The Initial Research Process

The research process for developing an idea that can help tourists and travellers improving their experience began by browsing airline and hotel booking websites. Most of the sites that provide assistance for people who want or need to travel are linked to a wide range of social media which gives them the opportunity to share opinions with friends and acquaintances about different aspects regarding the services offered by the companies.

The emphasis was engaged on a particular aspect of the travellers’ experience, therefore this blog will cover the post-trip and during-trip customer needs regarding parties and events. More specifically the type of communication channel that is simpler and more frequently utilised, which is the iPhone.
The basic idea is developing a concept that helps the user make free time easier to plan, which is linked to a social media so that the consumer can share ideas about the topic with friends. As mentioned above, the software would be utilised for iPhones because people find it effortless to get a news feed about their favourite events on the phone, rather than checking their email or searching the internet for them.
Searching for other iPhone applications was the next step of the process. In the research activity several applications similar to the concept mentioned have been found:

Here’s a tip for a great app for iPhone that uses your location to locate cool events nearby! The Spoonfed Event Radar answers the simple question: What’s on around me now? The location based application puts thousands of events at your fingertips, wherever you are whenever you want and is available to download from the iPhone app store. Spoonfed Radar (2010). Available at: http://blog.gisuser.com/?p=4639 [Accessed 07/11/10].

New City Event Finder is software for smartphones that helps to bring relevant events to the forefront, as well as make connections amongst friends and their activities. New City Event Finder (2010). Available at: http: //www.eptin.net/ncef.html [Accessed 07/11/10].

It is known that trying to improve an old application rather than coming up with something new can be more effective, because the basis of the idea is already there and the attention can be focused on the other complex functions of the software.

A few changes can be made to the applications mentioned which can help improve the experience of the customer. Some of the features that will be further developed in theory are social media connection, GPS, augmented reality, 3G and digital map (briefly analysed), advertising events and parties, details about the parties and events.