Describing possible technologies involved in the concept

Possible technologies for the concept; starting at the wristband. A possible technology for the wristband would be a barcode which would be printed on it.











It is another way of encoding numbers and letters by using a combination of bars and spaces of varying widths. It is a reference number, and does not contain descriptive data. Thereby, the computer would use the barcode to gather a related record which holds descriptive data (customers add-ons). As the concept will involve a computer, a technology would have to be put in place for the barcode to be read. A logical technology for this would be a Barcode scanner, which is an electronic device for reading printed barcodes, it consists of a light source, a lens and a light sensor which translates optical impulses into electrical ones. The type of scanner that would be most efficient for the concept would be an omniDirectional barcode scanner. 


















OmniDirectional Barcode scanners mostly all use a laser. Unlike a more simple single-line laser scanners the omniDirectional barcode scanner projects a pattern of beams in different positions. This allows the beams to read barcodes “no matter what the orientation” (Website: Wikipedia, barcodes, 2010).  As a result of this it would read customers barcodes more efficiently.   

For the “Front - end” user interface (point of interaction between two systems or work groups) a bespoke touch screen would be a possible technology.

  











A touch screen is an “electronic visual display” (Website: Wikipedia, Touch screen, 2010) which can detect the presence of say a finger or hand while also being able to locate touch on the display device. This would enable the customers to view all their add-ons from the start of the cruise by navigating through touch. For the custom made touch screen to operate the concept software program (app) would be needed. This is a program that has a chain of commands written to enable the computer to do the specific job, which connects both the barcode scanner and back to the central processor. The computer needs a program to enable it to do that job, the programs commands are executed in a central processing unit (CPU), a computer system that goes about the commands of the software program. The possible technology for the CPU for the concept would be a property management system (PMS). PMS’s are used in many industries from manufacturing to hospitality accommodation management. A PMS is a “computerised system” (Website: Wikipedia, property management system, 2010) which makes it easier to manage properties on the cruise ship such as personal property to equipment. It is done through a single piece of software. PMS’s have taken over from paper-based methods which were inefficient and unmanageable. 

For the connection to the scanner, possible technologies could be bluetooth or Universal serial bus (USB). Bluetooth uses a special radio frequency. It would be a way to interchange the data of the add-ons wirelessly, which is done by using the frequency to transport the data over short distances. It is also used in many technologies such as mobiles, faxes and computers. Blue tooth “is an attempt to do away with your computer’s jungle of wiring” (Website: BBC, bluetooth, 2010). The alternative is Universal serial bus (USB). 

















This would also set up and enable the PMS and scanner to communicate. The USB was “designed for personal computers” (Website: Wikipedia, Universal Serial Bus, 2010). Although originally designed for personal computers, the USB has been successfully placed in other technologies and would be suited to the new wristband concept. 

For the connection back to the PMS possible technologies could be wireless (WiFi) or cable (CAT6 ethernet). Wireless (Wifi) is a brand of the Wi-fi Alliance. WiFi allow the software program (app) to communicate with the scanner and PMS without involvement of an access point. 

Cable (CAT6ethernet) is a cable standard for Gigabit Ethernet and other network protocols.

















Category 6 cable as firm instructions for unwanted transfer of signals between communication channels. Category 6 cable contains four pairs of copper wire and is the sixth generation of twisted pair Ethernet cabling.

Both the possible technologies for connection to the scanner and the PMS would first need to connect to the interface server. This would be on the private network which is “a network that uses private IP address space” (Website: Wikipedia, Private Network, 2010) ,with the PMS. 

The drawing below shows possible technologies and were they are use to enable the concept  to operate:

Bibliography

Website: Wikipedia available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barcode_reader)(Accessed: 15 November 2010)

Website: Wikipedia available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touchscreen  (Accessed: 15 November 2010 )

Website: Wikipedia available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Property_management_system - (Accessed: 17 November 2010) 

Website: Wikipedia available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/webwise/guides/about-bluetooth (Accessed: 17 November 2010)

Website: Wikipedia available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Serial_Bus (Accessed: 16 November 2010)

Website: Wikipedia available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Private_network  (Accessed: 16 November 2010)

Describing the concept and why it is innovative

For the concept to be convenient to customers an improvement on the current cruise ship ID cards had to be implemented. For the concept, the individual’s barcode which is placed on the customers cruise ID card’s will be placed onto wristbands as shown below: 

The wristband will enable customers to make use of the original purposes, as well as access the concept. As the wristband can be worn for all the daily activities such as zip-line, rock climbing, lounge, bar etc, it will enable customers to access the concept at their leisure as the concept will be located in these areas.  It will provide an innovative solution to the customer need of making the ID cards more convenient and more secure, whilst also being convenient.

The concept is a computerised system that will enable the customers to view all their add-ons from onboard purchases on a touch screen. The concept will be located in areas were customers can purchase products or services and will be integrated into the wall. When customers wish to view all their adds - ons they can stand in front of the concept and access it by swiping their individual barcode (placed on the wristband) which has it’s own unique ID, across a barcode scanner such as below:

The scanner will convert the ID which will convert into a digital code. This would then be sent to a central processor e.g. Property management system (PMS), which will be located onboard the cruise ship. The central processor will already have the barcode unique ID saved as one of the field (entries) in the guest profile. This would have been done when the guest checked in at the start of cruise. A software program would then be needed to simply do a lookup via an interface server, matching the barcode ID up to the correct guest and return the desired viewing of the add-ons.      

   

The touch screen and the barcode scanner will be integrated together in the wall like this:

The touch screen will enable guests to view and scroll through all their add-ons from the start of the cruise, up to the moment of the viewing. The add-ons will be displayed in a list and guests will be able to scroll through by the touch of their finger. 

If a guest was to lose their wristband, they can get another individual barcode wristband from reception. The reception would have to look up the guest profile which would include a picture of the guest, taken at check in for identification. This would make sure the barcode is the guests. The lost barcode can then be canceled and replaced with a new one, while transferring the guests existing add-ons to the new barcode. The process of getting a new barcode wristband would be simpler than the process that happened at check in. This is an innovative solution compared to the original way of getting a replacement, “which was an inconvenient process and may include a minimal processing fee”. (Website: love to know, Ann MacDonald) 

If another guest was to pick up the lost wristband they would be able to access the concept and view the guests add-ons. This is before the guest that lost the wristband canceled the barcode. This would not affect the guest that lost the wristband as products and services cannot be purchased on the concept. As a result there will be no additional costs to the guest. 

All of the technologies needed for the concept to operate are already in place in many places in existing hotels and other industries. However, the concept provides the service by pulling together technologies from different systems, to create an innovative concept available to guests on cruise ships. Furthermore, as a result of the technologies already well established, it will mean the price of the technologies will be relatively inexpensive. This will encourage cruise lines to invest into the concept and will potentially result in repeat business, as customers enjoy a more efficient and enjoyable cruise and in turn increase cruise profitability. 

Bibliography 

Website: Love to know, Available at: http://cruises.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Cruise_Ship_ID_Card - (Accessed 17 November)

Description of the customer need on cruise ships

Todays cruise ships offer packages that are all inclusive, but unfortunately customers are finding that this not the case. This is because “only the basics are covered in the price of most cruises” (Smartmoney Magazine, by Chuck Colman), the basics included most food, entertainment and coffee. This means guests have to pay for alcohol, merchandise, spa services and laundry service. These add-ons are optional but, “it is hard not to spend money on a cruise because you are a captive audience” (Smartmoney Magazine, Oivind Mathsen editor of cruise industry news). As a result guests spend extra money on onboard purchases. The payment of the onboard purchases is done through their cruise ID card which is given to the guests at check in to insert into their wallet.

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/jorgebrazil/3263513356/)

The card is to be used for the duration of the cruise in order to eliminate customers carrying cash. However, “carrying around the card all the time was kind of annoying and so easy to lose” (Website: My Obsessions, 4 June 2009). The customer need is therefore to make the cruise ID card more convenient and secure. 

The cruise ID card is also used for identification, cabin entry, customer information (dining times and table assignments). The cruise ID cards are “used like credit or debit cards” (Website: Love to know, 2010), for payment of onboard purchases, as the amount of the purchase is added to the customers bill. The card creates a less transparent payment outflow, resulting in a lesser aversion to spending. This results in “costs adding up on-board” (Helen Nicholson, Website: Mail online, 2009) without the customer’s awareness. It would be much more beneficial for a location - based service for customers to see the quantity of their purchases day by day onboard.  Also to be able to keep track of the amount of the add-ons, throughout the duration of the cruise at their leisure. 

Bibliography

Website: Smartmoney Available at: http://www.smartmoney.com/spending/rip-offs/10-things-your-cruise-line-wont-tell-you-18575/?page=2 (Accessed 1 November 2010)

Website: Remarkablyclever Available at: http://remarkablyclever.com/2009/06/04/12-tips-before-boarding-your-first-cruise-ship/ (Accessed 1 November 2010)

Website: Love to Know Available at: http://cruises.lovetoknow.com/wiki/Cruise_Ship_ID_Card (Accessed: 2 November 2010)  

Website : Daily mail, Helen Nicholson, Available at:http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/article-1213357/Cruise-bible-warns-passengers-beware-costly-add-ons.html Accessed: 2 November 2010)