WORLD
iPavement – Wi-Fi Hotspot under roads to sell you nearby products
Baku, May 4 (AZERTAC). Technology, hidden under asphalt on streets can’t be called news. You have parking locators, traffic meters and other devices built into the pavement. In Europe, innovators have gone step further and are using the roads to get you access the Internet. The technology is called iPavement.
Spanish company Vía Inteligente has developed this technology, which is capable of transforming ordinary street tiles into Wi-Fi hotspots called iPavement. The dimensions of such a tile are 40x40x7cm and it weighs about 24 pounds. These mini computers with built-in memory of 5 gigabytes are powered by a underground laid cable. In order to ensure continuous coverage, the tiles are set at a distance of 20 meters apart.
Paving slabs will be used not only to connect to the Internet, but they will also connect and provide the opportunity to use a range of embedded smartphone apps. They will also stream the passersby with information like nearby restaurants, shops and other attractions. The iPavement tiles will even be able to warn the pedestrians and other users about other obstacles or dangers.
“Smart Tiles” will also be used for marketing the products and services in the area i.e. give discount coupons for purchase in local establishments, and even send advertisements through Bluetooth. Special modification of WiFi-pavement can even count the number of pedestrians that have passed through it, thus providing a useful data for marketers.
The smartphone apps are available in many languages, the system works with most popular browsers. In its present form, downside of this technology is temperature range in which the tiles can act as Wi-Fi hotspots – i.e. -10 to 45 deg. C. Though the temperature may seem suitable foroperation in Spain, but in regions with extreme climates it may have some limitations.