Mobile Yilan: Enhancing visitor experiences in ubiquitous computing environments

Abstract

The population of Taiwan is gradually aging, and the country`s citizens are starting to place more emphasis on a slower-paced and more casual lifestyle. This trend has resulted in the rapid development of the tourism and leisure industry. This research utilizes field courses to elucidate this phenomenon, and uses problem-orientation as a foundation for customized designs. This work not only helps to develop the technical skills of personnel in higher education but also, with the aid of courses, helps them to understand better related social issues. The goal is to increase the interest of young students in social issues and thereby make them more aware about local opportunities, ways of increasing satisfaction with life, and the convenience. To achieve the above goal, two mobile travel services that are based on the in YiLan Country, Taiwan, are considered. Specifically, in company with graduate course and exploration of the attractions by visiting and communicating with the residents, we then discuss two subjects based on the logging history of YiLan and the modern design. In the nation`s early years, logging provided the major economic resource of Taiwan. The tourism industry in YiLan is now supported by ubiquitous computing technology, students devise and develop two mobile travel applications at the end of graduate course without any prior mobile development experience. The two applications are called the Woodman Diary and the YiLan Good Design. © 2013 IEEE.