News

Locator kiosks use radio frequency technology; app is used at amusement parks

November 26, 2002

DALLAS -- The "Lost Parents" booth at amusement parks may be a thing of the past, if SafeTzone Technologies Corporation, of Laguna Hills, Calif., has its way.

SafeTzone has developed a real-time location system for amusement parks in which kiosks interact with passive radio frequency technology, in an application designed to help parents or other guardians locate lost children at amusement parks.

The system uses passive radio frequency identification (RFID) technology from Texas Instruments RFid Systemscombined with active RF tags.

According to a news release, SafeTzone's Child Locating System can locate any member of a group throughout a park at any time using SafeTzone Locator™ wristbands, RF readers and interactive LocationStation™ kiosks. TI-RFid tags also enable the SafeTzone Locator to be used as a wireless wallet for cashless purchases throughout the park.

The SafeTzone Locator is a watch-like RF device that each group member wears on his or her wrist, according to the release. The device communicates a person's location to RF readers situated throughout the park using an active RF tag.

The technology operates from touchscreen kiosks that allow groups to track the real-time location of their members, on a map of the park, at any time of day, by scanning their Locators. When visitors approach the kiosks and scan their Locators, the passive RF tag automatically identifies them, linking them to information on the whereabouts of their group members. Multiple language options are available, according to the release.

The SafeTzone locating systems are being used at Wet 'n Wild  in Orlando, Fla; Wet `n Wild in Las Vegas; Wild Rivers in Irvine, Calif.; and Dolly's Splash Country in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

"Our goal is to provide the end-to-end solution for amusement parks and their guests in terms of safety," said Timothy W. Giraldin, SafeTzone's chief executive, in the release.

Version 3 of the SafeTzone Child Locating System, launched in November, includes three new software modules. The new cashless module acts as an "electronic wallet," enabling guests to make purchases around the park without the need to carry wallets or cash. The line management module provides guests with the option to make reservations for rides. The data analysis module allows amusement parks to record and study the buying habits and activity preferences of their guests so they can offer loyalty programs, or incentives for underutilized games or attractions.

The newest version of the SafeTzone Child Locating System also includes features such as amenity locator, route planner, park-to-guest messaging, guest-to-guest messaging and commercial videos that run on location stations, according to the release.