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Multimed Tools Appl (2015) 74:83138324
DOI 10.1007/s11042-013-1782-4
Pei-Jung Lin & Sheng-Chang Chen & Chuan-Heng Yeh & Wei-Cheng Chang
Published online: 3 December 2013# Springer Science+Business Media New York 2013
Abstract This study designed a web-integrated, cross-platform communications interface based on smartphone technology to overcome many of the difficulties inherent in visiting crowded public spaces, events, or exhibitions. The goal was to provide an alternative to the standard tour itinerary with a location-specific, customized tour guide system that also makes use of social networks to locate friends. The proposed mobile application features are a photo sharing platform, a friend-finder radar system (linked to Facebook), an interactive game, and a location-based services (LBS) mobile advertising filter. The Taipei International Flora Exposition was used as an example of a public space to evaluate the proposed system.
Keywords Location-aware service . Mobile social networks . Smart phone . Social game
1 Introduction
Developments in smart phone technology [1, 4, 10] have enabled the development of a wide range of novel applications. This study proposes a cross-platform communications interface with full web-integration and real-time functionality to augment services in large, high-traffic venues. Detailed mobile information services are often required by visitors to international exhibitions, most often in the form of tour guides or visitor maps. Unfortunately, traditional
P.<J. Lin
Department of Computer Science and Information Engineering, Hungkuang University, Taichung City, Taiwane-mail: [email protected]
S.<C. Chen (*)
Ursa Pictor Co., Taichung, Taiwan e-mail: [email protected]
C.<H. Yeh : W.<C. Chang
RAI Co., Taichung, Taiwan
C.<H. Yehe-mail: [email protected]
W.<C. Change-mail: [email protected]
Implementation of a smartphone sensing system with social networks: a location-aware mobile application
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visitor maps only provide information in a general sense, such as a schedule of events. Such visitor guides can become a burden when activity schedules are overly complex, or if too many people cluster in certain areas for scheduled activities in a one-directional flow. The interface of these guides may also be cluttered with useless information, such as advertisements [5]. The proposed location-aware application provides activity-related information proactively, based on data related to global positioning system (GPS) and time signals received from users mobile phones. Instead of relying on event schedules and searching for exhibits, users can be notified of activities near where their...