Technology that becomes part of daily life is the one that sustains. Commuting and traveling is one of the major activities that most people have to perform. Likewise, smart city applications have also prioritized commutation as an actual application. Railway systems such as intercities, subways, and trams can make a huge difference even if improvised slightly. It is vital that mass transport remains the popular choice for the masses. Otherwise, it may result in traffic disruptions, parking issues, and higher fuel consumption. Technology is one of the ways to make mass transport more convenient for the users.
Wireless Technologies At Rescue
Wireless technologies have dominated each aspect of the consumer experience. Undoubtedly, going wireless has always received a better consumer experience in most of the systems. Especially now that there are a handful of wireless technologies which can assist different applications. Technologies like RFID, NFC, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 5G, and even UWB are in implementation for several smart city applications already. The proper use of these technologies could eliminate any inconvenience for the users while elevating their experience.
Here are a few examples of how wireless technologies can play their part in a better railway commute experience:
- One can purchase tickets online, top-up their account, make reservations, and plan round trips from their smartphone app itself.
- At the station, smartphones and wearables can act as tickets, allowing users to be free of ticketing lines and fare collections.
- Waiting for trains can be a better experience with more traceability as digital signs and interactive posters can share the exact train location and ETA.
- Most importantly, the onboard experience of the users can be significantly improved with the help of wireless entertainment, information exchange as well as further journey plans.
- Stations can be better organized and secured with wireless communication and surveillance as there are no wiring limitations to these systems.
- Furthermore, this experience can attract users by an additional lucrative program where customers are rewarded every time they use public transport.
Blend Of Wireless Technologies For Ideal Commute Systems
The use of each wireless technology depends on their specific characteristics in terms of range, transmission rate, power consumption as well as cost of manufacturing. Therefore, an ecosystem such as smart railways would require many different technologies playing their part. For instance, NFC & RFID are an ideal choice for entry & exit permissions, while UWB is more suitable for providing accurate distances and pointing directions to the platform.
Similarly, technologies such as Wi-Fi 6 and 5G availability ensures connectivity with higher internet bandwidth. Making passenger’s commute is much more productive or entertaining. There are some applications where only a particular technology can serve. For example, Wi-Fi 6 can outperform any other options for wireless camera surveillance.
To Conclude
Even current wireless technologies will further evolve with time, encouraging more developments in wireless technologies. Inevitably, contactless and wireless technologies will be part of mass ecosystems such as railway commuting. There is substantial scope for development and innovation in these smart city applications. Urban life will observe a remarkable change with the growth of these wireless technologies.
