New technology aims to make travel faster and easier - The Villages Daily Sun

Vacations and the way you experience them continue to change with technology.

Soon it may take just a scan of your face to board an international flight, or just the sound of your voice or tap of your fingers to control the thermostat in a hotel room.

This isn’t a plot from a science-fiction novel. These are just a few of the ways travel is evolving as a result of technology.

From facial recognition scans to artificial intelligence and mobile applications, here’s a look at how technology is influencing travel to and from Central Florida.

A Convenient Customs Experience

International travelers departing from Florida are starting to see how technology can ease the burden and stress that comes with traveling from one country to another.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection announced in June that Orlando International Airport would be the first airport in the nation to mandate facial recognition scanning for all international travelers.

The cameras used for scanning compare photographs of travelers with those on file with the Department of Homeland Security. It takes less than two seconds.

Phil Brown, CEO of the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority, touted the new technology as a means of boosting security while also speeding up the process of boarding and departing international flights.

“By incorporating biometric technology (facial recognition) into our entry and exit processes, safety, security and speed are optimized so customers can enjoy a more streamlined and comfortable journey through Florida’s busiest airport,” he said.

Facial recognition is operating now at all international entry points at OIA, as well as some exit points, airport spokeswoman Carolyn Fennell said. She expects the cameras will go online at all exit points by the end of 2018.

Facial recognition is not the only advanced tool designed to shorten waits for leaving and re-entering the country.

Customs and Border Protection also offers a mobile application for Apple and Android phones called Mobile Passport. It allows users to set up an encrypted profile and submit it at the port of entry instead of filling out Customs paperwork.

Upon submission, travelers will receive a receipt valid for four hours that is scanned while going through Customs.

Currently, 25 airports and one cruise port — including Orlando and Tampa’s international airports and Port Everglades — accept Mobile Passport.

Wearing the Key

At theme parks and on some cruise ships, your ticket to everything may be contained on a small device.

When Universal Orlando launched its new water park Volcano Bay last year, it also introduced a wearable device that serves to hold places in line at rides.

The waterproof device known as TapuTapu was designed as a way to place guests in “virtual lines,” allowing them to explore the park during their wait times. TapuTapu alerts guests when it is time to ride.

It also can be used to make purchases in the park, so guests don’t need to carry cash or credit cards.

TapuTapu bears similarities to Walt Disney World’s wearable technology MagicBands, which is capable of managing all facets of a visit to Disney parks.

That includes FastPasses for attractions with long wait times, dining reservations, parking and even a room key for Disney hotels.

Debbie Winters, president of Mickey’s Fanatics, never visits Disney without a MagicBand.

“You never want to lose it,” she said.

Winters, of the Village of Country Club Hills, thinks this technology is invaluable to enjoying a day at Disney — so much so that she plans to give hands-on instruction to fellow members who may not be as tech-savvy on how to use MagicBands and reserve FastPasses.

“You have to understand how to navigate it,” she said. “You’ll enjoy the experience a whole lot more.”

Alexa in Hotel Rooms

Amazon envisions a future where hotel rooms have their own concierges.

No, that doesn’t mean a human assistant staying with you to recommend dinner spots and arrange transportation — the company is referring to its personal assistant, Alexa.

Amazon recently announced the launch of its Alexa for Hospitality experience that incorporates enabled devices like Echo speakers into hotel rooms.

They will offer functions Alexa users may be used to at home, such as playing music, setting alarms and checking weather. But in-room Alexa devices also may assist guests with local recommendations, requesting additional towels or toiletries and adjusting thermostats.

Some Marriott and Best Western hotels are testing the use of Alexa devices in their hotel rooms.

Amazon said hotel guests don’t have to own Echo devices at home to use Alexa for Hospitality.

Data sent to Amazon for Alexa use is encrypted and hotel properties can’t listen to what guests said to Alexa, or what the device says back, Amazon stated.

Those who don’t want to use Alexa during their stays can turn off the microphone at the top of the device.

Artificial intelligence also will guide the guest experience at Universal Orlando’s upcoming Aventura Hotel, scheduled to open in August.

It will have rooms equipped with tablet devices that, like Alexa for Hospitality, can control thermostat settings and the television volume.

Other high-tech features at the Aventura Hotel include a virtual reality game room and dive-in movies with underwater speakers in the hotel’s pool.

Michael Salerno is a senior writer with The Villages Daily Sun. He can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5369, or michael.salerno@thevillagesmedia.com.

https://ift.tt/2KZjd16