App that’s going to make getting around city easy
A NEW app has been launched to help people plan their trip to Coventry during the City of Culture year - and stay safe in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The technology firm behind the move says it will make the celebration an event that’s fit for the Smartphone era.
The app will offer recommendations for visitors based on what services are available, how crowded an area is and it will be available to transport planning teams to help them to control recommended routes.
ech firm You. Smart. Thing (YST) was awarded £67,000 in 2017 from the European Regional Development Fund as part of a bid through the Coventry and Warwickshire Innovation Programme.
The money was earmarked to enable research into privacy law, hi-tech sensors that can prevent overcrowding, regional transport infrastructure and the accessibility needs of large and diverse audiences.
The plan was to combine all of this so that individual people can connect more efficiently with transport and venue operators.
YST has now been contracted to deliver a Travel Assistant app which can be embedded into City of Culture venues, websites, transport operator and venue mobile apps.
It will integrate transport services, recommend event itineraries and help manage the travel plans of visitors and residents.
Andrew Steele is chief operating officer of YST.
He said: “The City of Culture Travel Assistant will notify people of all the best options for an amazing visit by their preferred method of communication, based on their tastes and specific travel needs.
“It captures visitors’ preferences without ever sharing their personal data and puts together recommendations that take into account service availability, crowding and traffic congestion across the region.”
“It’s fantastic to see the Travel Assistant being used to showcase artistic endeavour and to power personalisation for visitors to the region.”
Jacob Gough, Production Director at Coventry City of Culture Trust, added: “The major events planned throughout our year as UK City of Culture will attract diverse audiences from the city and beyond.
“Effective travel planning is essential to help these audiences connect with our world-class programme.
“Working with ‘You. Smart. Thing’ will help us make sure people travelling to, and around, Coventry will be able to do so both smartly and safely.”