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Emerging Technology for Meetings - Part 2
Much has been written about event technology. So much, in fact, that it’s easy to be overwhelmed by all the bright and shiny objects vying for your attention. Lost in all this is which technologies make the most sense for your meeting or event.
This is the second in a series of four articles, the A-Z guide, that strives to help you understand the benefits of twenty-two different emerging event technologies and whether you should pay attention to them now or whether you can wait awhile until they’re ready for prime time.
This list was compiled from reviewing hundreds of articles and blog posts in industry publications and through dozens of interviews with leading event tech thought leaders.
Cost Key: $ (hundreds) $$ (thousands) $$$ (tens of thousands) $$$$ (hundreds of thousands)
Blockchain: Defined as essentially a new filing system or “ledger” for digital information. Continuously growing list of records, called blocks, are linked across multiple computers and secured using cryptography. There are few applications outside of finance, but expected to grow exponentially. Practically unlimited applications.
What you need to know: This is tomorrow’s tech. It represents the ultimate in data security but is still 3-5 years away. $$$$
Useful Links:
Body Language (Motion) Detection: Defined as a type of non-verbal communication in which physical behavior (not words), are used to express or convey information. Includes facial expressions, body posture, gestures, eye movement, touch and the use of space. Among the most common applications: identification, security.
What you need to know: About 3-5+ years away. I don’t consider this essential technology. There are other technologies with similar capabilities. $$$
Brain-Computer Interface (BCI): Defined as direct pathway between a wired brain and external device. Think “The Matrix” or “Robocop”. Among the most common applications: (Today) Health care-related. (Tomorrow) Adding memory storage or communicating by thought alone.
What you need to know: About 5-10+ years away. I don’t consider this essential technology either. $$$$
Chatbots: Defined as computer programs that conduct a conversation via voice or text with the help of AI. Think Amazon’s “Alexa”, Google’s “Home”. Among the most common applications: engagement, wayfinding, learning, gamification, promotion, etc. Practically unlimited applications.
What you need to know: This is today’s tech. But while everyone seems to be jumping on the chatbot bandwagon, some key players are exiting the market. Chatbots can be extremely labor-intensive to set up and voice-recognition software is not ready for prime time so stick with text-based chatbots for now. Adopt it strategically. $$$
Useful Links:
Emotion Detection: Defined as identifying human emotion, typically from facial expressions (Machine EQ). Among the most common applications: engagement, security, target marketing.
What you need to know: This is still 3-5 years away. Again, the consumer market will lead and our industry will follow. Adopt it strategically. $$$
Useful Link:
Facial Recognition: Defined as identification from a digital image or video. Highly accurate with few false positives. There are more data points on your face than in your fingerprint so facial recognition is infinitely more secure. Among the most common applications: registration, engagement, networking, security, target marketing. Coming Soon: Profile (side) views, accuracy at greater distances, full-body (gait analysis), gender recognition.
What you need to know: We’re seeing rapid adoption. Still, this technology is 2-4 years away. Adopt it strategically. $$$
Useful Links:
Check back next issue for reviews of more emerging event technologies.
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