MOBILE APPLICATIONS DEVELOPMENT WITH THE USE OF BEACON TECHNOLOGY TO SUPPORT HISTORICAL TOURISM INFORMATION IN KANCHANABURI

Abstract

This research had three objectives including: (1) to develop mobile applications with the use of Beacon technology to support historical tourism information in Kanchanaburi; (2) to evaluate application effectiveness; and (3) to user's satisfaction of assessing the application. The researcher developed the application by using JavaScript programming language and using Beacon as data transmissions. The application supports the Android OS version 7.0 or later. Users can download an application on the Play Store called "TouristIoT", which has been evaluated by three experts and 30 user’s satisfaction assessments with a questionnaire. The developed application "TouristIoT" application can support information, public relations and can display notification messages (notifications) in the mobile phone, which tourists will receive various information of that place. It tells the story, history and important information of tourist attractions. In which each Beacon has been attached at various points of the three locations that the researcher has defined in the scope of the research, including the National Museum of Ban Kao, Old Kanchanaburi (Tha Sao) and the Bridge over the River Kwai. The "TouristIoT" application is divided into four sub-menus, which are to enter the search for tourist spots in the surrounding area. With the "Scan" menu, open the operating mode of Background application with the "Settings" menu, showing the surrounding tourist spots with the "Radar" menu and requesting details or requesting help at the "Help" menu. Research results showed that performance evaluation results, was in the "highest" level, average value is 4.41. For the satisfaction of users of the application, it was found that the overall was in the "highest" level as well, average value is 4.79.