Progress 05/01/05 to 04/30/06
Outputs
Progress: The initial intent of our work, which was to develop rural economic development methods and tools that can be utilized by and on behalf of rural communities in the marketing of culturally authentic places and products, has been significantly forwarded during the first six months of States Prides project work. This Phase I project initiated a substantial cultural tourism survey across the state of South Dakota; built a data collection process which allowed a high school senior to take the software into the field to digitally document, list and organize historic, cultural, environmental and other sought-after data pertaining to twelve culturally authentic sites in and around Vermillion, South Dakota; and successfully integrated this data into a digital format that will be accessed by travelers via the Internet, was displayed via handheld technology and potentially in real-time via cell phone technology. Over the six months, our work has progressed: May/June
States Pride partnered with the State of South Dakotas Center for Tourism Research in the creation of a 'South Dakota Visitor Questionnaire', sub-title, 'States Pride Cultural Toursim Survey' which explored the tourists interest in visiting and purchasing the culturally authentic. June/July The cultural tourism survey shaped the data collection software development. July/August States Pride designed and built data collection software. August A Senior in high school was given the data collection software to use as she gathered information at culturally authentic destinations in and around Vermillion, SD. August/September This collected data was then meta-tagged for interactive use in iPAQ handhelds which was the platform of choice as tourists tested the electronic rural tour guide. October/November An evaluation of the handhelds functionality/effectiveness was performed by D2worldwide, North Sioux City, South Dakota. The data collection method was successful in gathering digitized data
pertaining to unique, culturally authentic attractions in and around Vermillion, SD. A student--used as an example of the kind of individual that will commonly be using our data collection software in rural settings--was able to use the data collection mechanism with few difficulties. The results of a third party, formal evaluation of the tourist guide indicated that nine out of ten tourists who used the handheld tourist guide said they would use it on a subsequent trip. Our survey indicated that 57% of tourists would change their vacation plans and go out into rural areas if given a reason to do so. The data collection mechanism and the handheld tourist guide are in need of improvement. In regard to the data collection software, phase II work would focus upon the writing of an in the field tutorial and on-line wizard to lead rural citizens into and through the process of carefully researching and digitizing the history of their community. And further work with the electronic tourist
guide will focus upon user's comments that they want more choices as to how to access DeepMapped data as well as data pertaining to non-culturally authentic 'services' information (i.e gas station availability etc.).
Impacts
Our phase I work is the foundation for our phase II proposal for a rapid expansion of our DeepMapping methodologies. To accurately digitize the photographic, oral and written data pertaining to any, chosen culturally authentic destination is a process that does not exist in any systematic, retrievable way. The data collection method as tested will allow for the continuity of data retrieval that is necessary for a national, interactive database formation, but is also flexible enough for the researcher to be able to record substantial information about a destination that is deep and location sensitive. Visits with rural Americans of all sorts indicate a universal desire to have a way to preserve, in an useful way, the story of any given community or waypoint and to market authentic, locally made products within the framework of a national market. Based upon our phase I work, States Pride is convinced that the good of rural America as well as the good of our companys
pursuits can be realized with the rapid expansion of DeepMapping strategies. Our survey of over 200 hundred tourists entering South Dakotas borders in the summer of 2005, indicated a substantial desire on the part of tourists to go and discover the products and places that rural communities have to offer. With nearly half of the tourists expecting to pay for trip planning services and rural communities and destinations willing to pay DeepMapping fees in exchange for measurable tourist traffic, commercialization is becoming our focus.
Publications
- Spencer, Dr. Daniel 2005 Potential Demand for and Characteristics of Individuals Interested in an Electronic Device Designed to Increase Tourists Length of Stay in Rural South Dakota. South Dakota Center for Tourism Research, Black Hills State University.
- Knudson, Jim 2005 States Pride Deep Mapping Study Results, D2worldwide, North Sioux City, South Dakota, Nov. 15, 2005.
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Progress 05/01/05 to 10/31/05
Outputs
Target Audience:nullChanges/Problems:nullWhat opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Progress: The initial intent of our work, which was to develop rural economic development methods and tools that can be utilized by and on behalf of rural communities in the marketing of culturally authentic places and products, has been significantly forwarded during the first six months of States Prides project work. This Phase I project initiated a substantial cultural tourism survey across the state of South Dakota; built a data collection process which allowed a high school senior to take the software into the field to digitally document, list and organize historic, cultural, environmental and other sought-after data pertaining to twelve culturally authentic sites in and around Vermillion, South Dakota; and successfully integrated this data into a digital format that will be accessed by travelers via the Internet, was displayed via handheld technology and potentially in real-time via cell phone technology. Over the six months, our work has progressed: May/June
States Pride partnered with the State of South Dakotas Center for Tourism Research in the creation of a South Dakota Visitor Questionnaire, sub-title, States Pride Cultural Toursim Survey which explored the tourists interest in visiting and purchasing the culturally authentic. June/July The cultural tourism survey shaped the data collection software development. July/August States Pride designed and built data collection software. August A Senior in high school was given the data collection software to use as she gathered information at culturally authentic destinations in and around Vermillion, SD. August/September This collected data was then meta-tagged for interactive use in iPAQ handhelds which was the platform of choice as tourists tested the electronic rural tour guide. October/November An evaluation of the handhelds functionality/effectiveness was performed by D2worldwide, North Sioux City, South Dakota. The data collection method was successful in gathering digitized data
pertaining to unique, culturally authentic attractions in and around Vermillion, SD. A student--used as an example of the kind of individual that will commonly be using our data collection software in rural settings--was able to use the data collection mechanism with few difficulties. The results of a third party, formal evaluation of the tourist guide indicated that nine out of ten tourists who used the handheld tourist guide said they would use it on a subsequent trip. Our survey indicated that 57% of tourists would change their vacation plans and go out into rural areas if given a reason to do so. The data collection mechanism and the handheld tourist guide are in need of improvement. In regard to the data collection software, phase II work would focus upon the writing of an in the field tutorial and on-line wizard to lead rural citizens into and through the process of carefully researching and digitizing the history of their community. And further work with the electronic tourist
guide will focus upon users comments that they want more choices as to how to access DeepMapped data as well as data pertaining to non-culturally authentic services information (i.e gas station availability etc.).How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?nullWhat do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?null
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Our phase I work is the foundation for our phase II proposal for a rapid expansion of our DeepMapping methodologies. To accurately digitize the photographic, oral and written data pertaining to any, chosen culturally authentic destination is a process that does not exist in any systematic, retrievable way. The data collection method as tested will allow for the continuity of data retrieval that is necessary for a national, interactive database formation, but is also flexible enough for the researcher to be able to record substantial information about a destination that is deep and location sensitive. Visits with rural Americans of all sorts indicate a universal desire to have a way to preserve, in an useful way, the story of any given community or waypoint and to market authentic, locally made products within the framework of a national market. Based upon our phase I work, States Pride is convinced that the good of rural America as well as the good of our companys
pursuits can be realized with the rapid expansion of DeepMapping strategies. Our survey of over 200 hundred tourists entering South Dakotas borders in the summer of 2005, indicated a substantial desire on the part of tourists to go and discover the products and places that rural communities have to offer. With nearly half of the tourists expecting to pay for trip planning services and rural communities and destinations willing to pay DeepMapping fees in exchange for measurable tourist traffic, commercialization is becoming our focus.
Publications
- Citation:
Spencer, Dr. Daniel 2005 Potential Demand for and Characteristics of Individuals Interested in an Electronic Device Designed to Increase Tourists Length of Stay in Rural South Dakota. South Dakota Center for Tourism Research, Black Hills State University.
- Citation:
Spencer, Dr. Daniel 2005 Potential Demand for and Characteristics of Individuals Interested in an Electronic Device Designed to Increase Tourists Length of Stay in Rural South Dakota. South Dakota Center for Tourism Research, Black Hills State University.
Citation:
Knudson, Jim 2005 States Pride Deep Mapping Study Results, D2worldwide, North Sioux City, South Dakota, Nov. 15, 2005.
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