ON THE CASE
Gatwick in world first with augmented reality wayfinding
Gatwick Airport has installed 2,000 indoor navigation beacons enabling augmented reality wayfinding – a world first for an airport .
Abhi Chacko , Gatwick Airport ’ s head of IT commercial and innovation , said the technology , which is part of Gatwick ’ s £ 2.5 billion transformation programme , makes it easier for passengers to find their way around the airport and avoid missing flights .
The battery powered beacons reduced costs and complexity and were deployed in just three weeks , Mr Chacko said .
The beacon system also enables an augmented reality wayfinding tool , so passengers can be shown directions in the camera view of their mobile device , which makes it easier for passengers to locate check-in areas , departure gates and baggage belts , for example .
The new navigation technology is currently being integrated into some of the Gatwick Apps and the airport is also in discussion with airlines to enable the indoor positioning and wayfinding tools to also feature on their App services .
Mr Chacko added that retailers and other third parties may also use the beacon system to detect proximity and send relevant offers or promotional messages , if the passenger has chosen to receive them .
He said : ‘ We are proud to be the first airport to deploy augmented reality technology and we hope that our adoption of this facility influences other airports and transport providers so that it eventually becomes the norm .’
The end-to-end service is managed by PointrLabs .
Axel Katalan , chief marketing officer , at PointrLabs said : ‘ Features such as 3D wayfinding through AR and on-screen translation , are now available to be used by Gatwick and their partners as simple as drag and drop .’ For further information visit : www . pointrlabs . com
Prysmian Group heralds inauguration of Romanian optical cable plant
Prysmian Group , world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry , has inaugurated its new optical cable plant in Slatina , Romania , which the company described as being the largest of its kind in Europe .
The new Slatina plant is part of a three-year € 250 million investment plan aimed at improving the group ’ s production capacity and capabilities worldwide , to meet the growing demand for optical cables for the deployment of new highspeed telecommunications networks .
Philippe Vanhille , senior vice president , telecoms at Prysmian Group , said : ‘ As a worldwide leading player in the industry , we are strongly committed to supporting governments and telecom operators in developing new broadband networks by continuing to invest in optical fibre and cable capacity , as well as in new technologies and know-how .
‘ The digital transformation goes through the development of new broadband and ultra-broadband fibre optic telecommunication networks and only the fibre can provide the necessary speed and reliability .’
Andrea Pirondini , chief operating officer at Prysmian Group , added : ‘ Operational excellence is key to confirm competitiveness particularly in dynamic and complex markets like those of optical fibre and cables .
‘ These investments involve existing optical fibre and cable facilities in Italy , France , the Netherlands , North and South America , together with new plants like those in Slatina , Romania ; Presov , Slovak Republic ; and Durango , Mexico .’ For further information visit : www . prysmiangroup . com
16 | June 2017