Regarding the use of cellphones to photograph barcodes to receive interpretive information in NZ. Is this really what progress is about? Heaven forbid that anyone would want to READ an interpretive sign. Is there an assumption here that we must all have a phone, or throw away our 'phone-phones' in order to get a camera-phone in order to function? that we must increase the amount of microwave signals back and forth in wildlife reserves in order to learn something that we could as easily, and at our own pace, read. How is this related to green-travel' I wonder? Everywhere I turn I read that we must get people reading more and that illiteracy is a key problem for (dis)functioning in society in general. And then we have these 'innovations'. I am sure there are some positives, but surely there are better things to investigate. I wonder who is sponsoring this pilot project? Any guesses? Text your answer to...
Adrian ----- Original Message ----- > Date: Tue, 02 Aug 2005 01:00:29 -0000 > From: "Marcus L. Endicott" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Subject: New Zealand: Cellphones become tourism tool > > http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/0,2106,3362816a11275,00.html > > Cellphones become tourism tool > 01 August 2005 > By ADRIAN BATHGATE > > A Hawke's Bay company is hoping a pilot project to use cellphones as > a tourist tool will revolutionise the way holidaymakers get > information in New Zealand. > > > The trial, in Pukaha Mt Bruce wildlife centre in Wairarapa, uses > technology developed by Mobile Interactive Visitor Information > Service (Mivis). > > Mivis' system uses the camera on a cellphone in the same way as a > barcode scanner. Visitors to Pukaha Mt Bruce take photos of barcodes > at various points around the centre. > > These are sent back to a central server, which uses software > to "scan" the barcode, then send the relevant information for that > particular point back to the phone as a one-minute audio file. > > .... > <*> To buy Marcus L. Endicott's new book: Vagabond Globetrotting 3: The Electronic Traveler in the New Millennium, go to: http://www.lulu.com/mendicott <*> To post a message to this group, send an email to: [email protected] {* Remember, it is important to include a descriptive subject line.} {* Please do not quote entire Digests or long messages in replies!} Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/green-travel/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
