Dutch airline KLM has developed a GPS-powered “smart” luggage tag that has been designed to trigger audio advice and tips on what to see and how to navigate Amsterdam, with voice recordings provided by cabin crew.
The KLM Care Tag, as it’s known, can be clipped to a jacket or rucksack, and thanks to built-in offline GPS technology will be able to tell exactly where you are in the city, in real time, without access to the internet.
During its testing phase, the tag will be sent to KLM flyers visiting the Dutch capital in September. All you have to do is order it online for free. The first batch of Care Tags will only be available in English but later this year there will be more Care Tags available in Chinese, Portuguese, German and Russian.
The airline’s crew members have uploaded the KLM Care Tag with hundreds of tips about Amsterdam, ranging from busy intersections with a lot of cyclists, where and how to lock your bike and when you have to watch out for pickpockets. There is also advice on where to taste local food for free, where to see great street art or where to rent a bike or boat.
KLM isn’t the only airline that has been experimenting with wearable smart tech, however. Last summer, Easyjet created a pair of prototype Bluetooth trainers, called Sneakairs, that helped you avoid getting lost in cities.
The shoes had small, built-in sensors that, when paired via Bluetooth to a smartphone app, directed the wearer to turn left or right by triggering vibrations within the sole.