How Mobile Technology is Changing World Travel

Do you use your smartphone to help make traveling easier? If you do, then your part of a huge growing trend. The How Mobile Technology is Changing World Travel infographic from MyDestination.com shares some interesting statistics when it comes to traveling. 

Back in 1903 when the Wright Brothers first took flight in their first fixed winged aircraft, little could anyone have imagined what travel would become. Fast forward to 2012 and the internet has revolutionised travel – along with communication – with the birth of the smartphone. But just how much as this palm-held device influenced and changed our travelling habits? And just how far has travel–based mobile technology still got to go?

There’s a lot of information gathered from many different sources in this one, which is one reason it’s so long.  The use of mobile devices to plan your travel and the use of them during your travel are definitely growing, and this infographic does a great job of helping the readers get some basic understanding of what’s going on.

A few issues with the data visualization designs though:

• The doughnut charts at the top are hard to read because the edges are so thin.  A thicker area around the circles would have been easier to see.
• How can the UK have 129% Mobile Penetration?  By definition that number can’t be higher than 100%.
• The visualization using the airplane silhouette is challenging.  There should be 10 windows to easily visualize the 74%.  Readers think in tens, and it’s hard to understand a portion of six windows.  I’ll bet the 54% color fill is close, but I have no way to figure out if it’s accurate.
• Again, readers think in tens, so don’t show the “…traffic for 78% of travel sites” as a visualization of seven computer monitors, use ten.
• At the bottom should be a copyright, and the URL to the original infographic landing page. 

My Destination is also asking readers for suggestions for their next infographic design:

Are you an avid smartphone user abroad? Can’t imagine life without Facebook on the move? Don’t have a smartphone and not intending on caving in? We want to hear from you! Whether you are embracing the mobile travel revolution or just love travel, we want to know what is getting you talking. We’re also on the lookout for ideas for our next infographic special. Email hq.socialmedia@mydestination.com with any suggestions or tweet us @MyDestination using #TravAndTech.

Thanks to Oli for sending in the link!

Comments

[Ian]

How can the UK have 129% Mobile Penetration? By definition that number can’t be higher than 100%.

Indeed it can be 129% . Many people have a work mobile on which they can't make personal calls and a personal mobile. Many business users have a mobile and a Blackberry ......

[cool company from the UK]

Great infographics. Indeed, it reflects the modern state of affairs. Me and my friends often use our mobiles when travelling and sometimes instead of travelling)

[Tour Plan]

The best information I have ever noticed.Thanks for share this post.....

[stun gun]

Mobile is a great invention !

[Mobile Recharge API]

Yes the mobile and the services related to mobiles are changing rapidly.

[Sarry Norton]

It was a great info graphics. Yes it is true that mobile technology is changing world travel. Most of the travelers now a days used mobile apps to check all about travel without any hassle.

[resorts saudi arabia]

great
i like that :)

[Daniela]

Great choice of topic. The relationship between travel and technology has become closer than ever, with more and more businesses turning to mobile to promote their services and reach customers in a more personal way. Travel-related apps rank as the 7th most downloaded type of apps and 60% of the total 1.75 billion smartphone users worldwide has downloaded travel-related apps. Tourism enterprises need to adapt to this new technological shift and make sure they are able to reach their customers in the mobile environment. According to some research 59% of people admit being more likely to purchase products and services from businesses operating mobile.
Speaking of how mobile can bring benefits to tourism enterprises, I found this webinar very insightful. It shows you how to build a mobile presence quickly and easily.
Check it out!
http://www.apps-builder.com/pag/resources/webinar/tourism/0

[SP Web Solution]

In modern era, many people use smartphones to book flights & accommodation. Mobile technology has impacted people worldwide in how they manage travel bookings using myriad travel apps. Apps make easy for travelers to book any destination in world anytime.