One feature larger conventions and expos have long needed is a feature of modern life most of us take for granted. GPS, or rather, navigation that have simplified once meandering trips to White Castle and Best Buy into precise Point A to B missions.
But, what if you are at a convention or expo filled with hundreds of thousands of square feet and hordes of attendees, and are trying to pinpoint exactly where you need to go next, and how to get there? The International CES show this year, with over 2 million total square feet (equal to 25 football fields) of expo and conference session space, is one of the first conferences to tackle that problem with a combination of mobile technologies, as the press release below details:
“Las Vegas, NV – 01/05/2015 – The International CES® and Radius Networks announced today that the 2015 CES will feature a new navigation system for attendees, powered by Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons. The navigation system, accessible through the CES app, will provide attendees with directions to exhibit locations within CES Tech West and Tech East. In total, the navigation system covers an estimated four million square feet of space. Produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)®, the 2015 International CES, the world’s gathering place for all who thrive on the business of consumer technologies, runs January 6-9 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
“CES is all about innovation and leveraging next-generation technologies,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, International CES and corporate business strategy, CEA. “We are excited to partner with Radius Networks to implement this new BLE-powered navigation system. This new service supports our goal to continuously provide our attendees with new tools to enhance their show experience.”
Through the CES app, users can select a CES destination, such as an exhibitor booth. The app will then show directions from the current position using the BLE beacons placed throughout the show floor.
“We are excited to deploy our new indoor location technologies on such a massive scale,” said Marc Wallace, CEO and co-founder, Radius Networks. “Radius Networks previously partnered with CES to implement an award-winning scavenger hunt program at the 2014 CES that was designed to drive attendees to key areas of the show floor. Since then, proximity technology and the Internet of Things have taken off. This year, we are excited to demonstrate how easy-to-deploy, low-cost beacons can completely change the way people approach indoor location.”
Radius Networks, a CEA member company, will also be hosting a beacon technology meet-up and demonstrating additional innovative uses for BLE beacons during the 2015 CES on Tuesday, January 6, from 5:30PM-7:30PM in Room N 256 at the Las Vegas Convention Center, North Hall, in CES Tech East.”
Now, what are the chances this incredibly useful feature might turn up someday at another major show that could use it, like PAX or Comic-Con?
