ITS World Congress premieres Kongressnavigator

Available for download from this week, the ITS World Congress ‘Kongressnavigator’is the first app to combine all the most important things at a congress. It helps visitors navigate through the city and the congress centre, and it integrates the conference programme, transportation schedules and tickets. All this comes together on the smartphone - now available for the iPhone, Android and as a mobile web application.

Arrival at the airport followed by a quick stop at your hotel - there's not much time to spare: The opening ceremony of the ITS World Congress will start in just a few minutes. In the lobby, visitors pull out their mobile phone and let the Kongressnavigator show them the way from the hotel to Messe Wien and directly to hall 2. Naturally, the app knows when the next metro will leave and is aware of any delays in real time. The ticket for public transportation comes automatically to the mobile phone through the app. Along the way, the app provides an overview of the presenters and demonstrations, and it creates a personalised Congress programme. The app also shows the shortest route from the metro station to the conference hall. At the entrance, visitors show their mobile phone and receive their delegate name tag to hang around their neck.

All‐in‐one navigation

The Kongressnavigator is the first app to combine navigation through the city with guidance at the congress centre. Participants in the ITS World Congress can try out the seamless transition in navigation on their own smartphone: GPS‐based navigation outdoors, plus realtime information about public transportation. In the conference hall and the Congress Centre, the mobile phone uses sensors and QR codes to lead the way. The Kongressnavigator gives a whole new meaning to the term "multimodal" and allows visitors to experience it for themselves: The app suggests the best routes for travelling by metro and bus as well as by rental car, city bike or foot.

Those who opt to bike or walk can collect eco‐points in one of the themed "challenges". So the Kongressnavigator also appeals to participants' play instinct. People who choose to participate in the challenges receive tasks related to a topic on their mobile phone - for example, to visit a certain exhibitor or participate in a session or technical demonstration. The participants answer questions or research a route. In this way, they collect points and also gain better insight into an important topic of the Congress.

In the exhibition hall, the Kongressnavigator takes over route planning between the stands. So, right now, from your office or when you have some time and you want to prepare for the ITS World Congress, you can mark the stands you want to visit using QR codes, and then receive the fastest route to hit them all. You can also bookmark sessions and demonstrations that you don't want to miss and receive timely reminders.
Those who would you like to know more about a speaker or exhibitor can leave a virtual business card using the Kongressnavigator. During the sessions, participants can give the speakers direct feedback on their speeches, ask questions and give comments with the Kongressnavigator.

And of course, the events in the evening and various sights in Vienna are integrated into the app.

The Kongressnavigator is available for iPhones in the %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal App Store WC App false http://itunes.apple.com/at/app/kongressnavigator/id557570515?mt=8 false false%> and for Android smartphones on %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal Google Play Google Play WC App false http://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.fluidtime.congressnavigator&amp;feature=search_result#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEsImNvbS5mbHVpZHRpbWUuY29uZ3Jlc3NuYXZpZ2F0b3IiXQ false false%>, and can be found by searching for "Kongressnavigator". It is also available as a web app: %$Linker: 2 External <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-16"?><dictionary /> 0 0 0 oLinkExternal https://navigator.itsworldcongress.at Navigator WC false http://navigator.itsworldcongress.at/ false false%>.

The app can be used throughout the Congress Centre via Wi‐Fi - which means no additional data roaming charges and a longer, more intense taste of personal mobility for visitors.

The Kongressnavigator was designed by 4793 AustriaTech, a subsidiary of the Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (6620 BMVIT). The project is being funded by the Austrian Climate and Energy Fund. The project partners are Fluidtime, 6624 ITS Vienna Region, CSSComputer‐Systems‐Support, TechTalk and Salzburg Research.