In the project "Digital Islands” of the Municipality of Milan, in addition to Ducati Energia, A2a, Microsoft, Bee and Linear, there is also Telecom Italia. Indeed, thanks to TIM, the mobile division of the telecommunications company has made 22 interactive totems available, 15 of which are already operational, within the areas intended for setting up the technological services envisaged by the project.
But what exactly are digital islands? These are physical spaces, about 5 meters by 5 where it is possible to have free access to the Internet via broadband wifiwhile sitting comfortably on wooden benches with a minimal and functional design, all equipped with charging columns, always free, of most electronic devices such as PCs, smartphones and tablets.
Within the area, the totem guarantees a whole series of interactive services with multilingual support (Italian and English): from news of the Municipality of Milan to tourist news, from information on traffic conditions to those on public transport, from artistic and cultural events to those on catering and relaxation.
The technological contribution of Telecom Italia includes, in addition to simple digital signage, the availability of 7 terminals POS, combined with totems, with a "proximity communication" system (NFC) able to interact with the mobile terminals of citizens and tourists for the use of advanced services that will be developed in collaboration with Expo Milano 2015 and the other partners involved.
The new services may include, for example, the booking and purchase of tickets for events, the request for certificates from the Public Administration and access to bike sharing and electric quadricycle services, offering the opportunity to also experiment with innovative features that will be available on the expo site in 2015.
The islands will also serve as a test, for Telecom Italia and Expo 2015, of the apps created in collaboration with Domus within the ideas competition "Digital ideas for Expo City 2015”. There are three awarded apps in total: it is a solution that allows the purchase and use of sustainable tourist services, a software that makes brochures and exhibition promotional materials available on smartphones in the form of digital cards and a community for booking restaurants and sharing restaurant reviews.
Telecom Italia's participation in important projects linked to technological innovation such as the Digital Islands and Expo 2015, of which it is Integrated & connectivity services partners, confirms the commitment to the realization of Smart Cities by pooling its infrastructures and know-how in the most advanced technologies, from cloud to NFC, to improve the quality of life in cities.
