Of course, you heard something about them, but, as a recent invention, I think it’s good to talk about what it is and what benefits it can bring to you the support of an interactive guide during your trip. In addition, I will look at which places that have some kind of interactive travel guide might be more appropriate.
As a starting point, let's see what we are talking about. I define the interactive travel guide as an electronic device that is aware of its position thanks to the GPS system for open wide spaces or the internal sensor system for closed or small areas. This system determines where the tourist is located, and starts playing records, studying the various cultural aspects of the place where the traveler is located. Instead of having to transfer a large number of books and documents to a destination, to make the trip a cultural experience or to get a guide explaining the crowd of people, you can get these cultural incentives in your own way, or if you are on a museum or traveling with a campground throughout the country.
The advantages of the system? It really depends on where you are going to use it. As a first example, I will cite a wax museum in Salzburg, Austria. They have a device that you plug into your ears, which discover areas that you cross in a museum, and begin by explaining what that means. This allows people to enter the experience at their own speed, repeat explanations if they do not understand, and this is an advantage for museum guys, because they do not need to pay for the guide.
On the other hand, if you want to travel around the country, for example, I will give an example of a device made in New Zealand to study the country. In fact, this device was first in its class, and many tourist organizations around the world buy an idea to improve the immersion experience for visitors. It uses a GPS system that is connected to your car’s radio, and it starts to play a recording every time your car enters any area of particular interest. It includes recommendations on hot spots, cultural background, stories about places, legends and myths, or even recommends a restaurant or a special place where you can spend pleasant time.
There are many advantages. You no longer need help with a book to understand more deeply any region that you cross, you get good advice about the places you visit, and recommendations on what to do, and you don’t need a course, any guide who travels with you in the camper! The guys who manage this project are always open to adding new places with new records and even ask New Zealanders to contribute to any of their personal impressions in the country.
Finally, thinking about the future, this device could be combined with audiovisual material (of course, while driving!), And even included some interactive features that could allow you to explore a specific zone using the menu every time you enter it or in the case of New Zealand and road tours in general, every time you inform the device, your car is stopped.
