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December 12, 2004
Watching Vision become Reality: Kista, Sweden is THE Wi-Fi City with LBS Services!
About two and a half years ago, I first started to describe the concept of a Wi-Fi enabled city, which also offered Located Based Services (LBS) to its residents. It turns out that such a place really does exists and it happens to be: Kista, Sweden...just minutes away from Stockholm!
I spoke about the concept of a city like this in detail with some of the delegates at our 2002 Location Based Services Summit back in Seattle. I find it real interesting whenever a concept becomes a reality. :-)
On December 9th Kista Science City and Appear Networks announced the launch of an interactive city-wide context-aware wireless showcase located in Kista Science City, Stockholm.
I first visited Kista Science City in June, 1998 right after VON Europe '98. I look forward to visiting again during my next trip Stockholm and rediscover Kista Science City.
The Kista Mobile Showcase promotes mobile applications, solutions and services found in the Swedish high tech region, home to over 700 companies and more than 27,000 employees. The wireless deployment consists of 110 Wi-Fi access points distributed through out Kista Science City points of interest, including the Kista Gallerian (a shopping mall with adjoining subway station), IT University Campus, research buildings of Electrum and Wireless@KTH, and Kista Science Tower.
Their showcase features an interactive tour, which enables visitors to personally experience next generation mobile solutions and applications while discovering Kista Science City. Showcase visitors are provided a Wi-Fi enabled handheld device and the user's location is recognized and dynamically updated upon entering various Wi-Fi enabled zones located through out Kista, achieving indoor location detection accuracy not possible with GPS. Personalized location-based services automatically appear and disappear from the visitor's mobile device, according to his precise location. For example, as the user approaches the bank, stock quotes appear on his mobile device. Walking by the lunch court triggers a list of menus available from nearby restaurants. Upon entering the subway station an updated timetable becomes available.
Personally, I believe it is the demonstration of context-aware wireless services that is the key part of the technology the city is showcasing.
Other cities looking into deploying citywide Wi-Fi services should add a trip to Sweden as part of their project planning process.
Visit Kista Science City: where you can visit the future from the present past.
Posted by jeff on December 12, 2004 09:50 AM | Permalink
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