chikyuuno arukikata

Nintendo DS is amazing. I’ve got old Nintendo DS (not light one) but I always think the nintendo DS is just a game. But it is not at all.

When I research today I found this and this is just AMAZING.

It is a travel guidebook but it is on Nintendo DS.  It is called “chikyuuno arukikata” in Japanese. “chikyuuno arukikata” is a travel guidebook publication in Japan. From this year, 2008, they put their books into the nintendo DS! People can just bring their nintendo DS and the software.

image is from HERE  (and more images about chikyuuno arukikata)

So I can tell this software is a kind of ‘E-book’. Also there are many useful functions for the travellers as well. For example, the foriegn exchange rate, the prices of the location, alarm clock, scheduler and etc. But there is one weak point. This is compeleted product so if there are changes that need to be updated, travellers cannot know the updated information unless buy new software. However, this is very good example of convergence of old style travel book and the new technology such as Nintendo DS. I’ve got inspiration again.

Exploring Lonely Planet

In 1972, the founder, Tony Wheeler founded the Lonely Planet Publications. It is one of the largest travel guidebook publishers in the world. “It was the first popular series of travel books aimed at backpackers and other low-cost travelers. In 2008, it published about 500 titles in 8 languages, with annual sales of more than six million guidebooks, as well as TV programs, podcasts and websites.”
(Wikipedia, 2008 )
Lonely Planet is one of the largest travel guidebook publications but it has problems. It mainly focus on low cost backpackers only so it needs to spilt up the guidebook for not low cost backpackers as well. Also Lonely Planet recognized the usefulness of using Website so they have a website of travel forum that is called Thorn Tree. It has categories of each different country and people can select the countries that they would like to know about. It has a travel bulletin so travellers can share the information anything about the travel such as the weather of the location.

Also there is ‘Traveller Videos’ page in Thorn Tree so people can upload their travel videos on the website. It has similar format of Youtube and it seems more like travel documentary or travel video. Anyone can upload their travel videos on the website.

In Lonely Planet’s online shop, people can buy the guidebook by chapter that they want to. This means they don’t have to buy the whole book only for one city. It is Pick & Mix digital download For example, if I would like to go to Melbourne CBD, then I don’t have to buy a whole book about Melbourne. I can choose Melbourne CBD chapter from the Lonely Planet ‘Melbourne’. The customers simply download the PDF file from the Pick & Mix digital downloads window.

*Reference

Lonely Planet. Wikipedia. Retrieved June 17, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lonely_Planet