Beacons are small devices based on low-power Bluetooth technology , which emit a signal that uniquely identifies each device. This signal can be received and interpreted by other devices , also knowing the distance they are at. Being physically located, they know the situation of the owner of the mobile, in addition to their consumption data and preferences.
Summary
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- 1 Features
- 1 Operation
- 2 Uses of beacons
- 3 Advantages
- 4 Sources
characteristics
Beacons are a low-power device that emits a broadcast signal , and are small enough to be attached to a wall or counter. It uses a Bluetooth low consumption connection (BLE) to a mobile device without the need for synchronization of the devices, the signal is captured by these devices and is often transmitted to a cloud server via the internet. The cloud server processes the information and conducts more detailed analysis to guide behaviors based on the specific location of the mobile device.
Functioning
The sensors are placed in strategic areas of the establishment where you want to interact with potential customers. Thus, via Bluetooth, they can send real-time signals to smartPhones. This indicates that it can only work if mobile phones have Bluetooth enabled . The technology incorporated by beacons is compatible with any device. You only need to have Bluetooth 4.0, so it doesn’t matter if it’s a tablet or a mobile phone. Another of the fundamental components for its operation are mobile applications. Apps are vital so that the mobile device you have can read the content of the signals emitted by beacons.
Uses of beacons
- Events: The use of Beacons at events (meetings, film festivals, concerts, conventions) allow important information to be sent to attendees. You can direct to places where there is not too much public, skip-the-line registration places, locations where real time events are taking place etc. Technology helps the organization to interact with attendees in a useful and constructive way.
- Sending offers at the exact point where the user is located, tracking their time in the store, sending personalized messages, paying with or without a discount, with or without contacting an ATM, etc.
- In tourist areas: Museums are a success story since they show information about a work, what details to look at, know the context in which it was created, etc.
- Health: By placing these beacons correctly we can send information to patients at the hospital center staff. So the doctor, just by entering the room, knows exactly who that person is, what symptoms he had on arrival at the hospital or his medical history.
Advantage
- Their size does not exceed that of a coin, so they can be placed and hidden almost anywhere by very difficult access.
- Its batteries have a very long life, up to 2 years with a simple button cell.
- They emit a signal that uniquely identifies it: Each Beacon has a unique number that identifies it, and therefore there can be no doubt about the physical origin of a signal.
- Your signal can be received by other devices: This signal is interpreted by other receiving devices, with which a communication channel is established that remains alive as long as the signal is within range (about 40 meters).
- The intensity of the received signal is greater or less depending on how close I am to the Beacon, allowing me to calculate the distance at which it is.
