University Library Navigation Enabled by Ekahau

Library users prefer map-based guidance on PDA over traditional methods

Saratoga, CA (PRWEB) June 14, 2003 -- Ekahau, Inc. today announced that it has enabled the first location-aware library navigation system deployed by the Oulu University Main Library, Finland. Wireless PDA based system called SmartLibrary helps users to find books and other material from the library collections. The help is provided in form of map-based guidance to the target bookshelf on a PDA. Ekahau Positioning Engine software is used by SmartLibrary system to pinpoint the accurate mobile client location.

The guidance is integrated to the online catalog of library, so that books retrieved from the catalog can be located. Wireless connectivity is provided in form of Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11b) network. The guidance is based on dynamic Wi-Fi positioning of the user and static location information of books. The service is a completely software-based solution, which can be provisioned atop a Wi-Fi installed for wireless Internet access, without any additional hardware.

User evaluation with real library users showed that SmartLibrary saves time and makes book finding easier. In the study all male test users and 64 % of females preferred map-based guidance over traditional shelf classification. After evaluation the main library added SmartLibrary system into their standard customer service.

"The main library has totally 25 kilometers of bookshelves. The new SmartLibrary system really is a great tool for visitors and library workers. It saves time and library resources", says Päivi Kytömäki, Director of Oulu University Libraries.

SmartLibrary is developed in co-operation between the Oulu University Main Library and the Information Processing and Computer Engineering Laboratories of the Department of Electrical Engineering at the Oulu University and Ekahau, Inc.

About Ekahau, Inc.
Ekahau, Inc. is the global leader in location-enabling Wi-Fi networks with its award winning Ekahau Positioning Engine software and providing the industry first location-aware site survey tool, Ekahau Site Survey, to speed up the Wi-Fi network planning, deployment and wireless network monitoring . For a free evaluation version of the Ekahau software, and more detail corporate information, please visit www.ekahau.com.

Public Relations Contacts:

Ekahau, Inc.               
Ms. Nina Mattsson, Marketing & PR      
Tel. +358 424 533 304            
E-mail: nina.mattsson@ekahau.com      

University of Oulu
Mr. Tapio Ryhänen, Systems Analyst, Oulu University Library
Tel. +358 8 553 3542
E-mail: tapio.ryhanen@oulu.fi