This document summarizes a presentation about Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons. It discusses the differences between generic BLE beacons and Apple's iBeacon standard. It outlines some of the challenges in accurately determining location using BLE beacons, such as difficulties defining spaces, signal fluctuations, and delays in smartphone and beacon broadcasts that prohibit real-time experiences. It also notes that enabling technologies beyond the beacon hardware, like indoor mapping data and integration with other systems, enable more advanced use cases.

1. John Donohoe
Creative Director, Sequence
iBeacons, BLE Beacons, and
Everything In Between

2. CLIENT PROJECT NAME 2
WHAT THIS IS ABOUT
This talk is:
- User Experience Designers
- Product Designers/Managers
- Anyone who has has heard about BLE beacons
and is curious about their capabilities.
THIS IS INTENDED TO HELP
- A “101 course” about what BLE beacons are and how
they work interacting with a customer’s smartphone.
- Scrutinizing some of the natural applications that are
commonly associated with BLE beacons.

3. CLIENT PROJECT NAME 2
THE OBJECTIVE
- Pass on our research and findings around
BLE beacons so you don’t have to do it
yourself.
- Explain not only the WHAT but the WHY
without getting too technical
- User Experience Designers
- Product Designers/Managers
- Anyone who has has heard about BLE beacons
and is curious about their capabilities.
THIS IS INTENDED TO HELP

4. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
INTRODUCTION
THIS SESSION
1 BACKGROUND ON RESEARCH
2 LESSONS LEARNED
3 CONSIDERATIONS
4 Q&A
3
7 REALITIES WORKING WITH BLE BEACONS
TIPS WHEN USING BLE BEACONS

5. 4
BRICK & MORTAR EXPERIENCES

6. IBEACONS MAKES A SPLASH
5
Beacons have been around for a while but with the
announcement of iBeacons in 2013 there has been a
lot of buzz.
“iBeacons are going to
Revolutionize Retail”
“Entering into the Age of
Context”

7. EXAMPLE PROMO VIDEO
UpNext’s video is a great example of
use-cases and functionality
promised by many.
IBEACONS MAKES A SPLASH
5
Beacons have been around for a while but with the
announcement of iBeacons in 2013 there has been a
lot of buzz.
“iBeacons are going to
Revolutionize Retail”
“Entering into the Age of
Context”

8. SEQUENCE SKUNKWORKS BEACON REPORT
SELECTING BEACONS
PROMISING APPLICATIONS
BLE Beacon startups have been proliferating, promising a great
deal.
Here is a typical marketing video.
6

9. SEQUENCE SKUNKWORKS BEACON REPORT
SELECTING BEACONS
PROMISING APPLICATIONS
BLE Beacon startups have been proliferating, promising a great
deal.
Here is a typical marketing video.
6

10. 7
INSPIRING!!!

11. 7
Activate a phone in your pocket

12. 7
Pin-point position and orientation accuracy

13. 7
Facilitate mobile payment at a POS

14. 7
Real-time way finding

15. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
WE NEEDED TO
LEARN MORE.
LIVE EXAMPLES ARE
LIMITED…
8

16. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
LIVE EXAMPLES ARE
LIMITED…
STARTED OUR OWN
RESEARCH PROJECT.
8

17. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
WE TESTED THE MARKETPLACE
9
AND OTHERS…

18. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
MADE OUR OWN TOOLS
10
1 of 3
BLE BEACONS
• Removed proprietary layer
Understand if limitation is imposed by
manufacturer or the technology
• Greater control
Control at the firmware/hardware level
- Broadcast rage
- Frequency of advertisement
- iBeacon vs. Core BLE

19. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
MADE OUR OWN TOOLS
11
2 of 3
IOS APP
To understand
• Responsiveness
• Accuracy
• Performance in different states

20. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
MADE OUR OWN TOOLS
12
3 of 3
CLOUD SERVICE
Primarily for research
• Collect historic data
• View real-time activity
• Able to experiment with
logic and algorithm to
refine the user’s
reported location

21. LESSONS LEARNED

22. LESSONS LEARNED
7 “REALITIES” WORKING
WITH BLE BEACONS

23. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
SECTION TITLE
14
REALITY 1 OF 7

24. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
BLE BEACONS AND
IBEACON AREN'T
THE SAME THING.
SECTION TITLE
14
REALITY 1 OF 7

25. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
BLE BEACONS AND
IBEACON AREN'T
THE SAME THING.
SECTION TITLE
14
BLE BEACON IS HARDWARE
REALITY 1 OF 7

26. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
BLE BEACONS AND
IBEACON AREN'T
THE SAME THING.
SECTION TITLE
14
BLE BEACON IS HARDWARE
IBEACON IS SOFTWARE TECHNOLOGY
REALITY 1 OF 7

27. 15
STANDARD BLE
SIMPLE BLE BEACON EXPLAINED

28. 15
STANDARD BLE
SIMPLE BLE BEACON EXPLAINED
Beacons transmit a BlueTooth Low Energy signal
(BLE or BlueTooth Smart)

29. 15
STANDARD BLE
SIMPLE BLE BEACON EXPLAINED
Beacons transmit a BlueTooth Low Energy signal
(BLE or BlueTooth Smart)
They send out tiny packets of identifying information.

30. 15
STANDARD BLE
SIMPLE BLE BEACON EXPLAINED
Beacons transmit a BlueTooth Low Energy signal
(BLE or BlueTooth Smart)
They send out tiny packets of identifying information.
Each transmission is called an Advertisement

31. 16
STANDARD BLE
STANDARD BLE APPS HAVE TO BE ACTIVELY LOOKING FOR
BEACONS
The relevant app should be open in the foreground
scanning for BLE beacons…
ANY
BEACONS
AROUND?

32. 17
STANDARD BLE
PHONES “SEE” BEACONS WHEN IN BROADCAST RANGE
… and will recognize the beacon when it comes within
broadcast range and read the characteristics in its
payload.
I SEE A
BEACON!

33. 18
STANDARD BLE
READING
-65 dbm
“HOW CLOSE TO BEACON?” = SIGNAL STRENGTH
It will then read its RSSI (Received Signal Strength
Indication) to get a sense of how close it is to the
beacon.
RSSI
-50
RSSI
-60
RSSI
-70
RSSI
-80

34. 18
STANDARD BLE
READING
-65 dbm
“HOW CLOSE TO BEACON?” = SIGNAL STRENGTH
It will then read its RSSI (Received Signal Strength
Indication) to get a sense of how close it is to the
beacon.
RSSI
-50
RSSI
-60
RSSI
-70
RSSI
-80
THIS IS PROXIMITY, NOT DIRECTION

35. 19
IBEACONS = USEFUL WHEN LOCKED
The iPhone will range for iBeacons, even
if the phone is locked…
I’M LOOKING
FOR
IBEACONS
USING IBEACON
PROTOCOL
IBEACON SERVICE

36. 20
IBEACONS = QUICK WAKE UP
iOS will give a background app a short amount of time
to do something (notification, etc.) when it sees an
iBeacon.
I SEE AN IBEACON.
YOU HAVE 10 SEC.
USING IBEACON
PROTOCOL

37. 21
I’M NEAR!
IBEACONS = SIMPLE PROXIMITY MEASUREMENTS
An app in the foreground can get a simple proximity
measurement from iBeacons to trigger different events.
IMMEDIATE NEAR FAR
LESS 1/2
METER
2 METERS 30 METERS
USING IBEACON
PROTOCOL
THIS MEASUREMENT IS BASED
ON A COMBINATION OF THINGS
BESIDES RSSI.

38. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
REALITY 2 OF 7
22

39. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
REALITY 2 OF 7
22
DEFINING A SPACE
ACCURATELY IS REALLY,
REALLY DIFFICULT

40. LARGE SPACES
EXPECTATIONS OF ACCURACY
23
TYPICAL “ROOMS” CLOSE BY
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT

41. LARGE SPACES
EXPECTATIONS OF ACCURACY
23
TYPICAL “ROOMS” CLOSE BY
MORE FORGIVING
VAGUE BORDERS
CONCEPTUALLY
UNCLEAR
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT

42. LARGE SPACES
EXPECTATIONS OF ACCURACY
23
TYPICAL “ROOMS” CLOSE BY
MORE FORGIVING
VAGUE BORDERS
CONCEPTUALLY
UNCLEAR
EASIER*
WITHIN SCREAMING
DISTANCE OF BEACON.
* OVERLAPPING BEACONS
CAN STILL CAUSE ISSUES
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT

43. LARGE SPACES
EXPECTATIONS OF ACCURACY
23
TYPICAL “ROOMS” CLOSE BY
MORE FORGIVING
VAGUE BORDERS
CONCEPTUALLY
UNCLEAR
EASIER*
WITHIN SCREAMING
DISTANCE OF BEACON.
* OVERLAPPING BEACONS
CAN STILL CAUSE ISSUES
DIFFICULT
CLEARLY DEFINED
BORDERS
TOLERANCE FOR BEING
“IN” OR “OUT” IS A
SMALL % OF OVERALL
SPACE
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT

44. SHOES
SPORTING
BEACONS DONT BROADCAST IN SQUARES
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
24
ENTRANCE
MEN’S
CLOTHING
WOMEN’S
CLOTHING
SALESRACK
SALESRACK
KID’S
CLOTHING

45. SHOES
SPORTING
BEACONS DONT BROADCAST IN SQUARES
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
24
ENTRANCE
MEN’S
CLOTHING
WOMEN’S
CLOTHING
SALESRACK
SALESRACK
KID’S
CLOTHING

46. SHOES
SPORTING
BEACONS DONT BROADCAST IN SQUARES
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
24
ENTRANCE
MEN’S
CLOTHING
WOMEN’S
CLOTHING
SALESRACK
SALESRACK
KID’S
CLOTHING
I’M IN
WOMEN’S
CLOTHING

47. SHOES
SPORTING
BEACONS DONT BROADCAST IN SQUARES
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
24
ENTRANCE
MEN’S
CLOTHING
WOMEN’S
CLOTHING
SALESRACK
SALESRACK
KID’S
CLOTHING
I’M IN
WOMEN’S
CLOTHING
…

48. MORE IMPORTANTLY: THEY DONT BROADCAST IN CIRCLES
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
25
WHAT WE THINK…

49. MORE IMPORTANTLY: THEY DONT BROADCAST IN CIRCLES
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
25
WHAT WE THINK… IN REALITY

50. MORE IMPORTANTLY: THEY DONT BROADCAST IN CIRCLES
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
25
WHAT WE THINK… IN REALITY
REFLECTION

51. MORE IMPORTANTLY: THEY DONT BROADCAST IN CIRCLES
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
25
WHAT WE THINK… IN REALITY
REFLECTION
ABSORPTION

52. MORE IMPORTANTLY: THEY DONT BROADCAST IN CIRCLES
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
25
WHAT WE THINK… IN REALITY
REFLECTION
ABSORPTION

53. MORE IMPORTANTLY: THEY DONT BROADCAST IN CIRCLES
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
25
WHAT WE THINK… IN REALITY
REFLECTION
ABSORPTION

54. SHOES
SPORTING
SO AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT…
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
26
ENTRANCE
MEN’S
CLOTHING
WOMEN’S
CLOTHING
SALESRACK
SALESRACK
KID’S
CLOTHING

55. SHOES
SPORTING
SO AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT…
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
26
ENTRANCE
MEN’S
CLOTHING
WOMEN’S
CLOTHING
SALESRACK
SALESRACK
KID’S
CLOTHING

56. SHOES
SPORTING
SO AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT…
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
26
ENTRANCE
MEN’S
CLOTHING
WOMEN’S
CLOTHING
SALESRACK
SALESRACK
KID’S
CLOTHING

57. SHOES
SPORTING
SO AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT…
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
26
ENTRANCE
MEN’S
CLOTHING
WOMEN’S
CLOTHING
SALESRACK
SALESRACK
KID’S
CLOTHING

58. SHOES
SPORTING
SO AT ANY GIVEN MOMENT…
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
26
ENTRANCE
MEN’S
CLOTHING
WOMEN’S
CLOTHING
SALESRACK
SALESRACK
KID’S
CLOTHING

59. 27
SHIFTING SIGNALS CAN CREATE CONFUSION
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT

60. 27
SHIFTING SIGNALS CAN CREATE CONFUSION
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
SIGNALSTRENGTH

61. 27
SHIFTING SIGNALS CAN CREATE CONFUSION
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
SIGNALSTRENGTH
OVER TIME

62. 27
SHIFTING SIGNALS CAN CREATE CONFUSION
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
SIGNALSTRENGTH
OVER TIME

63. 27
SHIFTING SIGNALS CAN CREATE CONFUSION
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
SIGNALSTRENGTH
OVER TIME
SIGNALSTRENGTH

64. 27
SHIFTING SIGNALS CAN CREATE CONFUSION
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
SIGNALSTRENGTH
OVER TIME
SIGNALSTRENGTH
OVER TIME

65. 27
SHIFTING SIGNALS CAN CREATE CONFUSION
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
SIGNALSTRENGTH
OVER TIME
SIGNALSTRENGTH
OVER TIME

66. 27
SHIFTING SIGNALS CAN CREATE CONFUSION
LOCATION ACCURACY IS DIFFICULT
SIGNALSTRENGTH
OVER TIME
SIGNALSTRENGTH
OVER TIME

67. 28
REALITY 3 OF 7

68. 28
REALITY 3 OF 7
DON’T COUNT ON BLE
BEACONS TO SUPPORT
REAL-TIME
EXPERIENCES.

69. 29
“LOW ENERGY” CAN MEAN INFREQUENT ADVERTISEMENT
One of the primary ways BLE saves energy is by
advertising less. Sometimes measured in seconds.
LAG TIME
DON’T COUNT ON REAL-TIME

70. 30
THE SMARTPHONE ADDS TO THE DELAY
To save phone battery, the operating system
periodically shuts down the Bluetooth antenna which
misses the beacon.
OFF
DON’T COUNT ON REAL-TIME
ON
SUCCESS!
LAG TIME

71. 31
NEED A SAMPLE TO INCREASE ACCURACY
Most APIs, including the iBeacon service, seem to
collect multiple readings before delivering a reading to
the app. This is Ranging. Collecting that sample takes
time.
DON’T COUNT ON REAL-TIME
RSSI
-78
RSSI
-62
RSSI
-72
RSSI
-69
RSSI
-12
RSSI
-70=

72. 32

73. 32

74. 32
WELCOME TO
THE
WAREHOUSE!

75. 33
REALITY 4 OF 7

76. 33
REALITY 4 OF 7
THE REALLY MAGICAL
STUFF ISN’T THE BLE
BEACONS.

77. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
MAGICAL STUFF
34

78. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
MAGICAL STUFF
34

79. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
MAGICAL STUFF
34
INDOOR MAPPING DATA

80. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
MAGICAL STUFF
34
INDOOR MAPPING DATA

81. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
MAGICAL STUFF
34
INDOOR MAPPING DATA CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

82. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
MAGICAL STUFF
34
INDOOR MAPPING DATA CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

83. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
MAGICAL STUFF
34
INDOOR MAPPING DATA CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DIRECTION GENERATOR

84. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
MAGICAL STUFF
34
INDOOR MAPPING DATA CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DIRECTION GENERATOR

85. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
MAGICAL STUFF
34
INDOOR MAPPING DATA CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DIRECTION GENERATOR
POINT-OF-SALE INTEGRATION

86. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
MAGICAL STUFF
34
INDOOR MAPPING DATA CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DIRECTION GENERATOR
POINT-OF-SALE INTEGRATION

87. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
MAGICAL STUFF
34
INDOOR MAPPING DATA CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DIRECTION GENERATOR
POINT-OF-SALE INTEGRATION LOYALTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

88. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
MAGICAL STUFF
34
INDOOR MAPPING DATA CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DIRECTION GENERATOR
POINT-OF-SALE INTEGRATION LOYALTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

89. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
MAGICAL STUFF
34
INDOOR MAPPING DATA CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DIRECTION GENERATOR
POINT-OF-SALE INTEGRATION LOYALTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM VENUE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

90. 35
REALITY 5 OF 7

91. 35
REALITY 5 OF 7
YOU STILL NEED A
DATA CONNECTION TO
DO MOST STUFF.

92. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
DATA CONNECTION
36
INDOOR MAPPING DATA CONTENT MANAGEMENT SYSTEM DIRECTION GENERATOR
POINT-OF-SALE INTEGRATION LOYALTY MANAGEMENT SYSTEM VENUE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

93. 37
REALITY 6 OF 7

94. 37
REALITY 6 OF 7
DON'T EXPECT MUCH
WHEN THE PHONE IS
IN YOUR POCKET.

95. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
LOCKED IPHONE ONLY RECOGNIZES IBEACON
LOCKED IPHONES
38
After Apple released the
iOS7.1 update it, using Core
Bluetooth to monitor regions
when the phone is locked was
no longer available.
iPhones will only recognize
BLE beacons using iBeacon to
wake a phone up while locked.

96. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
LOCKED IPHONE ONLY RECOGNIZES IBEACON
LOCKED IPHONES
38
After Apple released the
iOS7.1 update it, using Core
Bluetooth to monitor regions
when the phone is locked was
no longer available.
iPhones will only recognize
BLE beacons using iBeacon to
wake a phone up while locked.
NOT A BIG DEAL IF IT WORKS

97. 39
A LOCKED IPHONE WILL ONLY WAKE FOR SECONDS
A locked phone will wake long enough to trigger a
notification but not long enough to determine a
confident location or send significant data.
I SEE AN IBEACON.
APP, YOU HAVE 10 SEC.
USING IBEACON
PROTOCOL
LOCKED IPHONES

98. 40
BLUETOOTH TURNS ON LESS FREQUENTLY WHILE LOCKED
There is a greater delay between an unlocked phone
and a locked phone recognizing a beacon.
DON’T COUNT ON REAL-TIME
OFF ON
SUCCESS!
LAG TIME

99. 40
BLUETOOTH TURNS ON LESS FREQUENTLY WHILE LOCKED
There is a greater delay between an unlocked phone
and a locked phone recognizing a beacon.
DON’T COUNT ON REAL-TIME
OFF ON
SUCCESS!
LONGER LAG TIME
LOCKED PHONE

100. 41
USING IBEACON
PROTOCOL
HOW CLOSE
AM I?
LOCKED IPHONES
LOCKED IPHONES CAN’T MEASURE PROXIMITY
A locked iPhone can range so it can not know if its
really close or at the edge of a beacon’s transmission.
It only knows it entered into a broadcast range.

101. 42
LOCKED IPHONES ONLY SEE IBEACONS ONCE
Within a certain period of time, if a locked phone sees
the same beacon, it will ignore it.
ZONE 1 ZONE 2
LOCKED IPHONES

102. 42
LOCKED IPHONES ONLY SEE IBEACONS ONCE
Within a certain period of time, if a locked phone sees
the same beacon, it will ignore it.
ZONE 1 ZONE 2
I’M
ENTERING
ZONE 1
LOCKED IPHONES

103. 42
LOCKED IPHONES ONLY SEE IBEACONS ONCE
Within a certain period of time, if a locked phone sees
the same beacon, it will ignore it.
ZONE 1 ZONE 2
I’M
ENTERING
ZONE 2
LOCKED IPHONES

104. 42
LOCKED IPHONES ONLY SEE IBEACONS ONCE
Within a certain period of time, if a locked phone sees
the same beacon, it will ignore it.
ZONE 1 ZONE 2
…
LOCKED IPHONES

105. 43
REALITY 7 OF 7

106. 43
REALITY 7 OF 7
ALL OF THIS IS AT THE
WHIM OF THE PHONE
MANUFACTURES

107. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
APPLE & GOOGLE HAVE THIER OWN ROADMAPS
LOCKED IPHONES
44
By including 3rd party devices in our experience, we
can be affected by their product agendas.

108. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
APPLE & GOOGLE HAVE THIER OWN ROADMAPS
LOCKED IPHONES
44
By including 3rd party devices in our experience, we
can be affected by their product agendas.
EXAMPLES

109. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
APPLE & GOOGLE HAVE THIER OWN ROADMAPS
LOCKED IPHONES
44
• Apple is requiring greater compliance
• Forcing iBeacons for locked devices
• Limiting access to BlueTooth antenna
By including 3rd party devices in our experience, we
can be affected by their product agendas.
EXAMPLES

110. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
APPLE & GOOGLE HAVE THIER OWN ROADMAPS
LOCKED IPHONES
44
• Apple is requiring greater compliance
• Forcing iBeacons for locked devices
• Limiting access to BlueTooth antenna
• Android phones are possibly becoming less
reactive
• New phones only sampling a portion of BLE
beacon signals to save battery.
• One estimate shows the Moto G decodes
25-33 of every 100 signals.*
By including 3rd party devices in our experience, we
can be affected by their product agendas.
EXAMPLES

111. 45

112. 45
WOW.

113. 45
WOW.
SO…

114. 45
WOW.
SO…
ARE YOU SAYING DON’T
USE BLE BEACONS?

115. 45
WOW.
SO…
ARE YOU SAYING DON’T
USE BLE BEACONS?
NO.

116. SEQUENCE SKUNKWORKS BEACON REPORT
BLE BEACONS ARE A
GREAT TOOL
FOR THE RIGHT JOB.

117. CONSIDERATIONS FOR USING
BLE BEACONS

118. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
BEACONS ON THEIR
OWN CAN DELIVER
IMPACT*

119. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
BEACONS ON THEIR
OWN CAN DELIVER
IMPACT*
* JUST SET THE RIGHT EXPECTATION

120. BEACONS ARE AWESOME FOR PROXIMITY
49
THINK “NEARBY” NOT SPECIFICS
“You are near Men’s Boots” “You are looking at these shoes.”

121. SET EXPECTATIONS OF REACTION TIME
50
MANY SECONDS NOT MILLISECONDS
“Looks like you are browsing…” “Pay Now”

122. THINK OF USING BEACONS FOR…
51
SUPPORTIVE DELIGHT NOT CRITICAL PATH
“Well, thats cool!” “Work NOW!”

123. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
EVEN BETTER, USE
BEACONS AS ONE OF
MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS*

124. CLIENT PROJECT NAME
EVEN BETTER, USE
BEACONS AS ONE OF
MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS*
* THINK EXPERIENCE FIRST. THEN
WHAT TECHNOLOGY WILL SUPPORT IT.

125. CONSIDER MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS
53
GPS
for fairly precise location outdoors
BLE
for what you are nearby
NFC/RFID
for precise trigger of transaction
(the last few inches) *

126. APPLE NEEDS MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS
54
2013
Announcement of iBeacons causes a stir around NFC

127. APPLE NEEDS MULTIPLE SOLUTIONS
54
2014
With Apple Pay, the last
inches of the transaction
has become more
feasible and mainstream.

128. 55
COMBINATION CASE STUDY
2014 US TENNIS OPEN
• First time visitor orientation
• Daily event updates
• Special deals
• Last minute ticket sales
MOBILE MOMENTS

129. 56
COMBINATION CASE STUDY
2014 US TENNIS OPEN
• Geofencing to understand
exterior location
• iBeacons to understand
more granular proximity
• Push Notifications
delivered by UrbanAirship

130. 57
COMBINATION CASE STUDY
MLB “STADIUM” EXPERIENCE
• Bar Scanners to enter
• Read Beacons
• Lead to your seat
• Coupons near stores
• Message you about
section details (lines for
bathroom and food)
• Your phone as a Beacon
• Food vendor finds you
• NFC to transact

131. CURRENTLY IN BETA
58
Both Apple, Google, and others are developing this
as a combination service and product.
• Service: A 3rd party will map the space to get it as
accurate as possible
• Product: Using a combination of special hardware
(Motion processors & Sensors), frameworks
(CoreLocation), and signals (WiFi, BlueTooth, GPS,
Cell)
COMING SOON INDOOR POSITIONING
FINAL THOUGHT…

132. COMING SOON INDOOR POSITIONING
59
APPLE’S TEST AT CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
FINAL THOUGHT…

133. COMING SOON INDOOR POSITIONING
59
APPLE’S TEST AT CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
FINAL THOUGHT…

134. IN SUMMARY
The big take-aways that we learned are:

135. IN SUMMARY
The big take-aways that we learned are:
1 Reaffirmed to not believe everything you see in
speculative videos and blog posts. TEST. TEST. TEST.

136. IN SUMMARY
The big take-aways that we learned are:
1 Reaffirmed to not believe everything you see in
speculative videos and blog posts. TEST. TEST. TEST.
2 BLE beacons are a great tool for the right job.
EXPERIENCES WITH GENERAL PROXIMITY NEEDS.

137. IN SUMMARY
The big take-aways that we learned are:
1 Reaffirmed to not believe everything you see in
speculative videos and blog posts. TEST. TEST. TEST.
2 BLE beacons are a great tool for the right job.
EXPERIENCES WITH GENERAL PROXIMITY NEEDS.
3 The best experiences often need more than
BLE beacons can provide on their own.
THINK OF BEACONS AS ONE PART OF A LARGER SYSTEM.

138. THANK YOU!
QUESTIONS?
Contact me
JOHN@SEQUENCE.COM
@JFDONOHOE
JFDONOHOE