September 7, 2012
Mobile website aids visitors to Kansas State Fair
Visitors to the Kansas State Fair can use their mobile devices to find their favorite foods or search for a specific vendor or exhibitor.
A searchable mobile website of the fairgrounds was developed by the information technology staff at K-State Research and Extension. The tool combines databases with mapping tools to help fairgoers plot their visit to the fair.
“It is simple to use. In seconds you can search for any exhibitor, a favorite food item and vendor, or where your favorite K-State exhibit is located,” said Daryl Buchholz, associate director for K-State Research and Extension and a member of the Kansas State Fair board of directors.
QR codes will be posted on signs throughout the fair for those with smart phones to capture and provide immediate access to the application. Or you can enter www.ksre.ksu.edu/ksfairmap/ into a web browser on your mobile device.
“K-State Research and Extension staff is excited to team with the Kansas State Fair and the Hutchinson News on the mobile map,” said Buchholz, who added that the technology used to develop the mobile website can be applied to other educational uses.
For those traveling to the fair technology-free and without mobile devices, a laptop with access to the map will be made available to fairgoers in the K-State Research and Extension booth in the Pride of Kansas building.
The Kansas State Fair runs from Sept. 7-16 in Hutchinson. Prairieland Partners is the official sponsor of the mobile map.