Has anyone used Bluetooth-based proximity advertising for wireless delivery of electronic content to Bluetooth enabled devices? I’ve been researching this area to put together a Curriculum Innovation Fund bid.
Bluetooth is a frequency that sends data from one device to another over short distances in a wireless format. Over 70% of mobile phones and devices have Bluetooth. Over 85% of mobile phones used by the under 30s have Bluetooth. I’m considering exploiting the widespread ownership of such devices to distribute electronic content such as text, images, audio and videos within the Further Education College where I work.
A Bluetooth transmitter is inserted into the USB port of a PC and the software installed. The electronic campaign (content) is designed and loaded into the software, then transmitted to all Bluetooth enabled devices (in ‘Visible’ mode) within the broadcast range of up to 250 metres.
Any message transmitted has to be accepted by the user before they receive the message. Multiple campaigns can be setup and sent. Each campaign can be sent either continuously or at a predefined time and date. The same campaign will never be sent twice to the same user. Devices can be ‘blacklisted’, so they will never be sent a campaign if they opt out. The software is able to show the number of people that have accepted, and rejected a campaign over a given period. Apparently, there are no ongoing charges once the equipment is purchased. There are dozens of companies promoting Bluetooth-based proximity advertising, such as e-foreknowledge (
www.echo-blue.com).
Potential uses I’ve considered include:
• Careers fairs/outdoor events – provide location and invitation to visit the College stand.
• Open evenings – welcome message with title/time of events.
• Student restaurant – reinforce targeted campaigns, such as keep it tidy week.
• Reminders of assignment and UCAS submission deadlines.
• Summary of lesson content.
• Special offers – electronic vouchers for student restaurant and College Shop.
Once downloaded the content can then be transferred from the device to another Bluetooth enabled device.
The technology could be used to compliment my College’s existing SMS transmission technology.
Any further advice would be gratefully received
Many thanks
Jonathan