The European Satellite Navigation Competition aims to foster innovation in the field of satellite navigation applications. Orbster took part for the first time and has not been awarded with one but with two prices (which makes us a little bit proud)! For a game still under developement ("Unholy Places") the company won the second price in the Game category announced by the Taiwaneese Industrial Technology Research Institute ITRI that was asking "How can we HAVE FUN with a satellite which is precise in timing and positioning?". On top Orbster won the third price in the regional competition of Baden-Württemberg.

Last thursday the award ceremony of the regional prices of Baden-Württemberg took place in the city hall of Constance. To choose the best from all the ideas that were handed in was not easy, said Dr. Rudolf-Jürgen Ahlers, head of the jury. While most people only think of car navigation when it comes to GPS or Galileo, the competition showed a much wider variety of possible usages ranging from life rescue and security (like the first price that went to Afusoft) to games, mapping and tourism.

My colleagues from the University of Constance, for example, took part with a dynamic-interactive map they developed, taking into account that people often use a combination of navigational styles from walking to using public transportation to looking for a parking lot or riding on a highway. Depending on ones speed and ones navigational situation this map automatically shows the best suitable map layout in an adequate level of detail and resolution.

After the official part was over, wine from the city owned vineyard was served and there was the chance to meet people and talk over some ideas. One idea that is quite simple but very convincing to me is the satellite based car sharing, an idea that came from two independent participants. Volker Oertel and Alexander Zakher are both working on a system which will allow users to look for a ride on the spot. It will match drivers and possible passengers depending on their current location and the destination they are going to, making car sharing as easy as calling a cab. A very simple solution to make traffic more efficient, save fuel and lower emissions.

And what will the new game by Orbster be like? "Unholy Places" will be a multiplayer online role-playing game where the GNSS-enabled phone is the window to a parallel world. A phantasy world players take part in while moving through the real world. And a world where magic works! That´s all I can say at the moment, but I´ll keep you informed...

Responses[7]

Posted by miss_h on November 10, 2008 5:54:12 PM CET #