Korea Embraces Smartphones as Smart Guides

In one of our posts back in December, we talked about how Korea has become a testbed for the future of NFC Mobile Payments. In addition to services that allow you to make purchases with a simple tap of your mobile device or credit card, Korea is now experimenting with other uses of NFC, QR codes and apps.

Smartphone Applications as a Personal Tour Guide

Deoksugung in My Hands is an AR (Augmented Reality) app that works as a tour guide for Deoksu Palace, one of the most beautiful of Korea’s former royal residences.

Photo Credit:http://bit.ly/VuXMHr

Just download the app and it will feel as if you have a personal tour guide by your side as the app leads you to destinations while explaining about the history of each building. Using this app, you can also see 3D renderings of buildings that once were part of the palace grounds but no longer exist, giving you a more complete view of Korea’s history.

The app is available in English, Japanese, Chinese and sign language and you can download it  from this link. 

QR codes with touristic information

Trying to figure out the directions to a restaurant or a tourist attraction isn’t always easy, especially when you aren’t a local. Yes, you can ask people passing by but often that needs courage and language skills. (It also means the person has to know where the place is!) Sometimes you just wish that there is an easier way. 

To help visitors to find their way, Gangnam-gu put giant QR codes on popular touristic areas like Gangnam and Garosu-gil to provide maps and information on nearby stores and restaurants in English, Japanese and Chinese. 

The smart technology is certainly helping Seoul to strengthen its claim as a tourist-friendly city!

Photo Credit: http://bit.ly/YFoVVR

Smart Hotels

We also mentioned on our blog about how some hotels in Seoul use NFC technology for smart hotel keys. These keys help visitors to enjoy a comfortable stay by allowing their smartphone to works for everything – including room key, lights/tv control and even ordering room service.

Do you have any creative idea about how to use NFC technology? If so, please let us know by leaving a comment!