Tag: location based technology

Location based technology becomes a USD learning tool

The University of San Diego’s IT department is using geolocation technology for interactive instruction.

The IT department at the University of San Diego (USD) has recently launched the World Interactive Study Environment (WISE), which uses location based technology to help students to drop pins from wherever they are around the globe, and to add comments, videos, and pictures, in order to encourage greater interaction and discussion among class members.

The pilot of the WISE platform is being run throughout this summer by a 10 student class.

The members of that class will be heading to London as a part of an art history study program. Previously, the platform has already been used in 2015 since its launch, when the location based technology was brought throughout lower income neighborhoods in San Diego by social science students. It was also used by those students for documenting trips that were taken to their local farmers market.

The location based technology is being tested in a number of different contexts and functions.

Location Based Technology - Learning ToolThe development team behind the WISE platform is now working on creating native iOS and Android versions. Currently, this geolocation technology functions with Google’s Cloud Storage, its App Engine, and its Maps.

The data from the early adopters is integral to the team at the university that is continuing to work on the WISE geolocation platform. They will be collecting the feedback from the pilot programs in order to continue to evolve and enhance it for improved use. They are also considering marketing this platform in order to sell it.

The reason is that there is a nearly endless list of potential learning uses for location based technology, so there is a considerable amount of potential to make money if they are able to sell the tech to the right organization. This is particularly true in the higher education fields, where there is currently a struggle in boosting the interactivity of lessons within the classrooms. The student population is now made up of people who have grown up with the use of digital tools and have a certain expectation as to the types of resources that should be available to them throughout their studies.

Unilever and Tesco get on board with geolocation technology

The partnership has brought the two companies together for the Magnum ice cream app, using iBeacon.

Tesco has announced that it has entered into a partnership with Unilever in order to roll out geolocation technology in the form of iBeacons in 270 of its stores.

This location based tech will function to trigger exclusive savings opportunities and offers.

Through the use of geolocation technology, consumers who have downloaded and installed the Mpulse mobile app will receive offers and discount coupons whenever they pass within a certain distance of one of the participating Tesco locations. The iBeacons will be installed into the Tesco Express stores within the first rollout of this tech. It will become the largest trial of location based marketing that either of those massive brands has experienced.

The initial geolocation technology based campaign will trigger offers for the Black and Pink Magnum products.

Geolocation Technology brings companies togetherThese push notifications will be sent automatically to passersby in order to give them the opportunity to take advantage of special deals that will remain valid from the time that they receive them until the end of the month. The Mpulse app is available for download at both the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store.

According to the global brand director at Magnum, Neil Gledhill, “We’re always looking at innovative ways to deliver on Magnum’s brand promise of delivering pleasure and to be able to do it at scale with a partner like Tesco is fantastic.”

The managing director at Tesco Convenience, Tony Reed, also went on to explain that they are always on the lookout to find new and engaging methods of encouraging their customers to return to shop while being able to take advantage of attractive offers at the same time. “With summer on the way, we’re delighted to trial this concept and can’t wait to get our customers’ feedback.”

The geolocation technology based mobile app was developed using Urban Airship tech, by the Karmarama agency. It functions in conjunction with iBeacons, which create a type of geofence around a specific location. Customers traveling within that designated area will receive the deals through their apps.