Technology & Travel
Ever since the pandemic hit, travel has been seen as more of an escape than ever before. With the implementation of advancing technology, travel also had the time to upgrade. Venues worldwide are implementing certain technologies into their businesses to advance their customer service satisfaction and their reputation in the world around them. Many travel destinations and their accommodations (restaurants, hotels, etc.) have been hopping on these latest trends not to be left in the prehistoric past for travelers wanting to explore post-COVID:
Robots
This one I have had personal interaction with this one, so it was such a sight to behold. With the COVID-19 pandemic came the rise of robot helpers. They served more prevalent purposes within the food service side of things in relation to travel, but they have branched out beyond that one aspect. These robots can be seen wheeling themselves around hotel floors serving as food delivery personnel. These can reduce the human interaction concept and potentially spread harmful germs to guests. You might have seen a robot or taken your luggage up to your room. They are also utilized in some airports as they have the technology to detect weapons and dangerous luggage among travelers, potentially eliminating flight risks.
Augmented or Virtual Reality
This trend has been on the rise now for many years. It has been implemented through various real-world applications, from media and entertainment such as movies, tv, and video games, to even being included in higher education. There is a common misconception between Augmented Reality and Virtual reality, as they are not one and the same. AR, or Augmented Reality, superimposes a computer-generated image on a user's view of the real world, thus providing a composite view. Think of every time you use a Snapchat filter or if you have ever experienced virtual fashion. AR has been utilized to travel advantages by giving viewers a firsthand look into their destination of choice without ever leaving their homes.
On the other end of the spectrum, VR, or Virtual Reality, creates a simulated environment that can be experienced by users. Having experienced virtual reality firsthand, you can easily lose yourself in a completely immersive environment. This has been a life-changing technology, as those who are unable to leave their house or have limited financial means can still see the wonders of the world through virtual lenses
These two technologies, although different, share the same common ground of immersive engagement with users. Augmented reality is categorized more as short-term, accessible through mobiles and tablets, whereas virtual reality is more constructive and immersive, completely blocking out one’s view of the real world via a headset.
Virtual Assistants
If you think that Siri and Alexa are just good for giving directions and operating all the technology in your house, they serve more purposes that than. Virtual assistance has become reliant on everyday use, and when using it for travel is no exception. Our mobile devices can do everything from booking airplane tickets to reserving hotel rooms and rentals and making reservations at trending restaurants and attractions. Whatever desires you may conceive during your travels, we can always be sure that our handheld virtual assistant can help with any need.
Recognition Technology
The future is nigh, and to me, the increase of recognition technology is the way to the future. The technology itself includes fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, retina scanning, and various other biometric identifiers among other things. In some modern-day hotels, you don’t even need the traditional hotel key card, you just scan your fingerprint and click the door opens. This can also be connected to contactless payments, which is also a new technology that has been normalized in our everyday lives.
Review Websites
The first thing that we look for when checking out a vacation spot, a hotel, a restaurant, or an attraction, we always head to the review section to see what other people are saying about it. This is especially beneficial in the modern age of technology, where you can see reviews from millions of companies in any location that you are wanting to go. Websites like Yelp and TripAdvisor, amongst many others, has been the foundation of building block for reviewing any destination's locales. So whenever you’re planning your trip, be sure to check out what other people have to say about your selections.
With the implementation of these new technologies, booking travel and enjoying your vacation has never been easier. From the quick and easy planning phases, easy bookings, and efficient packing routine made simple to overall just enjoying a greater travel experience as well as staying connected with loved ones both near and far finally in the benefits of having technology implemented in your travel experiences is that it becomes more personalized. It is ironic that with the advancement of technology is in traveling through becoming more personalized because more and more people are utilizing such technologies. Sooner or later, this new phenomenon will become a commonality amongst avid travelers.
