As we set out to embark on a new decade, we look forward to a year filled with technological advancements that promise to make our events even more personalized, interactive, and engaging than ever before. The latest buzz surrounding fully immersive experiences made possible through multi sensory stimulation and the creation of mixed reality environments will continue to gain traction in 2020. Here are some of our predictions for the tech trends the event industry can expect in the coming year.
Sense Appeal
We live in an age where there are constant distractions from all kinds of media that put ever-increasing demands on our attention, and this will only intensify in the coming year. Event planners are being challenged to engage attendees on a higher level, taking into account all five senses in order to create truly memorable experiences that cut through the clutter. In 2020, we’ll see creative uses of audiovisual technology and other tactics aimed at stimulating multiple senses. Be on the lookout for increased utilization of high-definition video walls, interactive digital displays, cutting-edge sound systems, and touch tables as a way of commanding attention, captivating audiences, and facilitating hands-on learning.
AR + VR = MR
Augmented and virtual reality have been growing in popularity as effective forms of event engagement during the past few years. The latest advancement in this realm is a combination of the two, aptly labeled “mixed reality.” Groundbreaking spatial computing devices such as Magic Leap One enable users to see and interact with digital content using the space around them as the medium. By seamlessly blending the digital and physical worlds, digital content can now coexist with live people and real-world objects. The HoloLens is another product that uses holograms to let users visualize and work with digital content in relation to the real world around them, unlocking new insights and capabilities. Equipped with self-emitting diodes, transparent OLED displays are a technological innovation that make it possible to achieve transparency in any environment even without a backlight. Mixed-reality technology is one of the most exciting advancements that is currently making its event debut, and we foresee its ability to create fully interactive, immersive experiences to cause quite a stir in 2020.
Personalized Interaction
Multisensory marketing isn’t the only tool being used to overcome the challenges of a digitally cluttered environment. There are several other tactics for achieving personal engagement that will become the event planner’s best friends in the new decade. Facial recognition is one trend that not only reduces the time, costs, and risks surrounding the check-in process, but its interactive nature also makes for a more personalized and engaging experience.
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology is being paired with automated chatbots, artificial intelligence, and mobile apps to make the event environment more intuitive and helpful to attendees. In 2020, we can expect this software and technology and its ability to react as a human would to continue to simplify and enhance the attendee journey. Forward-looking event organizers and planners will increasingly turn to strategically positioned virtual assistants to answer attendee questions about the venue, event, and more. In addition to offering helpful information to event delegates, virtual assistants can also gather valuable attendee data and aid in the lead retrieval process.
For advice on how you can incorporate some of this emerging technology at your event, contact the experts at SmartSource Computer & Audio Visual Rentals. We have an extensive array of breakthrough solutions that can help you create highly personalized, immersive experiences that will make your products and messages memorable and resonate with your audience.