A Fing Kind of Thing

Published on 2012/09/23 | Source

Introducing… the app-of-all-apps for the lost (at least in Seoul).

According to the Atlantic Cities, Fing is an app that could set a new standard for city navigation guides around the world.

Like most mapping apps, it uses your phone's GPS to deliver street-level navigation and mapping features. But then the features go much, much deeper.

In places where GPS doesn't reach, such as underground, Fing switches to several Wi-Fi-based technologies for indoor positioning to provide directions.

This means that the app could seamlessly guide you from your doorstep, down the street to the subway, through the tunnels and to subterranean cafe.

Currently, you'd need more than one kind of app to be able to map this kind of route. In many other countries, this kind of route wouldn't even be mappable because the lack of indoor GPS location infrastructure and technology. (But remember, Seoul's entire subway system is blanketed with super-fast Wi-Fi.)

KAIST, arguably Korea's top science and tech university, developed the patented algorithms for this indoor positioning system. Whereas GPS uses outdoor satellites, indoor location depends instead on services like Wi-Fi, cellular connectivity or Bluetooth.

Besides helping the lost find their ways, Fing serves another purpose that might not be as obvious: emergency help. A one-click feature in Fing can send a text message to the closest police or fire department, asking for help and giving the user's exact location.

Photo Credit: Atlantic Cities/KTNET

A future goal for the app is to eventually tie indoor navigation to Seoul's bus and train systems as well as its subways. The ultimate goal is to develop the app so that people can use it in any country, inside and out.

The app is supported by the Korea Trade Network, KTNET, a subsidiary of Korea's international trade association, and is expected to be launched this fall.

About the author by Donna Choi

Born and raised in the States, I came to Seoul in 2009 and have loved living and working in such a high-tech and connected city ever since. I enjoy collecting unique, cute gadgets/items (I have a bread-scented smartphone case!) and traveling around Korea. My personal mission while living in Korea: Try every type of Korean food known to exist

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