What would you pay for a 24/7/365 guide with a PhD in History?
Jan 7th, 2005, 01:40 PM
#44
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The more you've described it, R, the more it sounds like it could work lke a hybrid of streaming internet radio and XM or Sirius. Call ir RealLocationAudio. Your PocketPC would contain the authorization that you have paid the subscription; the GPS data would select the relevant streaming textual description (in as many languages in which the producers had recorded it); and sidebars could provide links to various existing websites with more detailed info. There could be two versions: one for those who already have wireless internet connectivity, and a second, at supplemental cost, for those who need a satellite based-signal (i.e., a channel on XM or Sirius) - - and of course, it would need additional (receiver) hardware, I'm pretty sure.
I think some early adopters might pay $25 a day (max) for such a thing - - but building the critical mass of audio text info would be pretty capital intensive.
I think some early adopters might pay $25 a day (max) for such a thing - - but building the critical mass of audio text info would be pretty capital intensive.
Jan 7th, 2005, 04:31 PM
#46
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We have talked about what you are asking
and we think for us, would not want that service or program! While in Europe we almost always just WINGED IT
in the places we visited and thats what made it so special for us, we learned as we went except for the normal sights
most people see in like Paris or Munich or Amsterdam. We made our own tour up everyday and seen things and places that a book or guide would never show us.
and we think for us, would not want that service or program! While in Europe we almost always just WINGED IT
in the places we visited and thats what made it so special for us, we learned as we went except for the normal sights
most people see in like Paris or Munich or Amsterdam. We made our own tour up everyday and seen things and places that a book or guide would never show us.
Jan 7th, 2005, 04:44 PM
#47
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With all due respect, I think you're missing the point. With this device (working title: <i>Weltanschauung</i
, you still plan your own itinerary, go wherever you wish in whatever order you please, and see what you want to.
The device knows where you are from one instant to the next, and will (if you ask it to) tell you about the thing you are seeing.
Think of it as a Random Access Real-Time Audio Guide Book (RARTAGB).
, you still plan your own itinerary, go wherever you wish in whatever order you please, and see what you want to.The device knows where you are from one instant to the next, and will (if you ask it to) tell you about the thing you are seeing.
Think of it as a Random Access Real-Time Audio Guide Book (RARTAGB).
Jan 7th, 2005, 05:18 PM
#51
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OK Sue4. Your call.
But there are millions of people who use GPS (handheld, automotive, or aircraft) to keep track of where they are. And the machine knows where they are from one instant to the next.
Resistance is Useless. You Will be Assimilated.
But there are millions of people who use GPS (handheld, automotive, or aircraft) to keep track of where they are. And the machine knows where they are from one instant to the next.
Resistance is Useless. You Will be Assimilated.
Jan 7th, 2005, 08:21 PM
#56
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I'll license somebody's tour guide, scan the text, OCR it and run it through a text-to-speech engine.
Then, of course, I'll have to spend several weeks in each city keying the GPS coordinates to the descriptions
Then, of course, I'll have to spend several weeks in each city keying the GPS coordinates to the descriptions
Jan 8th, 2005, 08:06 AM
#57
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"What's next? It tells you when you have to go to the bathroom?"
Thank you, Margie. I will implement a "Public Toilet Facility Locator" which will guide the user to the nearest/cheapest (user choice) toilet.
Thank you, Margie. I will implement a "Public Toilet Facility Locator" which will guide the user to the nearest/cheapest (user choice) toilet.
Jan 8th, 2005, 08:30 AM
#58
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And if you sell enough of these, you'll be able to tell me if it's occupied as well. v2 will tell me if they'll be awhile yet?
Good luck with the project Robes. Sounds fascinating. Makes much more sense now, your past focus on promoting the appeal of PDAs. With what you're doing here, I might consider buying one, price not withstanding, and even despite my distain for the interface on pocket PCs.
Jan 8th, 2005, 08:58 AM
#59
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Clifton - you enter an "urgency code" and the system finds you an optimal accommodation based on distance, how far along each occupant is, and how fast you can walk with your legs crossed.
Jan 8th, 2005, 10:51 AM
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If this thing babbles incessantly, I think the people around you may remove it from your pocket and put it somewhere where the noise will be muffled. I felt that way about the early audioguides our museum used, but our museum now has switched to guides with a headset. My wife likes to use them; I don't. I find the descriptions canned and distracting. I would rather just look at the art. I do like having computer power available, though. We had a travelling exhibit where there was a beautiful statue of Undine; I was not familiar with the story, so when I got home I looked and found a translation of the legend that made the work even more meaningful. Still, I would rather not be exposed to the type of canned presentation you get on a guided tour, although I am always tempted by the tours offered by a good liberal arts college here, where your guides are academics, rather than speech memorizers.
