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