It's app app time at Commonwealth Games

BANGALORE, INDIA: Commonwealth Games 2010 or #CWG as the netizens know, was the matter of controversy and shame till yesterday. Post the spectacular opening ceremony of the games and the gala presentation of Indian culture and competence, all we hear is wow!

So what happened in the ceremony that turned the tables? The real show was the huge aerostat balloon, which rose off like pyrotechnics during the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

According to an IANS report, the aerostat was one of the biggest helium balloon in the world. It was manufactured by Per Lindstrandt and designed by Merk Fsher. “It was suspended 25 metres above the ground. It took days for the balloon, sized 40m* 80m*12m, to lift above the ground and be placed in a 360 degree projection surface.”

In the hindsight, various agencies came ahead for the proper management of the entire ceremony starting from hospitality, to travel including the traffic. There were dedicated lanes for the CWG zones. The Delhi Traffic Police were directing the commuters through not only physical communication but also through Twitter and Facebook updates.

Apart from this, in order to keep the excitement high, the IT team has prepared Facebook applications and quizzes like What Athlete Are You? Queen’s baton (the virtual Queen’s Baton Relay).

According to another report by a leading newspaper, around 18 government agencies, including police, fire services, hospitals, public works department and the Delhi Transport Corporation were linked together on one network called Government Radio Network (GRN). The partners in this deployment were HCL Infosystems and Motorola.

From technology aspect, the partners in the series are Radius Infratel (Broadband infrastructure provider), MTNL and Airtel (voice, broadband and IPTV services) and Ericsson.

Also, the game season is the season to make hay for mobile app developers. The iPhone App developed by HCL Technologies aims to help athletes, tourists and visitors at the Commonwealth Games. The software, 'Xplore CWG Delhi 2010', is available for free download at Apple’s iTunes store online. The application uses geographical positioning data and maps that can help visitors on the move locate ATMs, restaurants, shopping places, bars, hotels, metro stations and hospitals nearby.

On the other hand there is this application called Zoomi, that will provide up-to-date latest information on the Commonwealth Games. It has been developed by Smile of India, a knowledge services firm headquartered in Ahmedabad, in partnership with KPMG, the leading global professional services firm.

Then, there is another Blackberry Mobile application for the XIX Commonwealth Games from Endeavour Software Technologies, an Enterprise Mobile Consulting and mobile application/product development services provider. Named 'CWG Games', the solution would help visitors, attendees and the fans of Commonwealth Games 2010 to keep themselves updated with the latest happenings in the Games Village.

So, finally the game is happening!