Most city tourist information is boring, two-dimensional and not interactive at all; the CityWall in Helsinki, however, is a notable exception to this rule. The CityWall is a giant multi-touch interactive information center that has just been launched this month.
Files are organized into spherical rows, and users can scroll through them to view pictures, videos, articles, discussions and maps. Much of the content deals with the relationship between Helsinki and nature, and the nuisances presented to the landscape by human interaction.
CityWall has another neat feature. According to the CityWall Web site, the kiosk automatically downloads Flickr photos and videos tagged with 'Helsinki,' 'CityWall' or 'cwhki.' This media can be viewed in its own separate location on the CityWall interface.
Key Themes Behind This Trend
- Interactive 3D Information Centers
- The use of multi-touch technology and spherical displays can revolutionize the way tourists access information.
- Innovative Tourist Information Displays
- Tourist information centers and kiosks can incorporate interactive and engaging displays to enhance user experience.
- Automated Content Curation
- Automatic downloading and displaying of user-generated content can enhance the authenticity and relevance of tourist information centers.
Where This Applies
- Tourism
- Tourist information centers and kiosks can leverage interactive and engaging displays to attract and retain tourists.
- Technology
- Innovations in multi-touch technology and automated content curation can disrupt the traditional information display industry.
- Marketing and Advertising
- Interactive and immersive displays can offer creative opportunities for businesses to advertise their products and services to tourists.
