Date post: | 12-Apr-2017 |
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News & Politics |
Upload: | anthony-phills |
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Mobile Alligator Alerts at Florida Resorts
@ANTHONYPHILLS • HTTP://PHILLS.COM
Tourist are unfamiliar with the risk
The Florida Disney resort, where a 2-‐year old liIle boy was aIacked and died now has a lawyer who says he told the resort and showed them a picture of an alligator in the area back in 2015. Now, you are walking in an area and you didn’t see the sign telling you that there could be alligators in the area. Two ideas come to mind from past experience working in hospitality for Hilton Worldwide. During my Tme with Hilton as Lead Android Designer on the HHonors app; I worked on noTficaTon elements that alerted you when your Digital Key was ready aXer you had checked in on your smart phone. SoluTons are definitely needed especially for protecTng you and your loved ones from alligators. There are a few opTons when it comes to actually detecTng and prevenTng alligators from making their way onto a resort or property across Florida. With the help of a mobile app a resort can setup either one of these systems so that guests can check in and feel safe on your property by receiving alerts to their smartphone at all Tmes. The best part is that these services can be added directly into the applicaTon for your resort so that all guests can benefit from the system. @ANTHONYPHILLS • HTTP://PHILLS.COM
Geo-‐Fence System
Today Geo-‐Fences are used to create targeted markeTng. A Geo-‐Fencing system uses locaTon-‐based service data to set up a perimeter around a potenTal property. By se\ng up a geo-‐fence system it’s possible for a resort to send alerts to a guest who has crossed into a certain area with important informaTon about alligators. This can prevent unprovoked aIacks and accidents. Pu\ng guests on alert can be a wonderful way for them to make sure that they are prepared to be watchful and to avoid an aIack. This can deliver a powerful piece of mind especially knowing that the system will stay on consistently. A first line of defense can save lives. @ANTHONYPHILLS • HTTP://PHILLS.COM
Beacon System
The beacon system is a popular opTon for regional monitoring and this can set up clearly defined radius points across your property. This soluTon is oXen very easy to set up and it can be done usually with over-‐the-‐counter hardware which can be purchased at many electronic stores. Region monitoring with the help of beacon technology can measure out a set geographical region. You can set up beacons across one side of a property that has water on it or across all sides of your property. By se\ng boundaries up with various beacons a hotel chain can send out various alerts when guests get very close to the beacons themselves. Beacons can have a radius of 25m or greater. This ensures that anyone with a smartphone and Bluetooth turned on can receive a push noTficaTon from your hotel app when they are close to a beacon which has been flagged for gator acTvity. @ANTHONYPHILLS • HTTP://PHILLS.COM
Both of these technologies are extremely useful especially when it comes to going out at night when alligators are very difficult to see. Receiving a push noTficaTon from either source will likely prevent guests from venturing into unsafe areas at Tmes when it can be difficult to predict if alligators are in the area. If more resorts were willing to set up beacon technology or a Geo-‐Fence system along with signage, it may be possible to prevent a large number of alligator related incidents in Florida each year. These types of added monitoring push alerts also improve guest experience and allow guests from all over the world to have a greater peace of mind whilst staying at your resort/hotel chain. If you are a concerned property owner or you live in an area where there is no record or monitoring for alligator acTvity, these soluTons could save lives. I worked as the Lead Designer for Hilton Worldwide on the HHonors Android app that uTlized some of the same principles that are discussed in this arTcle. The HHonors Android app has over 1 million downloads and similar apps for other major hotel chains could receive the same support. Not only can guests at Hilton hotels experience these technology benefits from their hotel app but many resorts are using the data and the beacons for more alerts and noTficaTons through the app too but now add alerts for alligators. Be safe! Anthony Phills Author and Designer • @anthonyphills • hIp://phills.com