AN EXPLORATORY VIEW OF TOURIST INFORMATION SYSTEMS
THE TOURIST'S NEED FOR INFORMATION AND THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH HE COULD ASSIMILATE AND UTILIZE THIS INFORMATION ARE DISCUSSED. PROGRAMS IN VERMONT, OREGON AND NEBRASKA WHICH HAVE BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN MEETING THE PROBLEMS OF THE TOURISTS ARE DESCRIBED. THE VISUALLY ORIENTED PROGRAMS CONSIST OF TWO TYPES, NAMELY INFORMATION IN THE FROM OF SIGNS WHICH PROVIDE MINIMUM INFORMATION, AND REST AREAS FOR THE DISSEMINATION OF IN-DEPTH INFORMATION. THE SIGN PLAZA OR REST AREA FACILITY IS CONSIDERED MORE AESTHETIC AND, IN THE LONG RUN, LESS EXPENSIVE. SUCH A FACILITY COULD EVEN PROVIDE AN INFORMATION SYSTEM THAT THE TOURIST COULD INTERROGATE. PRIVATE ENTERPRISE ATTEMPTS HAVE PROVEN EFFECTIVE AND FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL IN PROVIDING INFORMATION IN REST AREA FACILITIES. WORKING WITH THE NEBRASKA BROADCASTERS ASSOCIATION, THE TOURIST DIVISION HAS ESTABLISHED A NETWORK OF STATIONS ALONG A HIGHWAY ROUTE WHICH BROADCAST INFORMATION OF A TOURIST NATURE. NEBRASKA HAS ALSO EXPERIMENTED WITH TAPERECORDED GUIDES. MOTORIST COMMUNICATIONS IN THE FUTURE WILL MAKE MULTIPLE USE OF VARIOUS TECHNOLOGIES SUCH AS HOLOGRAPHY, RADIO, SOPHISTICATED VISUAL SYSTEMS AND COMPUTERS, THOSE WHICH ARE OF THE EXTERNAL VISUAL TYPE WILL PLACE INCREASING RELIANCE UPON "THIRD GENERATION" SIGNS INCORPORATING VARIABLE MESSAGES WHICH CAN BE USED TO OPTIMIZE THE USE OF THE ROAD, AND PROVIDE ADVANCE WARNINGS ABOUT TRAFFIC AND OTHER ROAD PROBLEMS. HOLOGRAPHY HAS BEEN USED TO PROJECT SIMPLE OR MULTIPLE MESSAGES IN SPACE WITH NO NEED FOR A PROJECTION SURFACE. THE REQUIREMENT OF SPECIAL EQUIPMENT IN THE VEHICLE IS A DRAWBACK TO THE ACCEPTABILITY OF ON BOARD VISUAL SYSTEMS. THE EXPERIMENTAL ROUTE GUIDANCE SYSTEM AND THE DRIVER AID AND ROUTING SYSTEM ARE DESCRIBED. THE ON-BOARD AUDIO SYSTEMS ARE EASIEST TO ACHIEVE (INASMUCH AS MOST VEHICLES CONTAIN AM RADIOS) AND WILL OBVIATE THE NEED FOR MUCH SIGNING.
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Supplemental Notes:
- Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.
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Authors:
- Arthur, P
- Publication Date: 1973-12
Media Info
- Media Type: Digital/other
- Features: Figures;
- Pagination: p. 1-6
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Serial:
- Highway Research Circular
- Issue Number: 152
- Publisher: Highway Research Board (HRB)
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Aesthetics; Amplifiers; Broadcasting; Communication systems; Holography; Information dissemination; Radio; Roadside improvement; Roadside rest areas; Signs; Tourists; Variable message signs; Warning systems
- Old TRIS Terms: Audio amplifiers
- Subject Areas: Data and Information Technology; Design; Environment; Highways; Law; Terminals and Facilities;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 00205275
- Record Type: Publication
- Files: TRIS, TRB
- Created Date: May 15 1974 12:00AM