Innovative Navigation Software Acts as a Digital Guide

Orono ME – December 15, 2005 – Intelligent Spatial Technologies, Inc. (iST), a technology leader in Location-based Services for mobile users, announces the release of the iPointer® Tour Guide software module for its iPointer® system. 

iST’s iPointer® platform empowers users to explore a defined area, pointing and learning at will.  As a user selects an item of interest, the iPointer® delivers multimedia information based on the user’s geographic location and orientation.  With iST’s Tour Guide module, iPointer® system operators create and upload customized tours around specific themes or areas of interest utilizing the software’s easy to use tools.  Users may then select a tour that most closely matches their interests and iPointer®’s hand-held unit guides them along the predefined tour via simple graphics and maps, delivering information to the user in full multimedia format.

According to iST President Chris Frank, “With this software module, iPointer® empowers the system operators to cater to the interests of their visitors to a level never before possible.  The system administrator can develop and upload tours ranging from generic to highly specialized educational tours using a suite of PC-based tools. The administrators can then upload tours so that they are programmed into the hand held unit and ready at a moments notice.”

Users & Operators Benefit From Easy to Use Interfaces

iPointer®’s hand-held unit guides users with a combination of graphically displayed arrows, maps and multimedia descriptions of what they are looking at.  The user may access iPointer®’s point and learn capabilities at any time to learn about items of interest as they move along the tour route programmed in advance by a system administrator.   iPointer®’s Tour Guide administrator software features development tools that enable the system administrator to easily designate a path for the tour, identify key landmarks or objects of interest and upload multimedia tour instructions with the click of a mouse – uploading changes or new tour options on the fly.

The iPointer® system is comprised of global positioning system (GPS) and digital Compass technology integrated into a pocket PC, a wireless network, and iST’s geospatial database.  This allows users to move at their own pace as they interact with the tour information.  When users wish to identify a landmark, they point iPointer®’s hand-held device at it and press a button.  The iPointer® device receives coordinate signals from GPS satellites and orientation information from the digital magnetic compass to identify the user’s location and device’s pointing angle.  These coordinates are then sent over the wireless network to the database.  iST’s geospatial database’s selection algorithms identify the selected landmark and send information back over the wireless network to be displayed in text, visuals and audio on the user’s device.

Technology Enables Two-Way Flow of Information

As the iPointer® system provides end-users with information on selected items, it can also deliver messages customized to end-user interests, such as schedules, or discounts and coupons.  For the system operator, the iPointer® system uplinks end-user usage information for statistical analysis and trending.  This enables management to determine valuable user information such as foot traffic patterns, changes in user interests, facility use and more.

Pricing & Availability

iST’s Tour Guide module is bundled into its iPointer® System.  iST charges for the creation of iPointer®’s geospatial database and installation of its iPointer® system, then provides the hand-held user devices and support services for a monthly charge.  iST will also install the iPointer® system and train onsite personnel for those facilities that want to take ownership and operate iPointer® as a proprietary system.  For information on installation and service contract pricing contact iST’s sales office, (207) 866-6521, or visit the company’s website www.i-spatialtech.com .

About Intelligent Spatial Technologies, Inc.

Founded in 2003 and privately held, Orono Maine based iST develops location-based services and technologies for mobile users.  iST has developed the iPointer® system, a pointing technology that enables specific content about selected landmarks to be delivered to a mobile user, based on geographic location and orientation.  iPointer® answers mobile users’ questions “where am I and what am I looking at?”  For more information on iST, its technology and products, visit the company’s website www.i-spatialtech.com.