Alex Trelinski
A COSTA BLANCA city is claiming the crown of having the world’s first fully-digital beach.
Alicante’s El Postiguet beach has been equipped with the pioneering NaviLens universal guidance system.
The technology has been developed by the University of Alicante and the Neosistic company.
It’s already used on Alicante buses, as well as on the New York and Barcelona transport networks to provide information.
It is especially helpful for visually impaired users thanks to use of visual arrows.
A massive plus is the actual physical range of Navilens.
Rather than using QR codes linked to mobile phone apps, it operates off its own system of coloured BIDI codes that can be picked up at a far greater distance, namely 12 times further.
Alicante deputy mayor and tourist board head, Mari Carmen Sanchez said:
“El Postiguet is the world’s first beach that is totally digital and inclusive. If we mention tourism now, we have to look at digitisation and being inclusive.”
13 NaviLens BIDI code points have been installed at the beach entrances.
A free downloadable smartphone app will allow access to real-time information in 33 languages.
That will include COVID-19 protocols, water quality, temperatures, UV index figure, and general weather details.
