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University Library Navigation Enabled by Ekahau
[6.21.2003 | ]
Ekahau, Inc. today announced that it has enabled a location-aware library navigation system, deployed by the Oulu University Main Library, Finland. A wireless PDA-based system called SmartLibrary helps users to find books and other material from the library collections. The help is provided in the form of map-based guidance to the target bookshelf on a PDA. Ekahau Positioning Engine software is used by SmartLibrary system to pinpoint the accurate mobile client location.
The guidance is integrated with the online catalog of the library, so that books listed in the catalog can be located. Wireless connectivity is provided in form of a Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b) network. The guidance is based on dynamic Wi-Fi positioning of the user, and static location information of books. The service is a completely software-based solution, which can be provisioned atop any Wi-Fi network installed for wireless Internet access, without any additional hardware.
User evaluation with real library users showed that SmartLibrary saves time and makes book finding easier. In the study, all male test users and 64 % of females preferred map-based guidance over traditional shelf classification. After evaluation, the main library added SmartLibrary system into their standard customer service.
SmartLibrary was developed in co-operation between the Oulu University Main Library and the Information Processing and Computer Engineering Laboratories of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Oulu University, and Ekahau, Inc.
http://www.ekahau.com
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