Navigation Tech to steer attendees' feet at CES 2015

LAS VEGAS: The International CES and Radius Networks announced that the 2015 CES will feature a new navigation system for attendees, powered by Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) beacons.

The navigation system, accessible through the CES app, will provide attendees with directions to exhibit locations within CES Tech West and Tech East, as explained. In total, the navigation system covers an estimated four million square feet of space at the 2015 International CES, that runs January 6-9 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“CES is all about innovation and leveraging next-generation technologies,” said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, International CES and corporate business strategy, CEA. “We are excited to partner with Radius Networks to implement this new BLE-powered navigation system. This new service supports our goal to continuously provide our attendees with new tools to enhance their show experience.”

Through the CES app, users can select a CES destination, such as an exhibitor booth. The app will then show directions from the current position using the BLE beacons placed throughout the show floor, the announcement highlights.

“We are excited to deploy our new indoor location technologies on such a massive scale,” said Marc Wallace, CEO and co-founder, Radius Networks. “Radius Networks previously partnered with CES to implement an award-winning scavenger hunt program at the 2014 CES that was designed to drive attendees to key areas of the show floor. Since then, proximity technology and the Internet of Things have taken off. This year, we are excited to demonstrate how easy-to-deploy, low-cost beacons can completely change the way people approach indoor location."

CES has been around for more than 40 years and is owned and produced by the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA), the technology trade association representing the $211 billion U.S. consumer electronics industry.