Recruitment of participants for a multilingual town guidance experiment to be held in Ginza

Background

The Tokyo Metropolitan Government is conducting a feasibility experiment called the "Tokyo Ubiquitous Technology Project in Ginza." The project seeks to use the latest ubiquitous ID technology※ to improve urban attractiveness and vitality as well as achieve "universal design"-based city development that allows everyone to enjoy safe urban walking. It is being implemented in partnership with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism.
This year's experiment will provide information via smartphones that run the Android operating system.

Description

A participant walking through the feasibility experiment area with a smartphone or other such device will have the ucode of his or her current location automatically identified. This will allow the participant to obtain information on nearby shops and famous places in Ginza, events, and obstacles to movement. The participant can also experiment with a "tour guide" and other functions that provide brief descriptions of things to see.
Information is provided in three languages: English, Chinese (traditional characters and simplified characters), and Korean.

Experiment area

map

Recruitment of participants

Participants will be asked to try using smartphone-based Ginza town guidance in the experiment area and then to fill out a questionnaire. (Smartphones or similar devices will be lent to participants free of charge.)
Participation in the feasibility experiment is free. (However, participants will be responsible for any transport expenses.)
Participants who fill out a questionnaire will receive a small gift as a token of our appreciation.

Experiment period Tuesday, February 21, Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Morning session: 10:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.
Afternoon session: 1:30 to 4:00 P.M.
  • Please indicate your first preference and second preference from the dates and times presented above.
  • The time required to participate in the experiment (from reception to completion) will be about two hours.
Eligibility to participate People whose native language is English, Chinese, or Korean
  • Only people aged 18 or older will be accepted.
Number of participants accepted Five people for each session of each day (total of 30 people)
  • If many applicants ask for the same session, applications will be accepted in the order that they are received.
  • Please note that registered participants will be allowed to participate in the experiment once only.
Participant registration period Wednesday, January 18, to Monday, February 20, 2012
  • Applicants who have completed registration will receive a participation certificate by E-mail.
Meeting place The underground event plaza next to Exit B2 of Ginza Station of the Tokyo Metro subway (an open area with access to the Exit B2 elevator).
map
  • Please show your participation certificate.

How to apply

Applications will be accepted from Wednesday, January 18, to Monday, February 20, 2012.
Please click on the button below to apply.

To apply

Handling of personal information

All personal information that is provided by applicants will be used for procedures associated with participant registration for the experiment and procedures associated with actual participation during the feasibility experiment, and for no other purpose whatsoever. All personal information will be immediately deleted following the conclusion of the feasibility experiment program.

Inquiries

Please write to the following E-mail address if you have any questions.
　
Executive office of experiment for "Tokyo Ubiquitous Technology Project" (within the Japan Institute of Construction Engineering)　
E-mail：ginzakoubo@jice.or.jp

* A cutting-edge technology that links the real world with virtual space by adding "ucode," the world's only unique identifier, to "places" and "things" for automatic recognition by a computer.