Guests at amusement parks can forget about carrying wallets, purses, and cash and instead focus on having fun with Precision Dynamics Corporation’s RFID-enabled Smart Band wristbands that incorporate radio frequency identification technology from Texas Instruments. The Smart Bands individually identify patrons allowing them to gain access to parks, individual rides, and lockers, to pay for merchandise and refreshments without having to carry cash, and to even become part of the attraction in virtual or interactive games. Two theme parks in Atlanta, Georgia, Stone Mountain Park and Six Flags Over Georgia, have recently adopted the Smart Band RFID wristbands.
“Amusement parks want to make the entire experience fun and convenient for their patrons,” said Bill Allen, eMarketing manager for TI-RFid Systems. “RFID technology makes sense because it is extremely user-friendly and helps to streamline processes for the park staff while also creating new revenue opportunities.”
This summer, guests at Stone Mountain Park in Atlanta have been issued Precision Dynamics’ Smart Bands, enabling them to become the game pieces in one of their main attractions, a virtual fruit farming game, involving physical, interactive play. The wristbands are used to identify each player, to keep score at each game console, and to record players’ point tallies on a master scoreboard.
The designer and builder of The Great Barn game, Creative Kingdoms, LLC, needed a technology that would let children move freely throughout the game but that would also quickly and easily record and transfer information as part of the attraction. RFID-enabled Smart Bands allow players to pick up the play fruit pieces, place them in baskets, toss them into buckets, stuff them into tubes, and pass them down troughs, all while recording their speed, accuracy and point tallies without the need for tokens, tickets, or the swipe of a card.
“Smart Band technology helps bring the game to life,” said Irwin Thall, Precision Dynamics Corporation technical sales representative. “Using RFID, we’re able to make the game truly interactive, promoting mobility, monitoring progress and facilitating the reward.”
Precision Dynamics has also implemented its Smart Band technology at Six Flags Over Georgia in a “Floating Locker System” developed by Compusafe(TM) Electronic Locker Systems of Wentworth Falls, Australia. Patrons at the park no longer have to waste valuable time walking back to a locker, designate a person to watch belongings while other group members go on a ride or attempt to juggle all their gear in one hand while holding onto their children with the other hand. Guests purchase their Locker Band for the day and the new RFID-based system lets them rent a locker on demand at any of the park’s lockers for just the time they need it. Each Locker Band is equipped with TI’s Tag-it(TM) smart label inlay, which individually identifies each patron and allows data to be written to and read from the bands to control access to the lockers.
RFID technology can be used for wireless payment and customer loyalty programs. With Smart Bands, guests at amusement parks can pay for purchases quickly and easily, with a flick of the wrist. The wristbands work as an “electronic wallet,” which is debited each time a purchase is made. Patrons do not need to step out of line for attractions or spend time going back and forth to their lockers in order to buy refreshments from mobile vendors. Amusement parks can also utilize the technology to provide coupons and rewards to frequent visitors or to offer incentives for underutilized games or attractions. In addition, guests wearing the wristbands are easily identified in the case of emergencies, such as when children become separated from their families.
For more information, contact Texas Instruments RFid Systems at 1-888-937-6536 (North America) or +1 214-567-4364 (International) or visit the Web site at [www.ti-rfid.com][1].
About Texas Instruments RFid Systems
Texas Instruments Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) Systems is a leading developer and manufacturer of field-proven (RFID) solutions used in a broad range of applications worldwide. In 1991, TI became the first multi-national semiconductor company to market RFID systems with the introduction of TIRIS (Texas Instruments Registration and Identification System). TI first introduced its RFID-based anti-theft immobilizer security system for automotive applications in 1993. Texas Instruments Incorporated provides innovative DSP and analog technologies to meet our customers’ real world signal processing requirements. In addition to Semiconductor, the company’s businesses include Sensors & Controls, and Educational & Productivity Solutions. TI is headquartered in Dallas, Texas and has manufacturing, design or sales operations in more than 25 countries. Texas Instruments is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol TXN. More information is located on the World Wide Web at [www.ti.com][2].
About Precision Dynamics Corporation
Established in 1956, Precision Dynamics Corporation (PDC) is an international leader in identification for the healthcare, recreation/entertainment and correctional industries. Located in San Fernando, California, PDC provides quality, innovative identification products using RFID, bar coding and thermal technology. The company is a forerunner in automatic identification technology, having introduced the first patient bar code ID wristband in 1984 and radio frequency identification (RFID) wristbands in 2000. PDC also provides premium healthcare products for labor & delivery, urology, and other applications. For more information, call 800.847.0670 ext. 1549 or visit the Smart Band web site: [www.smartband.com][3].
[1]: http://www.ti-rfid.com
[2]: http://www.ti.com
[3]: http://www.smartband.com
