Digital graffiti

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Digital graffiti is a technology platform that allows information elements - in the form of a digital graffito - with different content with mobile devices ( cell phones , notebooks , ...) to be stored or consumed at any position in three-dimensional space. Classic information elements such as texts, images, sounds and videos can be provided and obtained in a geopositioned manner. Time- and location-related content and virtual sensors provided by external information sources can be integrated. This technology platform was developed by a team of scientists and engineers from the Institute for Information Systems - Software Engineering at the Johannes Kepler University Linz ( Austria ), Siemens Corporate Technology Munich , the Ars Electronica Futurelab in Linz and artists from the Linz Art University .

history

In a research and development project started in 2001 with the working title INSTAR - Information and Navigation Systems Through Augmented Reality , which scientists at the Johannes Kepler University Linz carried out in cooperation with SIEMENS Corporate Technology in Munich, a new type of Augmented Navigation system based on reality concepts, designed, patented and prototyped.

Example of an augmented reality application: Wikitude AR Travel Guide

In the course of this research project, the problem arose that, depending on certain conditions of the vehicle in which the navigation system is operated, objects in the image are identified, highlighted and provided with additional information in the live image of a camera that provides the image for the augmented display of the navigation information can be. For example, it should be possible to link the geoposition of a petrol station, the fuel prices applicable there and the access options, to provide the petrol station with a visibility area and to transmit the information elements (fuel price and accessibility) to motorists in a suitable form if their tank content is a certain Amount and you are in the visibility space. The petrol station and the car function both conceptually and in reality as virtual sensors that trigger an action or sequence of actions depending on their position in relation to one another and their condition.

Such a technology platform seemed to be usable for a variety of purposes if it was actually implemented. Based on the metaphor that the information elements, imitating a graffito sprayer, are sprayed onto the geoposition with a spray can, the information elements digital graffiti and the technology to open up this possibility were called "digital graffiti technology".

In 2003 a video prototype was first developed in order to bring the idea and concept closer to potential user groups and to gain feedback on the usefulness and potential of such a technology. After the idea met with great interest, different implementation models and prototypes for model verification were gradually developed. Finally, a comprehensive technology framework was created that has been used in an industrial context since 2008 and is also offered to private users for use on mobile devices ( iPhone , iPad , Android smartphones, etc.).

Objective and conception

A technology platform should be designed, modeled and implemented as a prototype, with the help of which previously unavailable, new information, navigation and collaboration possibilities are opened up, which are used both for the improvement of business processes in industry, economy and administration, as well as in private areas of application can be.

The technology platform and the architecture on which it is based is designed in such a way that it is possible to store or consume information in the form of digital graffiti using mobile devices (smartphones, notebooks, PDAs but also conventional mobile phones ) at any location in public and private space ( i.e. to be linked to the geoposition at which the device is located). A digital graffito is saved on a central server and the graffito is called up via the positioning. This is in contrast to the concept of local media , where appropriate playback devices obtain information from the local area. Texts, images, sounds, videos and references to external information sources can be provided as digital graffiti.

In addition, the technology enables electronically controllable actions (opening a barrier, starting or stopping a machine, triggering a measurement or booking process) to be triggered automatically, i.e. without additional manual action, when a certain device is in the vicinity of a special equipped digital graffito is located. A digital graffito can be provided with an access or visibility authorization that either relates directly to a person, a device, a software system, etc., or arises indirectly through the setting of a specific interest profile.

The digital graffiti technology also makes it possible to determine the whereabouts (the geographical positions) of a selected group of people or of certain devices ( clients ) in real time (provided mutual consent of the system users, which can be revoked at any time), and to carry out adequate user authorization management (who may log in to the system with which rights, who is allowed to locate whose position, who is allowed to provide and consume which information / graffiti to whom, administration and visual processing of the digital graffiti and the map material for navigation and position visualization).

The architecture is designed in such a way that the geographical position of a system user can be determined either via GPS (outdoors) or by means of WLAN triangulation (within buildings in which a corresponding WLAN infrastructure is available) and any other available position determination method with little Effort can be integrated. The transmission of the data, i.e. the communication between the user authorization management component and the system user (client) takes place via a TCP / IP-based communication model that optionally uses the available wireless communication technologies ( LAN , WLAN, GPRS , UMTS , HSDPA , Bluetooth ).

Technology and software

Digital graffiti can be used with conventional notebooks, tablets , handhelds (PDAs), cell phones and smartphones. Software clients are available as desktop applications for Windows- based operating systems and as mobile applications for Apple iOS , Android and Symbian . There is also a web-based version for browsers that support the HTML5 standard. The devices are localized either via the satellite-based positioning system GPS (outdoors) or via WLAN positioning systems (inside buildings). Communication with the information servers is based on TCP / IP either via WLAN or via the public telephone network using GPRS or UMTS. The world maps integrated into the application are obtained from the free OpenStreetMap project .

implementation

Smart Information Campus System

Since May 2010 a special information, communication, collaboration and navigation platform has been available at the Johannes Kepler University in Linz, which was developed on the basis of digital graffiti technology.

The Smart Information Campus System (SIC for short) offers university members (lecturers, students, administration) the opportunity to provide information elements such as text, image, sound, video documents, etc. in a geopositioned manner or to obtain them on (mobile) devices on site. For example, it is possible to have your own location on campus shown on the display of your mobile phone , to see where the seminar room or the meeting room you are looking for is to be found, how far it is and which event is currently taking place there. It is also possible (by using the SIC desktop component) to place the agenda for a meeting or the documents for a lecture (virtual) in front of the entrance to the meeting room or lecture hall. Before entering the room, these documents are automatically made available to the addressee. The geopositioned information elements can be provided with a lifespan so that after the associated time has elapsed, the information element automatically disappears again (e.g. the meeting agenda after the meeting has ended).

With SIC, a message in the form of a digital graffiti for a specific group of addressees can be stored at any geographical position. To do this, the person must either be physically at the corresponding position or virtually wander to the desired storage position ( geographic coordinate ) using a crosshair ( cursor ) . The system provides a graffito editor for this purpose, which allows the addressees, the subject, the content, the visibility radius and the attachments to be specified.

With SIC, a so-called Friendfinder component is available to users, which allows a special type of collaboration and social networking . SIC users can network with other SIC users (friends, colleagues, professors etc.) in such a way that they can exchange their current geographical position. In order to be able to network with someone, a networking request must be sent to the person concerned. If this person accepts the networking request, both partners (called friends) see their geographic positions immediately and reciprocally practically in real time, only delayed by the transmission time. To protect privacy, the system is designed in such a way that position information can only be exchanged with mutual consent, which can be revoked by anyone at any time with the push of a button. Your own visibility can be temporarily or permanently overridden at any time, either generally or individually for individual persons. The basic principle is: if you want to see the position of a person, you can only do so if you allow that person to see their position. The principle of visibility is always based on reciprocity. The Friendfinder component of the SIC gives the user the option of displaying his or her speed of movement in addition to the current geographical position of a friend, measuring the distance to him, entering into a dialog ( chat ) with friends, sending messages to friends, etc.

Areas of application

On the one hand, this technology makes it possible to redesign business processes and exploit previously inexhaustible optimization potentials for business process improvement; on the other hand, it can provide services, for example, in disaster management, the organization of emergency services, the support of people with disabilities, etc. and offers the individual and groups several options networking, communication and collaboration. This technology is already being used in logistics , tourism and infrastructure management .

Other projects envisage an application in public transport . Existing systems that publish information about public transport - including departure and arrival times or routes - are not always accurate and flexible. The aim is location-based, dynamic and interactive information dissemination, which continuously gives travelers updates on possible delays or other relevant changes in the timetable via the mobile device .

Web links

proof

  1. ^ A b c d e Gustav Pomberger: Digital Graffiti - A Framework for Implementing Location-Based Systems . In: International Journal of Software and Informatics . tape 5 , no. 1-2 , 2011, ISSN  1673-7288 , pp. 356 .
  2. ^ Gustav Pomberger: Digital Graffiti - A Framework for Implementing Location-Based Systems . In: International Journal of Software and Informatics . tape 5 , no. 1-2 , 2011, ISSN  1673-7288 , pp. 370 f .
  3. ^ Gustav Pomberger: Digital Graffiti - A Framework for Implementing Location-Based Systems . In: International Journal of Software and Informatics . tape 5 , no. 1-2 , 2011, ISSN  1673-7288 , pp. 356 f .
  4. ^ A b c Gustav Pomberger: Digital Graffiti - A Framework for Implementing Location-Based Systems . In: International Journal of Software and Informatics . tape 5 , no. 1-2 , 2011, ISSN  1673-7288 , pp. 357 .
  5. ^ A b Gustav Pomberger: Digital Graffiti - A Framework for Implementing Location-Based Systems . In: International Journal of Software and Informatics . tape 5 , no. 1-2 , 2011, ISSN  1673-7288 , pp. 358 .
  6. ^ A b Gustav Pomberger: Digital Graffiti - A Framework for Implementing Location-Based Systems . In: International Journal of Software and Informatics . tape 5 , no. 1-2 , 2011, ISSN  1673-7288 , pp. 372 .
  7. ^ Gustav Pomberger: Digital Graffiti - A Framework for Implementing Location-Based Systems . In: International Journal of Software and Informatics . tape 5 , no. 1-2 , 2011, ISSN  1673-7288 , pp. 373 f .
  8. ^ A b Gustav Pomberger: Digital Graffiti - A Framework for Implementing Location-Based Systems . In: International Journal of Software and Informatics . tape 5 , no. 1-2 , 2011, ISSN  1673-7288 , pp. 374 .
  9. ↑ Wolfgang Narzt, Wolfgang Wasserburger: Digital Graffiti - A Comprehensive Location-Based Travel Information System . In: Proceedings REAL CORP 2011 proceedings . 2011, ISBN 978-3-9503110-1-3 , pp. 1239 .
  10. ↑ Wolfgang Narzt, Wolfgang Wasserburger: Digital Graffiti - A Comprehensive Location-Based Travel Information System . In: Proceedings REAL CORP 2011 proceedings . 2011, ISBN 978-3-9503110-1-3 , pp. 1242 .