Bluetooth Beacons

Small wireless transmitters that use Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to broadcast signals to nearby smartphones and other devices. In accessibility contexts, Bluetooth beacons are deployed in indoor environments to support wayfinding and navigation for blind and visually impaired users, providing location information where GPS is unavailable. Apps such as NavCog use networks of beacons installed throughout buildings to deliver turn-by-turn navigation and points-of-interest announcements, though the requirement to install and maintain physical infrastructure can be a barrier to widespread adoption.