If you’ve ever felt that finding someone or something in a large, crowded, indoor area is a harrowing experience, there is a reason to smile now! Your mobile devices will now be able to guide you through a large store, parking lot, railway stations, hospitals, conference halls, commercial buildings or museums. In these places, the iBeacon—an indoor proximity system—is going to be your savior.
The iBeacon, introduced by Apple, is a small device that detects the Bluetooth signal coming from your iPhone. The sensors installed in the phone then connect to the iBeacons and transfer information in a short distance, particularly an indoor area.
All of a sudden, iBeacons are stealing the limelight and leaving the GPS and NFC in the dust. Indeed, Apple is competing hard with Google vis-à-vis indoor mapping. The world is looking at iBeacons with curiosity and knows that it has the potential to change the way we do business!
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Why iBeacon is better than GPS
The benefits of beacons for indoor positioning are numerous, and they are generally accepted as a better alternative to GPS when it comes to indoor mapping. This is because the iBeacon, unlike GPS, was specifically designed to be accurate indoors and functional in all weather conditions, not to mention it’s energy efficient and doesn’t not require a Wi-Fi or data connection. Though GPS has been established as a global location technology, its inadequate signal inside buildings or basements renders it ineffective; iBeacons, on the other hand, work perfectly even when there is no connectivity otherwise.
Why iBeacon is better than NFC
Near Field Communication (NFC) works only when there are NFC enabled devices available and those devices are in close proximity (less than 4 inches) to other communicating device. NFC was more of a niche technology, and never really took off as a prominent means of data transfer. iPhones don’t even have NFC capabilities. As a result, Apple designed the iBeacon to work with any Bluetooth 4.0 enabled device. The iBeacon’s signal can extend up to 150 feet and connect to all devices within that vicinity.
iBeacons in a store
Using iBeacons in a store benefits both the owner and customer. The Bluetooth LE micro-location feature identifies the customers and makes in-store marketing a possibility. The system sends out discount offers to iBeacon users as soon as they enter the shop. Using this technology, a highly relevant interaction with customers is able to take place, and the store owners reap the benefits. iBeacons can even work with electronic cash registers within 150 feet. The customers don’t even need to put their devices near the cash registers, but can pay the bill while they simply walk toward the exit.
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Credit: iBeacon.com
iBeacons in a museum
iBeacons, can be used in a variety of ways in a museum. For instance, they can be placed around galleries or exhibits to efficiently guide visitors through a digitally curated tour. As they walk, users can receive information regarding the artwork displayed, creating a much more engaging, interactive and enjoyable experience.
iBeacons in an airport
Large venues like airports can be extremely hard to navigate, as they’re always crowded and often have poor signage. For example, if you have some downtime before a flight and want to see what the airport stores have to offer, you might be wary of wandering around, getting lost and missing a flight. iBeacons can make getting lost a thing of the past by providing push notifications to help guide you through the airport and send alerts when your plane is boarding.
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iBeacons in a parking lot
Parking lots have become vast concrete deserts, and who hasn’t gotten lost in one trying to find their car? Summer is coming, and no one wants to walk out of the air conditioning and spend 15 minutes looking for their car in the scorching sun. iBeacons can ping you with the location of your car and the easiest way to get there. Gone are the days of wasting away in the sun!
iBeacons at an event
If audience engagement is something every presenter longs for, iBeacons are the way to go. The presenter can easily engage the audience by pushing notifications and providing all supporting materials pertaining to the event. The presenter can send out feedback forms to the participants to fill out using their smartphones before leaving the venue. In addition, the event organizers benefit, as it can lead attendees to their desired locations without hassle. Attendees can even enter the venue, digitally purchase a ticket, and find their friends in the crowd, all using iBeacon.
Thus we can say goodbye to GPS/NFC and getting lost indoors, while saying hello to iBeacons and indoor mapping and guidance!
