City of Bath to host wireless experiment

By Steve Malone

Posted on 21 Feb 2006 at 10:28

The City of Bath, more famous for its Roman Spa and Jane Austen than the cutting edge of the information society, is to host a series of experiments to test new city-wide services based on wireless technology.

The University of Bath is to conduct a research project which will see the historic city offer a range of technologies that could affect the direction of future wireless applications.

Costing $1.6 million over the next three years, the Cityware project will make use of wireless networks, Bluetooth and Near Field Communication at different locations across the city. The city has been chosen because of the large numbers of visitors who arrive each year. In addition, because of the historic nature of the town, developers will have to learn how to install equipment without breaking any of the strict planning regulations.

One application aimed at visitors will allow them to send their digital photographs to a central computer that will compare their picture with a database of images to recognise where they are. It will then transmit information back to them about the history of the building and other local points of interest.

Researchers are looking for 30 local residents who will be recruited to use the technology. Over the three year period of the experiment they will be monitored to see how they use and develop the applications over time.