Tourism applications

Tagging
It is a way of categorizing information online, where any piece of content can have multiple tags which will the appear to the user in categories.

Geo-tagging
Process of adding longitude and latitude lines, furthermore, it allows content to be displayed  geographically on a Map.  e.g. Flickr.com  - (It allows users to share, and store photos for example)

AJAX
Stands for: Asynchronous JavaScript & XML and is a development technique for creating interactive web applications.

-it increases usability, speed and the interactivity of the site
e.g. Kayak- 100 airlines best prices combined on one web page, with the use of Ajax to provide greater user experience.


Wiki
Sites which allows the user to add, change or edit the content of a page.

Threats:
-Mistakes
-Offensive content
-Manipulation

Annual Conference - Social Media Success Factors

An survey was done with a sample of 14 destinations. They where asked some questions about web 2.0 and how they though this service is perceived on the market. Within these 14 destinations, 13 of them claimed to be actively participants in social media trafficking, facebooking being the most popular.

What are they doing with social media:

• Direct contact
• Information
• Feedback
• Buzz creation

How to measure success?

1. Define success
2. Define indicators for success
3. Measure and compare success

I-phone Travel Applications (Hard facts)

->100000 Downloads

->350000 Guides

-50000 City Guides

-content integration by DMOs possible

Augmented Reality

• Additional user experience
• Enhancing the current perception of  reality
• Off road travel guide
• GPS globalization
• Directly usable

WEB 2.o

      Web 2.0 is related with web applications that enable users to share information online, as well as Videos and pictures. Before the Web 2.0 came about being there was the Web 1.0. When comparing Web 1.0 to Web 2.0 we can immediately see what huge improvements have been made for users. For example, the Web 2.0 now provides the user with more user-interface as well as more storage and software facilities through their browser.

 While Web 2.0 is making it  easier and faster to upload and share information it has also helped the tourism industry in many ways. One of these would be E-WOM, which refers to how people communicate their experiences with each other on the web, therefore, when we talk about the decision making process to do with the purchasing of a product or service this may be the most influential factor that contributes whether a customer will purchase the service or not. While the customer is going through the decision making process whether or not to buy a service or product he may come across some "E-WOM" which will have an impact on his decision; depending if the word of mouth was positively or negatively related to the service or product .

Smart Phones

Smartphone charcterizes a wireless telephone set with special computer-enabled features. This means that these new generation phones are enabled and facilitate the use of special features.These may include:
-access to wireless e-mail
-access to personal information
-Lan Connectivity
-Remote transfer of data

 

GPS SYSTEMS

GPS stands for Global positioning systems which makes use of a world-wide ratio-navigated system formed from a constellation of 24 satellites and their ground stations. Examples may include: Car navigation, GPS mobile phone applications and its nowadays also a feature that is offered in many advanced devices.

Photosynth

Photosynth is a program where one can upload pictures in order to then work on thm and edit them.

The E- Tourist

Importance of Information Technology

MIT Professor Erik Brynjolfssons new book highlights the importance of IT investments to economic growth and jobs.

The World of IT

In the earlier days, not so much emphasis had been made on I.T by Companies and organizations. In the Hotel Industry for example, if an employee of a Hotel had to deliver a message of a guest to another colleague in the Human resource department they would have had to deliver the message themselves. On the other hand, when we look at how technology is being used in all sorts of organization, wee see how the world of I.T is merging with the world Of Business and especially Tourism. Nowadays, more and more exploration is being made in the field of I.T especially when talking about the Tourism Industry. I.T is definitely a big advantage and can also be a key reason for  an organization to gain the competitive advantage in the market.

Definition (According to  Information Technology Association of America (ITAA):

Information technology (IT) "the study, design, development, application, implementation, support or management of computer-based information systems, particularly software applications and computer hardware."

Benefits of IT & How it's Uses

• Maximizing Occupancy rates
• Tells a company/organization when to hire temporary staff
• Marketing the product or service
• Easier assessment of new products
• Improved profitability

"IT underpins the operations of individual companies, tie together far-flung supply chains & increasingly links business's to the customers they serve.(Nicholas Carr, p.3, "Harvard Business Review", May 2003 edition)





History of Business expenditures on I.T.:

Excursion: Technology use for interpretation (PDA Tour , I-Walk and Mobile Applications)

On the 29th of September, we participated in an Excursion where we were divided up into groups in order to test several different Technology Applications.
First Task: Taking pictures of several Monuments and Statues (150 pictures per Object in order to then produce a 360 degree view of the object using special software).

Pictures Taken:
Stephansplatz, Vienna

Second Task: Walking around the center of Vienna again targeting specifically selected touristic places this time with an electronic Audio tour guide. This clearly shows how electronic devices can take over the jobs of normal people e.g the podcast replaces the personal tour guide.

Introductory Class

Travel Technology may include processes such as 'dynamic packaging' which offer clients and travellers a new way to experience their travel. For example,tour guides can be in the form of a GPS tour guide whereby the tourists would be following a given route while listening to an Audio Tape downloadable to any Mp3.

 Overview of Reservation Systems and their development over time:

1. Airline Reservation Systems: After deregulations 'Free Market' was creted combining all the systems starting a new era of Computer reservation systems.           
2. Computer Reservation Systems- Combined Systems making a network.      
3. Global Distribution Systems is the time we are in now where we deal with one service provider . E.g. Travel Agents- Amadeus, Galileo.      

Useful Definitions:       
Barriers- Cost of Access to Internet.
Catalyst- Special discounts for online bookers.