NEWS

As part of the series of recommendations that Innovation Oakland will be outlining in its report, "Optimize Technology" will be key. During Phase 2 of the project, two proofs of concept were created to test the technologies and develop a means to begin to address the complicated wayfinding and access needs of Oakland. The first proof of concept is an interactive kiosk that utilizes augmented reality. The second is a mobile phone application for smart phone that builds off the kiosk directory and places the interactive map in a user's hand.

The iO Kiosk

Augmented Reality, the layering of digital content over a live video feed, offered the most robust opportunity for interaction.  AR features could be integrated with a standard touch screen interface.  The additional layer of AR added a unique interactivity, while the touchscreen interface allowed for the presentation of practical content (restaurant listings, transit information, turn-by-turn directions, etc.) that was desired.  This system could be easily updated with new content (new businesses, events, real time promotions, etc.), whereas other options explored could not.  The 3D view of Oakland, that an AR map would present, seemed particularly well suited to display the typography of the neighborhood. 

The prototype developed has many engaging features.  When the user approaches the kiosk, they see photographs of Oakland on screen with the words “Touch to Start” displayed.  When the user touches the screen an introduction animation is played.  The user is guided to select a map from the map dispensers built into the front of the kiosk.  The user then places the map on the surface, guided by an outline that indicates where the map should be placed. 

When the map in properly aligned, a “Next” button appears onscreen.  At this point, there is also a “No Maps Available?” button in the likelihood that the map supply is exhausted. Then an intro animation plays in which the 3D map of Oakland springs out of the IO marker.  3D buildings appear to be falling from the sky onscreen. 

The buildings land onto the map complete with sound cues as each building falls into place.  Now a menu bar appears at the bottom of the screen.  The user can choose from categories of information, “Food and Drink, Shopping, Services, Healthcare, Thinks to Do, or Surprise Me.”. There is a prototype database of 160 businesses that can be selected.  When the user selects their category, a second tier of subcategories appears.  In the case of “Food and Drink,” the subcategory is the different types of restaurants, “American, Asian, Bars, Coffee, etc.”

Once a subcategory is selected, the names of the corresponding establishments appear.  The user selects their destination, and a detail popup window appears.  A photograph of the facade of the business, address, phone number, and hours of operation are displayed. 

The user can select a “Directions” tab.  Here turn-by-turn directions appear, generated through Google, guide the guest from the kiosk to their destination.  A “Print” button is displayed.  If selected, the business name, turn-by-turn directions, address, phone number, and distance are instantly printed out.  There is a thermal ticket printer mounted just beneath the table surface which prints this information onto custom thermal ticket stock with the IO logo.

The iO Mobile App

The Innovation Oakland mobile wayfinding app will allow residents and visitors to Oakland to learn about activities, events, offerings, specials and the like in real-time, thus enabling them to have pertinent information about Oakland at their fingertips. Information available will include:

• Where to shop, eat, drink
• What to watch for and do in Oakland
• Special offers (that might be time-sensitive)
• Digital tags around Oakland
• Availability of assets (hotel rooms, hours of operations, handicap access, etc.)
• Problem reporting
• The Innovation Oakland team has worked with five OBID member businesses to extract the following information:
• Hours of operation
• Description, history, popularity (external reviews)
• Digital media assets (video commercials, video promotions, SMS promotions, images)
• Specials, including coupons or new features, including both time-sensitive and non-time-sensitive promotions
• Items that the business has available, such as rooms if the business is a hotel, toothpaste if that business is a pharmacy, etc.
• Nearest bus-stop
• Nearest (and most convenient) parking garage to that business
• Accessibility
• Availability of outdoor seating (if applicable)
• Delivery options (if applicable)
• Twitter feed for OBID as well as that business

This information from every OBID member organization will be available in a database that can then be queried by a smartphone application.

In addition, the Innovation Oakland team will use the digital media assets to associate them with QR codes of various sizes that can then be applied to storefronts, fliers, and other physical/structural assets associated with each Oakland business. The Innovation Oakland mobile app would serve as a way of scanning Oakland-specific QR codes to get more details about the business. For example, the India Garden video commercial can be captured into a QR code that could then be printed onto India Garden’s fliers, printed onto placards to be displayed at the front of India Garden (perhaps on the awning, on the window or even on the sidewalk).

Not only would these digital tags be informational and educational for both residents and visitors alike (visualize these digital tags being placed prominently in front of historical assets in Oakland, allowing people to scan these tags to view video clips on their phone associated with those historical assets), but they could be a fun aspect of “Discover Oakland,” allowing users to gain more points, as they uncover and scan more digital tags throughout Oakland.

There could be incentives associated with this, such as coupons for discounts at an Oakland business if a user collects all five digital tags associated with that business, where the five digital tags might be scattered around Oakland. Incentivizing users in this manner not only allows Oakland businesses to promote their offerings through existing digital media avenues, but it also encourages users to explore Oakland, to discover its history and its interconnections. Moreover, these digital tags are a valuable way of increasing awareness and visibility, promoting a business, increasing revenue and driving traffic to the business.