Preview of the world's first u-Expo "Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea"
Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea, which along with the World Cup and the Olympics is one of the world's most celebrated festivals, is scheduled to be held in Yeosu, South Korea from May 12 to August 12, 2012. The theme of the Expo is "The Living Ocean and Coast."
In March of this year, the Organizing Committee for Expo 2012 Yeosu Korea set up a taskforce geared toward information system planning, and appointed Lee Jeong-bae, former chairman of the Korea Information Processing Society (KIPS) and professor at Sun Moon University, as Chief Information Officer (CIO) in order to make Expo 2012 Yeosu the most future-oriented exposition with the help of cutting-edge ubiquitous technologies. CIO Lee Jeong-bae stressed, "Given that Expo 2012 Yeosu is on track to catch the eyes of the international community, I am determined to make sure that Expo 2012 Yeosu will serve as the optimum venue to showcase IT powerhouse Korea's technological prowess to the world."
CIO Lee Jeong-bae has already inked a contract with SKC&C, the IT services arm of SK Telecom, in a bid to launch the world's first u-Expo. In addition, a plethora of state-of-the-art technologies, such as green IT, digital galleries and cloud computing, are lined up to embellish Expo 2012 Yeosu.
Ubiquitous system
Expo 2012 Yeosu is busy making preparations for its u-system, in which visitors are equipped with smartphones that provide them with various kinds of information, ranging from real-time road traffic information, the availability of parking spaces to short cuts to their destinations. On top of that, smartphones offer convenient access to information on flights, buses, and KTX (Korea Train eXpress) trains. So visitors can easily make their online reservations at the tip of their fingers.
When visitors make mobile ticket reservations, mobile tickets are sent to their mobile phones in the form of a text message. These mobile tickets are called ubiquitous tickets. The moment visitors with u-tickets enter the Expo site, smart phones with built-in UBS tags kick in to inform visitors of relevant and location-specific information on a real-time basis. Also, there are necklaces and bracelets with UNS tags, which are designed to help weak and elderly visitors enjoy Expo 2012 Yeosu with much ease.
Information sharing through smartphones
Backed by low labor costs based on automated systems, RFID tags present convenience, accuracy and general-purpose applicability. Therefore, as soon as products are delivered from warehouses, detailed information on products, such as prices, feeds into smartphones. Likewise, Expo 2012 Yeosu is set to make the most of interactive RFID tags so as to smooth out information services via smartphones.
What's more, RFID tags can be incorporated into necklaces and bracelets in the form of a dongle. By wearing them, visitors can use the Expo's u-system without resorting to smartphones. For example, upon buying u-tickets, parents can keep track of their children at the Expo site in real time. If there is a missing child, USN loaders, placed at each entrance will locate the child straight away.
Furthermore, when emergency medical attention is needed for some elderly visitors, USN loaders will sound the alarm and make emergency calls to 911 as well as to family members. In case of fire, USN loaders immediately set off fire sensors. While existing fire sensors are activated when the temperature detected reaches 70 to 80 degrees, the Expo's fire sensors - which encompass all the functions of thermal sensors, infrared sensors and temperature sensors - contain a fire from the time it is discovered by raising the alarm, alerting visitors and starting escape route services.
Expo Digital Gallery and Augmented Reality Display
In addition, smartphones offer real-time map services to help visitors navigate their way to toilets and other amenities at the Expo. Even more eye-catching are giant galleries called "Expo Digital Gallery (EDG)" that are shown on large-scale displays attached to buildings at the site. Expo Digital Gallery, which is 600 meters long and 30 wide, provides a variety of visual images and information. At the same time, the EDG can display text messages sent by visitors via smartphones.
Another attraction deserving of visitors' attention is Augmented Reality Display called Magic Multimedia, a technology that brings three-dimensional objects and real-world objects together. And the 4D Immersion Theater will bring visitors much closer to the sights, sounds, and smells of the action.
Besides, as the Expo site offers Wi-Fi Internet connection, visitors with smartphones can surf the Internet anytime anywhere. They can search for location information and nearby tourist attractions, not to mention logging on to social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. Visitors can upload their photos and Expo reviews onto their blogs to share their stories and memories of Expo 2012 Yeosu with their friends on a real-time basis. As a result, the whole process can work as word-of-mouth promotion.
CIO Lee Jeong-bae said, "This type of u-system has never been launched by previous large-scale exhibitions including CeBIT, the world's largest computer expo, the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES), and Expo 2010 Shanghai. So I think it is fair to say that Expo 2012 Yeosu will be the world's first u-Expo."
