From 10 AM on Wednesday, Beijing's 617 digital information
terminals have been updated with the latest version of the
electronic map, enabling users to print out transfer tips directly
from the terminal, according to a report in the Beijing-based
Mirror newspaper.
After users input two locations, the terminal will return a
travel plan, indicating the most convenient way to commute,
including bus transfers, bus-subway changes, number of stops and
total mileage. This information can be printed freely to provide
travel tips as well as being highly convenient for foreign
tourists, with its bilingual Chinese and English content.
Once the name of a location has been entered, information of all
businesses and service facilities in a 500-meter radius will appear
on the screen. The digital map is possessed?of a touch-screen
capability, allowing the user to zoom in and out. Twelve specific
channels, providing information such as medical services, tours or
even body-building facilities are on hand at the side of the
map.
According to the operator, the 617 digital information terminals
in the whole city have been used 120 million times in the first
half of this year, and 300 million times are expected for the whole
year.
The operator added that 100 such terminals have been installed
in hotels and shopping malls, with further plans underway to
install them in residential areas.
(China.org.cn by Zhang Yunxing, August 17, 2006)
