IBeaconsProduct Management proof of

concept work

IBeaconsIBeacons are a low-cost piece of hardware ($99 for three), small enough to attach to a wall or countertop. They use battery-friendly, low-energy Bluetooth connections to transmit messages or prompts directly to a smartphone or tablet. 

The system relies on Bluetooth Low Energy devices (also know as BLE, Bluetooth 4.0 or Bluetooth Smart) for calculating micro location data employing little 2.4Mhz transmitters at key locations around a building.  Your smartphone or other device automatically picks up the signal from these iBeacons and can calculate relative position or trigger contextual actions like messages or special offers. 

They are poised to transform how retailers, event organisers, wayfaring systems, enterprises, museum and educational institutions communicate with people.

IBeacons the numbers • Presently 170-190m iOS devices are currently

capable of being iBeacons themselves, or can receive messages from a Beacon. A further 51m iPhones and 26m iPads sold in the first three months of 2014 can do the same. 

• It’s important to remember here that it’s not just new iOS (Apple) devices that implement this technology. The majority of new devices entering the market, including the Nokia Lumias, Samsung Galaxy Nexus and the BlackBerry Z10 and Q10, among others, are all BLE compatible. This accounts for a further 250 million devices.

IBeacons requirements

1. User needs your app 2. User must have app-on (does not need to be “open”)3. User needs Bluetooth BLE enabled device4. User needs Bluetooth on 5. User must allow you to push messages

Proof of Concept work at

Kew and Wakehurst

Over the last month I have worked with an outside consultant on a 13 day project. Five days have been spent setting up the technology and testing it in different Kew locations. Three beacons have been programmed so that they can detect an app, locate it and then push specific messages to the phone or tablet related to the surroundings.

Where: Princess of Wales Conservatory, The Orangery and The Orange room at Wakehurst.

Kew: Princess of Wales Conservatory & Orangery

• Worked with Graham Wotherspoon to collect specific, relevant content for Princess Of Wales Conservatory proof of concept

• Spoke with Content and Media, Engagement team, Paul Smith at the MSB to make them aware of the project plus other colleagues at Kew and Wakehurst

• Produced five lightweight testing apps: • Kew iB1 App (detecting nearest iBeacon) • Kew iB2 App (entering/exiting iBeacon 1) • Kew iB3 App (proximity moving from iBeacon to iBeacon) • Kew iB4 App (Princess of Wales Conservatory - 3 plants)• Kew iB5 App (Orangery Restaurant)

• (Insert two images here of iBeacon messages from phone)

What we did and what we developed

Kew iB1 App (detecting nearest iBeacon)

Kew iB2 App (entering/exiting iBeacon 1)

Kew iB3 App (proximity moving from iBeacon to iBeacon)

Whereas the previous app (Kew iB2) can detect when someone has entered or left the range of a specific iBeacon - this app can detect a new iBeacon and more importantly its proximity.

Tested in the Princess of Wales Conservatory

• This app detects a new iBeacon and its proximity and displays content associated with that beacon automatically.

• We were able to send a time lapse video, images and specific content about the Cocoa plant, the Titan Arun and Darwin plants information.

Kew iB4 App (Princess of Wales Conservatory - 3 plants)

Findings: The Orangery Upon entering the range of the beacon it displays a message asking if the person would like to view a free copy of the Kew magazine.

If the user chooses ‘launch’ the app displays theMagazine (a dummy screen image in this PoC).

Kew iB5 App (Orangery Restaurant)

Findings: The Orangery Upon exiting the rage of the beacon it displays an option to subscribe to the magazine.

If the user chooses ‘launch’ the app links to the Kew membership web site (a dummy screen image in this PoC)