The hospitality business is one of the more obvious places that wearable technology will make an impact; we’ve already heard about a bunch of Google Glass trials by airline gate personnel. The site Future Travel Experience has an interesting rundown of how various airlines are using iBeacons — devices that can track the movement and activities of individuals — to enhance service.
iBeacon is an Apple-driven technology that tracks the precise location and behavior of devices in a limited area. It’s how the Apple Store app lets you call for a sales clerk through your phone — and how the staff can find exactly where you’re standing as you wander less-than-patiently around the store. Currently, iBeacons interact with phones. But there’s no reason at all that they couldn’t interact with some kind of wearable identity device.
Most of the airline experiments with iBeacons are aimed at the premium traveler, of course. There are particularly interesting experiments going on at Quantas, Finavia, and American Airlines, as well as at a couple of airline terminals around the world.
The article’s worth reading. And if you’ll be around, FTE is putting on a conference in Las Vegas at the end of September, during which wearables will be discussed.