Atlantic City is no stranger to forward-thinking technological leaps. Our emphasis on entertainment means keeping an eye on the cutting-edge to deliver the best and most convenient experiences to residents and newcomers. Recent developments in city-wide technologies are poised to take this potential even further, and they could very well revolutionize the way we experience our daily lives.
The inspiration for this article comes from recent changes that Google is making to its popular suite of mapping software. Many of us already use Google's platform for GPS navigation, and new updates to their programs offer even more helpful tools. There are four major components included in their recent Maps update that have us excited, each with its own potential in business, entertainment, and navigation.
First among these is the Places API. This uses AI to help automatically collect information about an area without requiring direct input from locals. This can help create generative summaries around busy times, things to do, traffic, weather conditions, and more. In saving time, this tool could be a lifesaver.
"Google Earth, I Love You." (Public Domain) by Dennis S. Hurd
This is further bolstered by planning AI and 3D maps, both of which have already proven themselves as holiday or general-use tools. AI could set out a day plan for you, and 3D maps let you get a more effective view of the environment before you leave. If you're the type of person who struggles with planning and traditional maps, these are welcome additions.
The final most helpful addition the Maps are including is betting integration with other apps. Sharing plans or ideas with others can be frustrating if you have no way to simply send links, and Google’s new updates can help alleviate this issue. Better integration is always a welcome change, and with it, fewer people will be left out.
Atlantic City was one of the first cities in the nation to see 5G integration in 2020, and since then our implementation of this new wireless infrastructure has expanded significantly. Though few of us are yet taking advantage of the speed benefits of 5G, we're all in a position to see benefits from the improved connective potential 5G presents. With a million devices able to connect to a single 5G tower, this new standard is working in the background to prevent the internet connection drops that plagued the early days of mobile internet.
Consider the type of browsing and gameplay you’d enjoy when engaging with a modern dogecoin video poker service. These titles like Deuces Wild and Aces and Faces require very little online speed or download time, but even these can struggle with unreliable connections if a city's connection is faulty. Atlantic City’s 5G helps eliminate such threats, so this type of casino gaming can work just as well on smartphone networks as it does on wired home PCs, or home network wireless tablets or laptops.
One of the longest-promised developments in city transportation is driverless taxis. The basis of these systems has been around for years, but it's only now that the tech is finally living up to its claims. While we're hesitant to believe the claims about Tesla from Elon Musk, some companies like Waymo are showing serious promise.
This is such a big help in Atlantic City because it offers 24/7 personal transport without needing a personal license. For a city with such an emphasis on nightlife, the implications these have for convenience and our economy are immense. We might not want to be the first ones to test these systems out, but once they’re established, they could become our preferred way to travel.
As much as we love to make time for events held in places like the Jim Whelan Boardwalk Hall, it's not always possible to get away. We might be sick, we might be out of town, or we might have other responsibilities preventing travel. VR has the potential to solve this issue by providing live or recorded content that can place us in the front row of the action.
With VR, concerts at Etess Arena could be replayed as often as you like, affording you a panoramic view from the best seats in the house. VR could show visitors the potential of the Ovation Hall, giving them another place to include on their stop at AC. The technology for these experiences already exists, so with the right investment, we could see huge rewards in implementing this technology.
"Alcatel Idol 4 with VR box" (CC BY 2.0) by Maurizio Pesce
As far as Atlantic City has come in the last decade alone, being on the frontline of technological development means you're never truly done. The above existing and coming technologies represent enormous potential for the future of AC and could allow it to rise to a new level of fame. The question is, what can we do with the opportunities presented to us, and which elements of our city do we best want to present to the world?
