Wayshowing
Articles
“Roadside Assistance: Tune into New Wayshowing Technology Applications,”
America’s Byways Resource Center; Vistas, September/October, 2006
Wayshowing: New Wayshowing Technology Applications
Successful wayshowing is much more than installing signs along your byway. Wayshowing is really about communicating with your traveler. Specifically, it’s about communicating the appropriate information at various stages of the byway experience - when the traveler is choosing, preparing, doing, recalling, and hopefully, revisiting your byway.
While road signs provide an important medium to display information to your travelers, signs alone are not sufficient. In the upcoming months, we’ll discuss many different means of communicating vital information to your traveler. Technology, while not a cure-all, may provide an innovative way to foster this communication process.
Clearly, technology continues to play a larger role in our lives, especially among the travelers you wish to attract to your byway. For example, byway visitors traveling with teenage children may see technology as a great way to get them involved in the trip (see podcasts or GPS systems below) via a meaningful, fun and educational experience. Whether or not you want to use the technology yourself, it often appeals to tech-savvy visitors and may even surprise you! Here are some applications to consider:
Real-time Traveler Location Technology
By using Global Position System (GPS) technologies, byway travelers can track their current position as they travel along your byway. One use is in conjunction with inexpensive, consumer-based road and mapping software, which integrates with a GPS unit. With a laptop and a GPS unit that sits on a dashboard, a byway traveler can map the route before traveling, track where he and she is going, locate services en route, and even plan side-trips - all without the use of the Internet.
Additionally, many car rental companies already provide this service in their cars. One system provides a screen where the user can find directions from their current location to hotels or restaurants anywhere in the country. Here’s some food for thought: Wouldn’t it be great if travelers could get directions to the nearest scenic byway?
Integration with DOT Traveler Information Technologies
Wayshowing is about helping the traveler find a route, but more importantly, it’s about helping the traveler find the way safely. Many States and byways are integrating with their respective DOT to provide real-time traveler and safety information that can be accessed by phone or the Internet. Valuable information, such as weather updates, construction, detours, and even interpretive information, can be transmitted to travelers.
Wireless Internet Areas
Many communities are attempting to provide free wireless zones, which allow users to obtain free wireless Internet service on their laptops. Many States are creating free wireless zones in visitor and welcome centers. Byways need to be aware of this and may want to investigate free wireless zones in many of their communities. Another benefit of free wireless zones is integration with DOT traveler information as described previously, and podcasting opportunities.
Podcasting
Podcasts are like radio shows that you can download from your computer and listen to whenever you want. A podcast is generally analogous to a recorded television or radio series and the topical content varies as much as TV and radio as well. You can listen to shows on current events, sports, entertainment and virtually any topic - including travel.
You don’t need a computer to listen to podcasts, because you can move podcasts onto portable MP3 players. Once moved onto a portable MP3 player, the podcast can be broadcast on your car’s FM radio from the MP3 player.
Podcasting derived its name from the iPod, Apple Computer’s version of a digital audio player. Many podcasters still use an iPod as their device to listen to podcasts, although there are many other versions available. Podcast listeners can subscribe to “shows” that interest them and receive new versions of their favorites automatically on their computers. The travel industry seems like an ideal source for podcasts. With the right technology, your byway can transmit up-to-date travel tips and information that can be heard in the car. You may not fully understand a podcast, but you can bet those teenagers do. Ask them for a demonstration!
Stay Tuned
Technology constantly changes. What might sound like far-fetched idea today may turn into tomorrow’s fad or maybe the next greatest travel innovation. Stay tuned to developments. You don’t have to understand the intricacies of technologies entering the market. Many Internet sites provide descriptions of technologies in lay terms that can help you determine if the development may benefit your byway.
Technology alone is not a cure-all, but its capabilities can enhance wayshowing for better, safer traveling. At the America’s Byways Resource Center, we’re looking forward to introducing you to those techno-opportunities.