TO.TE.C 2010: Imagining the future of new technologies

The second To.te.c (tourism & technology conferences), organised by Expertiz and Sabre and held in Paris on 7 December, focused on a number of themes relating to understanding new technologies and their future uses.

The notion of providing support for web users has been mentioned many times, and in a world where there is already a plethora of products on offer, it is the help with choice that will represent real added value in the eyes of users.

Another element being highlighted is the mobility-geolocation pairing, which means that, for example, travellers will be able to be guided through an airport - from start to finish and step by step - right up to their plane via a personal screen rather than the traditional signs. By using social networks, tour operators will also be able to offer travellers the chance to chat with their contacts before, during and after their trip.

These technologies will be all the more accessible because they will offer a direct interface: no more mice, keyboards and tactile surfaces, just physical machine recognition sensors! They will also identify people according to their profile, enabling them to provide personalised information. It's an all-encompassing development that has prompted some To.te.c speakers to say that we're still in the prehistory of the Internet!