Taking the “G” out of “GPS” (Global Positioning System) is a new thinga-majig developed by KDDI and NEC, dubbed the “InfoSign.” Essentially acting as a temporary replacement for GPS satellites when they aren’t reachable (like when underground, indoors, or in Joel’s apartment), the InfoSigns are placed every 20 meters or so throughout a building. Since no company would make a cellphone technology without Bluetooth somehow involved anymore, the InfoSigns use Bluetooth to relay the calculated positioning information to a cellular phone.
And that’s where the actual navigation technology comes in. The position information from the InfoSigns is relayed to a map data server using typical cellular packets, and the server returns a map of your particular area. While au’s current pedestrian navigation system “EZ Navi Walker” is restricted to outdoor use (a result of that whole GPS thing), this new technology would enable users to seamlessly transfer between GPS and Bluetooth positioning systems when entering and leaving buildings. Moreover, an added bonus of the Bluetooth system is how works on three dimensions; rather than just telling you to “make a left,” your map can tell you to “make a left and get your fat ass on the elevator.” In Japanese, of course.
Press Release (Japanese) [KDDI]
Walking navigation gets REAL specific, adds a new dimension [TechJapan]
