Author: Kairi Koov

In the fast-paced digital era, technology continues to revolutionize the way we interact with our surroundings. One area where innovation has made significant strides is in wayfinding solutions. Gone are the days of paper maps and confusing signage. Today, we explore the synergy between wayfinding with QR codes and NFC tags. How this powerful combination is transforming navigation experiences across various industries?

Wayfinder software has emerged as a game-changer in navigation and location-based services. Leveraging GPS technology, indoor mapping, and intuitive interfaces, these applications simplify the way we navigate complex environments such as airports, malls, hospitals, and campuses. However, to truly elevate the user experience, developers have integrated additional technologies like QR codes and NFC tags.

Many of our customers have used QR codes allready for some time. Because QR-codes provide easy access to building maps without the need for information kiosks. Most people nowadays have smartphones. So with QR-code the map can be open almost with one click. Although with NFC, it is even simpler. Therefore just place your mobile phone near the NFC tag and map will be opened automatically in your cellphone browser.

Now there is option to download QR-codes for each location in 3D Wayfinder administration panel. 

Screens module has to be enable and with each screen there is option to see the QR-code. To download QR-code, you just have to click on it. QR-code will be download in SVG format. It can be used for printing or additional designing.

QR-code takes the template that is mark as default and screen’s location. Screens can be added in 3D Wayfinder editor, by selecting any node and marking it as screen (kiosk). 

QR Codes: Bridging the Physical and Digital Worlds

Quick Response (QR) codes have become ubiquitous in modern society. These two-dimensional barcodes store information that can be quickly scanned by a smartphone camera. Integrating QR codes into wayfinder software enhances the user experience by seamlessly connecting the physical environment with digital information. For instance, in a museum, visitors can scan QR codes next to exhibits to access additional information, audio guides, or interactive content, enriching their overall experience.

We have helped our customers to use QR-code based navigation in parking lots. So that visitors can easily get their car’s location and later on find the way back to their car. Also we have used QR-codes for exploring the corn-maze. Also in smaller shopping malls it is convenient to use printed QR-codes or QR-codes on digital displays without the need for touch-screen kiosks.

NFC Tags: A Touch of Seamless Connectivity

Near Field Communication (NFC) technology enables short-range wireless communication between devices. When integrated with wayfinder software, NFC tags provide a touch-based solution for users to access information effortlessly. Imagine a smart city scenario where commuters can tap their smartphones on NFC tags at bus stops to instantly access real-time bus schedules, route maps, and service updates. See also our solution for showing transportation schedules.

The Power of Integration

The true power of using wayfinding with QR codes and NFC tags lies in their seamless integration. By combining these technologies. Developers create a multifaceted solution that caters to diverse user preferences and accessibility needs. Whether someone prefers scanning QR codes or tapping NFC tags, the experience remains intuitive and user-friendly. With 3D Wayfinder, every code or NFC tag can be configured as different “You are here” location. 

Applications Across Industries

Retail Environments: In large shopping malls, customers can scan QR codes on directories to quickly locate stores. While NFC tags on products provide detailed information and promotions. QR-codes can be use on digital signage screens or printed on walls with NFC-tags.

Healthcare Facilities

Patients and visitors can navigate hospitals efficiently by scanning QR codes on floor maps or tapping NFC tags to access appointment details and medical information. QR-codes and NFC-tags are important part in our Hopsital Wayfinder solution. That is wayfinding application specially designed for hospitals  

Educational Campuses

Universities can deploy QR codes and NFC tags on campus maps. It make easier for students and visitors to find classrooms, offices, and event locations. Students are usually more opened to innovative solutions and they definitely have smartphones with them. 

Transportation Hubs

Airports and train stations can optimize passenger experience by incorporating QR codes on tickets and NFC tags. For example to see real-time updates on departure gates and delays. We have made integrations for scanning boarding passes on airports. So that visitors can be automatically directed to the right gates. 

Smart Cities

Municipalities can enhance public services by implementing QR codes and NFC tags on signage. Because It is important to providing citizens with instant access to information about local events, services, and emergency alerts.

In conclusion as we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of modern technology. Above all the integration of wayfinder software, QR codes and NFC tags marks a significant milestone in improving user experiences across various industries. This dynamic trio not only simplifies navigation but also opens the door to innovative applications that blend the physical and digital worlds seamlessly. The future of wayfinding is here, and it’s more connected and user-centric than ever before. All our long-time and new customers are welcome to implement our new system. Contact us and we will find the best option for you.

We have fixed one bug in 3D Wayfinder that caused transparent meshes to be not visible at all. This
hasn’t accured before. But now it is fix and loading materials for 3D models is also faster now.

In the vast realm of 3D graphics, transparent meshes are a powerful tool that adds depth, complexity and realism to virtual environments. By allowing light to pass through certain areas of a 3D model, transparent meshes offer a myriad of creative possibilities for designers, game developers, and artists and also for 3D Wayfinder users.

Transparent meshes are mostly use for creating windows (glass) in 3D Wayfinder. At the same time transparent meshes are good to mark room ceilings. So ceilings can be click without showing the actual mesh on top of the room.

A transparent mesh, in simple terms, is a three-dimensional object that has some parts or surfaces that are see-through. This see-through effect is achieve by assigning a certain level of transparency to specific polygons or vertices within the mesh. Transparency is commonly represent by an alpha value, where 0 represents complete transparency (invisible) and 1 represents full opacity (completely visible).

Most 3D software packages provide material or shader settings that allow artists to control the transparency of meshes. These settings typically involve adjusting the alpha value or using texture maps to define the transparency level. In 3D Wayfinder we use also shaders for creating mesh-transparency. To use transparency for material, just change the “Shader type” to “Transparent”. The transparency is determine also by the 2 letters in the color (FF is not transparent and 00 is fully transparent).

According to one of our last projects. We found out that not all transparent meshes are shown.

This bug was fixed by overwriting the code for loading materials. So the bug has been fix and loading
process for materials should be also faster.

Please read 3D Wayfinder tutorial about managing materials and transparency settings. We also have some guidelines for creating 3D maps (https://3dwayfinder.com/documentation/docs-floor-plan/modelling-guidelines/) for 3D Wayfinder, please look them also before starting to create your own 3D wayfinding maps.

We are currently developing voice recognition feature for 3D Wayfinder. It will allow visitors to use wayfinding software without using touch-screens. Just say where you would like to go and wayfinder software will show you the way.

Voice recognition is becoming more popular and as the quality recognizing words is becoming better and mobile screens becoming smaller. It would be convenient to use voice orders instead of using touch-screens. Of course, there are privacy issues, as most of the voice recognition is done in servers. But for wayfinding software this is not an issue, as the wayfinding screens are public and nobody will make their private conversations near wayfinding screens.

How voice recognition for wayfinding works?

Let’s say you are looking for closest exit, toilet or just want to get a beer. So you just say “Exit”, “Closest toilet” or “Wayfinder, where can I get beer” and 3D Wayfinder can show you the route.

3D Wayfinder will use keywords and location names for voice recognition, the same way search functionality works. More keywords defined in wayfinder make the vocabulary larger. But definitely there will be AI implement in future. This will give much more possibilities. For example visitors canaska pint of Budweiser without “Budweiser” being entered as a keyword and still get to place where they can buy beer. Might be that the beer is not sold by pint. But at least they can get beer.

We can use languages for voice recognition, that are select in Wayfinder software. Languages can be add under settings in 3D Wayfinder administration panel. If possible, voice recognition can be active for all languages simultaniously. If not, we can use default language for voice recognition without selecting anything. After selecting prefered language wayfinder can switch also language for voice recognition. This depends capabilities of kiosk or touch-screen PC. Also, the challenge is to filter out background noise as wayfinder screens are usually in main entries and places where are more people around.

In future, voice recognition in wayfinding software will be available for all customers. It has to be turn on under settings and it would also require template that allows voice search. We will add this feature to our basic templates. So far, we can implement it in custom templates. So if you order custom template from us, we can also make search by voice available.

WE are adding augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality features for 3D Wayfinder. With AR and mixed reality it is possible to provide map information and directions on camera image. This makes wayfinding in large buildings even more simpler and extends the possibilities to use 3D Wayfinder.

3D Wayfinder provides interactive 3D applications and real-time rendering solutions in self-service kiosks, mobile applications, maps on websites and indoor/outdoor positioning with Bluetooth iBeacons or GPS. We have worked with organizations across the globe. We have developed our own WebGL engine-Frak. It is open-source and free.

With WebGL becoming a standard in web browsers and by improving the speed of Frak. We have widened the purpose of 3D Wayfinder to be used for example for architectural visualization, property management, BIM software etc. Thanks to a powerful API and open architecture, it is possible to use 3D Wayfinder in other areas and applications.

Currently we are hiring AR developers. Doesn’t matter where you are located. You can be the proud member of our team. And at the same time work from your home. It doesn’t matter to us where and what time you work. What matters is the result. We have a thrifty team and we communicate with each other online on a daily basis. We offer support to all our employees. For us there are no stupid questions or silly ideas.

We welcome you to our team if you have the necessary skills in developing augmented reality or you are very interested in this and capable to learn fast. Bold initiative and the ability to work in a team are a bonus. If you recognized yourself, write to us and we’ll talk about everything in more detail.

Required skills are:
– web-programming. This means Javascript, HTML, CSS etc.
– It would be good, if the candidate has experience with AR development: how to get mobile device direction, use gyroscope, render content on camera image.
– It would be good to have some experience also with WebGL.

Come to our team and help to develope AR for 3D Wayfinder.

The world biggest cruise ship “Wonder Of The Seas” has more than 2800 rooms and accommodates more than 6900 people. Wonder of the Seas measures 1,188 feet (362 m) in length and has a gross tonnage of 236,857 across all 18 decks. Since all rooms and activities are compactly together on cruise ships, it is necessary for people to have all the information on important activities and locations. Indoor positioning on cruise ships is an important comfort for the passengers. We present to you the indoor positioning solution for a cruise ship created by 3D Wayfinder.

So far 3D Wayfinder has been used with a simple 2D map for small cruise ship. The ship has a total of 17 floors and around 1000 rooms. Below you see excerpts from five different floors.

Cruise ships have many different leisure options. As you could see on the photo, there are pools, saunas, a theatre, different shops, kids playground and many more. If you are going to be spending time on a cruise ship, it is very important to know where the different rooms and areas are from the very beginning.

Using GPS on metal vessels is difficult. Indoor positioning on cruise ships can be organized using iBeacons, WIFI or QR code that can be opened through a web browser. 3D Wayfinder has used all the proposed solutions and we know exactly how to build the system in a way that would be the most suitable for the customer.

Digital maps on cruise ships

On large ships there is a high risk of getting lost. Therefore, it is important to have interactive maps in various places on the ship. 3D Wayfinder map shows the route to the desired location with a red line. In comparison to regular printed maps, digital maps significantly reduce the time it takes to search for a location. On regular maps, it is very difficult to determine your location and then understand where you want to go.

Easily updated information boards in the elevators

In addition to the possibility of finding the location, 3D Wayfinder also offers information boards that can be installed in the elevator. Information about events on the cruise ship can be added to the screens. You can also share information about meal times and the use of other important services, which is necessary for all visitors. In addition, it is very easy for employees to exchange information on the screens.

Digital maps on a cruise ships as billboards

Most people do a lot of shopping on cruise ships as cruise ships often have better prices than regular shopping centers. In order for different shops to advertise their goods, it is possible to add advertisements to the map. This can be a good way to attract people to the store. In addition to shops, services like spa could also be advertised in a kiosk. For example, additional information could be added to the location and people could view the spa services and price list without them having to go to the spa in person.

In the world of entertainment, it is important to stand out and offer customers all the comforts possible. And one of the great conveniences for visitors is certainly a practical navigation service. If you are interested in the services offered by 3D Wayfinder, please contact our sales department.

ISE 2023 Expo is probably most important technology expo in Europe. This year it was biggest yet. ISE 2023 attracted 58,107 unique attendees from 155 countries, making 133,606 visits to the show floor. Especially busy was Multi-Technology hall. There we had most fun meeting companies too. Special thanks goes to for citizens of Barcelona. Even with limited English they left to us superb expression. We were pleased that the event was in city where people are kind and helpful for the first time visitors.

ISE 2023 Expo organization

ISE 2023 Expo experience is that was really well organized Expo. There were large halls and easy to access booths. The catering was also very well organized and managed. We saw some very unique solutions. Especially interesting was 4K LED screens with IR touch. Making it suitable to use in interactive digital signage and 2D or 3D wayfinding solutions.

In two days we when we visited expo, we got a lot of positive feedback for our software. Companies were most interested in our 3D maps that we have built for indoor navigation. Some of the companies we visited needs to be highlight also in our blog.

Nice meetings at the event

With representatives of Cisco we quickly found a common topic of conversation. We talked about smart rooms and today’s business environment. We understood in that moment how right our direction has been for years. Also especially happy to see that we have yet to offer more opportunities then international corporations like Cisco can do. This motivates us to keep working hard.

Highly interested meeting we had was with BrightSign. Their digital signage players were interesting that can be potentially used for our software. We talked about to give better hardware tools for our clients. Especially interested us plug and play solution. Also it may be solution for our clients, who have little experience with digital signage and players for interactive screens. If everything goes well then we will have also hardware for our clients that is reliable with good price range.

We also visited booths of Clebex and Telelogos. Both are big IT companies and with very interesting field. They are definitely worth to explore. We started of right a way with productive talks and of course our topic was about potential of 3D Wayfinding. 3D Wayfinder software gives additional tools build powerful business solutions for end-clients!

Interactive displays manufactures at ISE

We got new and interesting knowledge in Chinese display manufacturer HCTek. Interactive displays is what future holds. HCTec is large interactive display manufacturer providing OEM, ODM and OTM solutions. Many well known display brands get their interactive displays from that factory. For us it was important to know what future brings. Talking was very productive and we had good laughs and took picture!

Then we met LED manufacturer AOTO. In our talks we covered many aspects of today digital signage market directions. Also we both agreed that future will be LED. Especially in indoor and outdoor digital signage field. We were also invited to their 30th anniversary celebrations to Happy Hour.

Our sales director Rainer Saar shared his experiences.

3D Wayfinder is participating in the conference Integrated Systems Europe 2023. The Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2023 annual conference will be held from 31 January – 03 February in Barcelona, Spain. ISE 2023 showcases the world’s leading technology innovators and solutions providers. Integrated Systems Europe is the largest AV systems integration show in the world.

ISE brings together an international community of audiovisual professionals and companies. It connects AV solutions suppliers with the people who create integrated AV and electronic systems and the people who use them across a wide range of vertical markets.

Come meet up with us. We will participate in the conference on 31 January – 01 February. We will be moving around and looking for new partnerships and connecting with our current partners to seek new co-operation possibilities. If you are going to ISE, be sure to let us know. We are always happy to meet our partners and customers and discuss various possibilities of cooperation. Our contact is our sales director Rainer Saar.

3D Wayfinder gives you innovative 3D map platform where you can build best ski resort app. All needed functions are available: 3D maps, positioning, guidance, search, filtering ski tracks and much more.

Alpine skiing is fun and many people love it. It is more than just taking the lift up and skiing down to the ski lift entrance again. Skiing is active vacation with everything it should include: planning trips, taking meals, socializing etc. You can plan your ski-routes as the longest ski tracks can be more than 10 kilometers long in Alpine region. While skiing down the hills you can enjoy the sun, have a drink in cafeterias and enjoy the social life.

There has been worries that ski resorts have less snow and the season periods of the ski resorts (when the ski-tracks can be opened) is decreasing. Weather it is temporary phenomenon or climate change is a different topics, but what we know is that ski resorts have to use modern technologies too. This is for providing better experience for all the skiers and snowboarders and manage the communication with visitors.

3D Wayfinder ski resort application

Ski resort app works on both, Android and Apple iOS, but the same way it can be used as a customized web-application or it can be embedded to any website (with some limitations in functionality).

3D maps can be very detailed because ski hill, ski tracks, lifts and objects like forests and buildings can be added. The picture shows complexity of creating 3D maps based on regular height-maps. Later there will be added ski trails, trees, houses and lifts as 3D models.

To estimate the work for modelling 3D maps of the ski tracks, please contact our sales.

3D Wayfinder for ski-resorts can be accessed in different ways. 3D Wayfinder can be used in touch-screen kiosks. These can be weatherproof screens near lifts or entrances, or simple information kiosks near hotel receptions. Interactive 3D maps are certainly more advanced way to browse ski tracks than 2D drawings, we have mostly seen. 3D Wayfinder can be integrated to the website or used as web-based app. Printed signs or labels can use QR-codes to open 3D Wayfinder with the 3D map of the mountain or ski resort.

Positioning

3D Wayfinder uses Bluetooth beacons for indoor positioning as the GPS signal is weak inside the buildings. Positioning in ski resorts is much simpler as we can use regular GPS positioning. The mobile application (or web application) positions the user according to the GPS signal and will let user navigate from point A to point B. For alpine skiing, positioning allows user to see the the location so that he or she can see the tracks and find the nearest cafeterias or toilets or find the ski lift to another hill.

Application services in ski resort

3D Wayfinder offers several different options for creating a ski resort app. It is also possible to add several different services to the application. The system can be integrated with many other systems. In the application, it is possible to buy e-tickets using QR-code. In addition, you can mark the gathering places of groups anywhere on the mountain and sharing meeting point in messenger. It allow to plan your journey on mountain and select ski tracks based on your level and skills.

For large mountains there is possible to add help button. If in trouble or if user need of help from ski resort staff or emergency services. User just pushes one button and their location information with help signal is sent!

Also you can use the first person view solution, which is essentially a 3D replay from descending from ski mountain. To share on social media or keep as a memory.

3D Maps and First-Person-View

In ski resorts and mountains, it is important to use 3D maps. This is because you cannot see the other side of the mountain in 2D map, but in the ski hills it is important to see the other side of the mountain where you want to go as the tracks are usually not only in one side.

First-Person-View is the term from computer games. It means you will see the game through players’ eyes. By looking the route with First-Person-View, you see how it might feels to ski down the hills in real life. It is like simulation of the skiing, so why not to go through the planned tracks by looking route in 3D.

As the main land-marks on ski resorts can be modelled out in 3D, for ski lifts and tracks we can use vectors. This means that zooming out the map, will not reduce the size of the vectors. The same way you will see important roads on map applications.

For more information, please contact us.

Christmas Fulfillment

This Christmas,
may you have the fulfillment
of seeing around you
the people you love the most.
May you have the satisfaction
of creating special memories
they will remember with pleasure forever.
This Christmas,
may you feel peaceful and contented,
knowing what Christmas means,
and celebrating it your way.

– By Joanna Fuchs –

Best wishes for the holidays, and for health and happiness throughout the coming year.

3D Wayfinder Team

We have build many wayfinding solutions for hospitals. Hospitals have more options than refugee camps. Refugee camps are usually underfunded and over-crowded. This creates new set of challenges completely different to hospitals. Navigating refugee camps with 3D Wayfinder software is easy and avaible for everyone who have smartphone. Read more about wayfinding software for refugee camps.

First you can not set up self-service touch kiosks in refugee camp. Because it is expensive and easy to vandalize. Traditional maps can be confusing and difficult to position yourself there. Our team has discussed this a lot. Especially now, when we have crisis in Ukraine. More than 3 million people have escaped Ukraine mainly through Poland.

Luckily smartphone prices have gone down in last 5 years and are wildly used even rural conflict areas. It is not uncommon to see at least one refugee family member with smartphone. This one piece of technology is what we can use to refugee advantage in these large camps.

3D Wayfinder software is HTML-based so any smart device is more than enough to use it. We have developed easy to use QR code based solution to position your self inside the camps and our software guides you to needed destination. QR is cheap and if there is no need for investments on touch screens/self-servicing kiosks it will bring price down significantly for organizations that manage these refugee camps.

QR-code based wayfinding software for refugee camps

The idea itself is simple, organizations provide refugees on camps with Wifi or 4G through local telecom service providers. Tents are given code/name and provided with QR code stickers. Refugee scans it to open software and automatically positioning them self. Then selecting via search or from list the tents code/name and get live direction to their destination. Vital location are highlighted for quick selecting in software. If they still get lost they can scan near by tents QR code and get new direction from there. We can provide 2D maps of the area and tents through aerial photos. It reduces the human labor to map the camp on site. This solutions is still under development and all ideas to improve it are warmly welcome!

Let us build better future for us in cities and for people who are forced to be refugees!