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Airports of the Future
Technology
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Jumping out of the taxi, rushing to grab a sandwich before the security check and hoping you haven’ t missed your flight? What if the snack is ready at collection point? The road to the airport gate is not as long as expected, with the mobile phone’ s built-in GPS showing the way through the crowded airport.
Half an hour before boarding and your smartphone screen is flashing with the latest trends and advertisements while walking past retail shops. Bloomberg online radio is suddenly interrupted by a sweet female voice flooding your earphones, saying,“ We noticed you bought a business suit last week. We have a sale on a tie that goes with it.”
Future airports will be using the Internet of Things( IoT) to provide passengers with useful information regarding not only their flights but also shopping, leisure and business. The software allows machines to communicate with each other and exchange data, essentially enhancing a traveller’ s airport experience.
London City Ariport will be the first‘ smart airport’ in the world, having installed machineto-machine communication technologies. Sensors will be monitoring on‘ real time’ travellers, as well as their luggage. In case a passenger misses a flight, his luggage will not be loaded on the plane, avoiding any delays and inconvenience.
Finding your driver at an airport among a sea of placard holders will be a problem of the past. Your smartphone will be able to lead you to the pre-registered taxi. Saif Ul Saleem, a driver for private car hire, Fairway and Kenwood, private car hire, says new technologies will make his job easier and save him
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money.“ I have to be at the airport at least 45 minutes before the arrival of my client’ s flight. Most of the times, I end up waiting for my customers longer than expected, something that costs money in the ridiculously expensive car park.”
The software could prove to be an efficient time saver for travellers who fly frequently. Personalised reminders will regulate their timetables, making sure their todos are delivered on time. Rewards and retail promotions will be offered and specifically tailored to loyal customers.
The predicted new airport features are not that fascinating for everybody. Urs Baumeister, product manager for casualty insurance at Swiss Re, says“ I do not think this is going to revolutionise the way we are travelling. It is comfortable already. Of course, I will give it a shot, but if I’ m not comfortable with the system monitoring me, I will always be able to turn off the GPS or not use the mobile apps.”
The revolutionary project being tested at City Airport promises to launch a new era of air traveling by the end of March 2014, when the programme is officially implemented. What is learnt from the project, should it be successful, could easily be replicated in airports all around the world and set milestones for a new kind of travel lifestyle.
// Dimitris Koskeridis
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App-tacular
Travel apps
london city airport in the morning
Coming across a sign in a foreign language can be quite a puzzling experience. All travellers have asked this question at some point-“ what does it mean?”
Word Lens helps make sure you do not get lost in translation( at least when it comes to signs). All you need to do is take a picture with the app, which then translates the sign into whatever language selected.
Have you ever been in the situation where you are struggling to hail a cab in New York or London? Taxi Hold‘ Em may be the solution to your problem. It flashes the word‘ taxi’ on a smartphone. The app will also play a loud whistle to catch a cabbie’ s attention. We can’ t promise you taxis will stop but it is a creative way to grab their attention.
Eating a dodgy taco or street paella can have its affect on your stomach, which can result in needing a toilet as soon as possible. SitOrSquat will locate the nearest toilet, using GPS for you to use a restroom. The app contains details of more than 100,000 toilets around the world.
Travelling has never been this easy! // Annika Ranga
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dimitris koskeridis |