITS World Congress is held every three years in alternating locations in the Americas Asia and Europe and will be hosted by Vienna for the first time this year. Roughly 300 exhibitors and some 10000 participants are expected. The Congress in Vienna from 22 to 26 October 2012 is being organised by ERTICO – ITS Europe in cooperation with ITS America and ITS Asia-Pacific along with the Austrian Federal Ministry for Transport Innovation and Technology (BMVIT).

For information and registration visit the Congress website.

Registration is open and a detailed programme is available online.

Link to original Article

http://www.ertico.com/congress-participants-experience-intelligent-mobility-on-their-smartphone/

Original Publication Date: Tue 25 Sep 2012