A landmark move for augmented reality services in travel? So says SITA Lab and Copenhagen Airport ahead of the release of an iPhone app using AR within the terminals.
Until now augmented reality platforms have been primarily focused outdoors as the GPS signals required for high quality geo-positioning do not penetrate concrete and other building materials.
Copenhagen Airport, which already has a moderately successful iPhone app (100,000 downloads and counting since December 2010), has worked with SITA Lab to develop an AR function for the service by using technology contained within the confines of the airport terminals.
The AR tool will use "triangulation and signal strength" from existing wifi points scattered throughout the airport to determine the location of the user.
The technology, similar to other AR services outside, then calculates what the user is looking at through the handset's mobile device and feeds in the appropriate functions.
The app will plot relevant information such as location and directions of gates, shops, restaurants and other services.
The enhanced app is expected to hit the iTunes appstore in the next few weeks.