Student’s ‘smart local guide’ an example of technology married to local wisdom
A Thammasat University (TU) Lampang Centre student has developed a smartphone application called “Smart Local Guide” as an innovative prototype to creatively boost Thai tourism and incomes of local business operators.
After choosing their desired tourism program from the app, a user who pressed a “start” button would be presented with a province’s map featuring pin-pointed attractions, each with a suggested route and estimated arrival time from where the user is standing.
The app was developed by Thanachot Chawianghong, a science and technology student in TU Lampang Centre.
Equipped with a QR code-scanning function, the app would help users get in-depth information for each attraction, along with local “insight tips”, said Thanachot.
It also features a convenient audio-guide system.
In future, more information about attractions, as well as shops and restaurants, would be added. The app would eventually become "open platform", enabling local residents to upload information about their businesses to boost tourists’ access.
The application was unveiled this week at the same time as the Bachelor of Science Program in Computer Science (Major in Technology for Learning) study programme.
Faculty dean Somchai Chakhatrakan said the study programme would be in line with the Lampang provincial development plan for 2018-2022, which aimed to develop the northern province in the direction of a “creative economy” by marrying innovative technology with local wisdom.
The province has aspired to become the northern region’s hub for employment in the innovative digital technology sector, to support the digital economy ecosystem and respond to the local community’s desire to become Thailand’s “Innovation City”.