The City of Chicago’s new tourism website, www.explorechicago.org, will be the centerpiece of a new installation in O’Hare Airport beginning in late winter 2009.

The installation was made possible through a partnership with technology sponsor HP, with additional support from NASA and GigaPan, developers of a new technology for high-resolution imaging. It will feature the HP TouchSmart PC offering Chicagoans and visitors the opportunity to experience www.explorechicago.org as they wait for flights. The HP TouchSmart PC is a touch-enabled, all-in-one PC that makes using a computer a compelling, hands-on experience.

The installation will include 30 HP TouchSmart PCs located throughout the airport terminals. Additional computers will be found in two technology lounges in Terminal 2. Each lounge will also feature comfortable seating, as well as large-scale, 30’x10’ GigaPan ultra high-resolution images showcasing iconic Chicago locations, including the skyline, Millennium Park, and the CME Group Financial Trading Floor. GigaPan is a revolutionary technology that allows anyone to capture extremely high-resolution panoramic images using any standard digital camera. Three HP TouchSmart PCs in the lounge will allow visitors to explore Chicago virtually by viewing the GigaPan panoramas in detail on www.gigapan.org. Two computers will be available to explore NASA’s website at www.nasa.gov/city.

“We are thrilled to be partnering with leaders in the technology industry like HP, NASA, and GigaPan to showcase the city’s many impressive cultural assets to millions of airport visitors,” said Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs Commissioner Lois Weisberg. “The innovative HP TouchSmart PCs will provide an excellent way for travelers to view Chicago’s new tourism website, www.explorechicago.org.”

O'Hare hosts over 76 million travelers annually. “This exhibit is a fantastic way to showcase our city to O’Hare’s connecting passengers as well as those who call Chicago home,” said Aviation Commissioner Richard L. Rodriguez. "Visitors from around the world will now be able to explore Chicago as they travel through our airport.”

“The HP TouchSmart PC is creating a paradigm shift in how people use computers,” said Fred Bullock, vice president, Marketing, Personal Solutions Group – Americas, HP. “Whether people are tech-savvy or not, access to videos, photos, music and information is just a touch away. With our systems at O’Hare Airport, visitors can simply touch a finger to the intuitive interface and access information in fun and engaging ways, without ever having to use a keyboard or a mouse.”

Additional coverage here:

• Engadget -Hands on video
• Chicago Area Daily Herald
• Chicago Sun Times
• Chicago Tribune
• Explore Chicago
• Jaunted
• NBC Chicago

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