re:parking
Scenario - My Problem when i went for genvoices.org Telethon on 18th Jan 2014.
So you went for an event or meeting and you either want to leave early OR event is over but people still hanging around.
You go to the car park and your car is blocked by someone who attended the event but not out yet.
My personal challenge:
I went for a conference/live studio recording of an event and had this problem.
Had to go back and wait out the owner of a car blocking me. After waiting , discovered the owner had left and no one was blocking me.
There was no way I could have known.
Way out ?
Get the plate number announced - but some people don’t even know or remember their plate number
[i have been guilty of this].
So do a simple mobile app or mobi site [but focus on text/call phone capability] that people going for
similar event can register their plate number along side their phone number.
Person blocked in car park
can now dial or text (only) the plate number blocking him.
No one has access to the phone-number just
the plate number - which is only valid during the event+45mins after event.[borrowed from snap chat
:D]
Access to dial or text only occurs during the period of meeting with +45mins to prevent abuse.
Question(s) :
What scenarios is this likely to occur most ?
- conferences
- meetings/church
- weddings
[Random] Task-App action:
Organiser: Please register event on platform
Organiser: Please log in time or duration of event and how many people expected
Organiser: Send out re:parking URL via sms to attendee car for event. Notifies its valid for only x-time [assumes they are pre-registered]
Attendee:Please register your car plate number & phone number at the event [note you are only contactable via your car plate number up until 45mins after event..system deletes data]
Attendee:Ability to respond to text via app/platform ( text/call)
[Future Option: USSD option ?]
Challenge:
-Make people/attendee USE the app ?
-Prevent Abuse ?
P/S ; Punch as many holes in here as possible but i'd like to see some one work on this.
@air_meka
This is a good idea. Tried to look for holes, but it seems very feasible. The idea of making it based on just calls and texts removes the setback of not everyone (especially drivers) owning smartphones in the alternative case of making it based on a mobile app. The only problem I see is if it required the attendee to have credit on his phone for texting or calling. What if there is no credit on the attendee's phone? What then happens?
ReplyDeleteThanks Lekan for spending your time here. Valid point too.
DeleteI frankly do not know what happens next. In addition if the attendee's phone is off. Serious problem! ( Only hope at least the person sending text or calling has credit)
hmmmm....... interesting
ReplyDeleteThe real Challenge: making people use the app. True.
ReplyDeleteI Still look to nfc to make this dead easy. Just tap your phone on the
plate and the system blips the person....
they can hit "snooze" or "i'll be right there".
But then, I think this is not a problem worth solving in itself, even
within an event's context.
A more global approach could be:
The app deployed nationwide and integrated with drivers license data
and vehicle data, can be used for law enforcement by the police and
co, and regular road users with different features for each party.
E.g. Police can have a "flag vehicle" option to alert other officers
of a defaulting driver or vehicle.
Regular users can have "alert driver" option which allows several use
cases: your headlamps are on; your car is burning or you are blocking
me - this solves that - along side a greater need :)
[Boss. Ay, a friend likes to talk to you some time on QR&NFC]
DeleteSome thoughts of mine:
1. That day I didn't drive my car as it is in Nigeria. You know we have the luxury of borrowing people's car in this country. So the person driving the car needs to register. People have diff phones.etc
2. NFC yes. Maybe after basic approach.But how many MANY people will you eliminate with his solution. ?
3.Its a problem. Its a problem. Execution approach yes I expect to vary but we can't say not worth solving. (Especially if one's life depended on it. lol)
Lovely idea. But what happens if the person is having too much fun and can't be bothered to come out and move their car? There is no penalty for not responding and no reward for responding, or is there?
ReplyDeleteHi DataAegle, then we are dooooomed!. Hmmm, rewarding people for responding - that's a thought as honestly people may need to be 'encouraged' to use this solution.
ReplyDeleteThis actually reminds me of the capability to call Seat numbers in an airplane. But this works only because the numbers, seats, phone all belong to one system.
ReplyDeleteI think the easiest way apart from providing proper parking is to place the burden of this totally on the event organisers (since they cant provide proper parking!)
The event organisers should provide a concierge service, so as people come for the event, they register their numbers (phone, car)
If I'm blocked, I simply go to them, and they call/text the blocker
On the issue of a person having more fun or their phone batt being dead. They could opt to leave their car keys at the desk, and someone can move the car for them.
Ahh! never knew about the call seat number in plane. Nice! (i need to travel more)
Delete@ "..so as people come for the event, they register their numbers (phone,car) If I'm blocked, I simply go to them, and they call/text the blocker"
I like this! one assumption am working with is that 'its supposed to be an organised event like the type i went for were i had to pre-register using eventbrite' - so working with that premise that people even register before coming.
But Mehn, the organiser has to prepare for plenty credit/airtime.
Thanks Antonia for this.
Can only wish I saw this when I was thinking of project topic.....but its all good....thanks for sharing...
ReplyDeleteMost welcome Opeyemi ^_^
Delete