Activate Tourism Training Resources for Accessible Cities and Towns

LIFELONG LEARNING PROGRAMME

Leonardo Learning Partnership

“ATTRACT – Activate Tourism Training Resources for Accessible Cities and Towns”

“BEST PRACTICES”

This project has been funded with support from the European Commission.This document reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

UNIVERSIDAD POLITECNICA DE MADRID LST RESEARCH GROUP DEPARTMENT

BEST PRACTICES

“The Satellite's waySt. James way with supporting ICT

An OM3.0 Idea”

Activate Tourism Training Resources for Accessible Cities and Towns

AN INITIATIVE BY FUNDACIÓN TECNOLOGÍA SOCIAL (FTS)

La Fundación Tecnología Social (FTS), is a nonprofit organization classified as "educational, scientific and of research and technological development.“It is a national organization and its headquarters are located in Madrid.

Basic informationThe promoter

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To make of technology a tool that helps people and to create a set of technological elements that contributes to the improvement and overall quality of living for all people.

Mission

Basic information

• Idea and Coordination: ⁻ FUNDACIÓN TECNOLOGÍA SOCIAL (FTS).

• Co-organiser: ⁻ AGESTIC: Asociación Gallega de empresas TIC.⁻ ALENTI: A Galician company with expertise in the organisation of tourism events.

• Other Sponsors:

Organizations involved in the project

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Description of the initiative

The Satellites' Way is a set of actions aimed to make the Way of Saint James accessible to everyone and to encourage and promote the participation in this route.This project uses technology as a tool to achieve equality of opportunity. The 1st issue was held from October 4 to November 10 2010 and it showed how ICT can really help people for a better life.• 740KMS in 32 stages from Roncesvalles to Santiago.• Showed how ICT can really help people for a better life.

What is it?

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• Persons with disabilities (persons with functional diversity)• The elderly• Persons who like technology• Companies or persons who would like to show the use of any

technology in the “St. James Way”.

Description of the initiativeThe project is addressed to:

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• Sound and signed guides• Smart shoes and clothes• Tracing services• Services for the communication of the pilgrims each other• GPS navigators• Bi directional (QR and others) codes for tagging (foods, medicine

and others.)• Measures of the stages with GPS apps for iPhone and others.

Description of the initiativeTechnologies used during the project

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Description of the initiativeLines of action

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• GPS guided path: Every year a group of people with functional diversity walks the French trail of the Way of Saint James, from Roncesvalles to Santiago de Compostela, with the aid and support of volunteers and technology.

• Mobile exhibition: Accompanying the pilgrimage a large mobile unit shows different technologies accessible to everyone. In each of the towns along the route, members of the public are able to visit the mobile display which showed the responsible use of technology and how it can help integrate people and make them more independent.

• Audio-visual communication of the pilgrimage.

• Use of social Networking: Facebook page, Flickr gallery, YouTube channel, Twitter updates, Audio guides in WOICES, St. James Blog and a web portal: http://caminodelossatelites.org/

• Involvement of local authorities and Spanish celebrities from cultural and sport life to take part the pilgrimage.

Within the field of accessibility in tourism and the broad scope of projects being developed for all people with “functional diversity” on a European level, we consider this one to be one of the most complete and innovative projects, in terms of the use that has been given to the available technologies and the awareness that it has risen, in order to achieve its goal.

Relevance for the ATTRACT project

The promoter and the Universidad Politécnica de Madrid – LST research group department:

FTS and LST research group department at UPM, have a long time relationship with Enrique Varela (FTS’ president) that dates from before The Satellite’s way initiative and the Fundación were created. Both have collaborated in different projects and share a common passion for developing and shaping technology to improve the lives of people with special needs.

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