Tag: augmented reality

5 Ways You Could Use Virtual and Augmented Reality at Events

Posted on by Eventsforce

Virtual and augmented reality are two of the hottest trends in event tech for 2017. In fact, with the launch of more accessible and affordable devices from the likes of Google, Samsung, Sony, Oculus, HTC and Microsoft in recent months, altered realities have become one of the most fast paced emerging technologies in our industry today.

We’ve seen some incredible applications of demos, videos and experiences that help brands differentiate themselves at exhibitions and conference-style events. At the recent Event Tech Live show in London, the exhibitors that offered interactive experiences were the ones that attracted the most people to their booths – from Noonah’s virtual mirror to a robot on the Festyvent stand that interacted with delegates and even sang songs. In the same way, virtual and augmented reality technologies are helping brands stand out and bring something a little different to the event experience.

Here are five great examples of how virtual and augmented reality have been used to attract crowds and create unique experiences at events:

Coachella Music Festival Virtual Reality App

US music festival Coachella recognized the growing appeal of VR this year by launching a new app and shipping Google Cardboard headsets to attendees alongside their tickets. Debuting ahead of the event, the Coachella VR app was designed to let Cardboard VR, Gear VR, Oculus and Vive owners browse through 360 degree photos from previous festivals and watch interviews from this year’s line-up of artists. 3D virtual tours of the festival grounds let fans familiarize themselves with the layout before they even left the house.[tribulant_slideshow gallery_id="2"]

AHS Fearless Virtual Reality Experience at San Diego Comic-Con

The annual comic book convention in southern California attracts more than 130,000 people each year with hundreds of media companies competing for the attention of fans. This year’s Comic-Con saw many exhibitors turning to VR to promote their movies and TV shows. One experience that particularly stood out was FX Network’s VR journey inspired by American Horror Story (AHS). A purpose-built dome was created outside the convention center where a psychological immersive experience took participants into the AHS universe.

Upon entering the dome, attendees were met by hosts in white lab coats while calming music played overhead. A series of ‘beds’ were positioned in a pentagon where they were asked to lie down, a sheet placed over them then a HTC Vive headset and headphones were fitted. The experience exploited common phobias such as clowns, vertigo and claustrophobia, and introduced the frightening characters and locations from across the multiple AHS series in a 5-minute video.

By adding group psychology tactics to cutting edge VR technology and some classic theatre trickery,  FX was able to create a more intimate experience. Blurring the lines between reality and fiction resulted in a truly memorable experience for participants with some hardened horror enthusiasts describing it as “absolutely terrifying”. [tribulant_slideshow gallery_id="1"]

Cambridge Yourself Augmented Reality Booth by Noonah Experiential

Noonah Experential partnered with Cambridge University Press to create a fun experience that promoted the publishing business as a digital provider and not just print. Using an AR photo booth, delegates at the event used gestures to take their own photo and appear inside Cambridge University (with real-time video content) without the need for a green screen.

Noonah constructed a triangular structure that would fit onto the corner of the stand with additional viewing monitor to attract other passing delegates. Each visitor to the stand could choose to punt down the river in Cambridge or visit Kings College with each delegate receiving a printed copy of their photo inside a branded photo wallet.

The Cambridge Yourself photo both resulted in more delegates being drawn to the stand as well as increased data collection. Users were impressed by the digital technology allowing the conversation to link seamlessly into Cambridge University Press’ digital products. Noonah also plans to add social sharing to the AR Photo Booth’s features.

Radiant Event Technology’s Virtuacast Augmented Reality Experience

Radiant Event Technology’s Virtuacast was runner-up for the Best Augmented / Virtual Reality Technology Award at the Event Tech Awards. The company has been working with NBA Properties to bring its Virtuacast technology to fans, giving them the opportunity to interact with virtual versions of some of basketball’s biggest stars.

Using pre-recorded video and photo content, Virtuacast marries digital with live interactions in augmented reality. The technology creates the illusion of life size holograms that attendees can see and interact with, then share the resulting video or photo online or via social media. The system consists of a special mat that is set on the floor and an accompanying mobile app. The hologram appears wherever the mat is placed in view of a mobile device’s camera.

As the Virtuacast system just consists of the mat and an app, being a flexible, mobile and lightweight set-up is an ideal tool for consumer engagement at all types of events.

Boursin Sensorium VR Experience by Because Experiential Marketing

Another runner-up for the Best Augmented / Virtual Reality Technology Award at the Event Tech Awards. French cheese brand Boursin wanted to reach a wider, younger audience, and do something unexpected for a brand in a category filled with ‘me-too’ sales promotions. It teamed up with Because Experiential Marketing to create The Boursin Sensorium which toured key food events, combining a VR experience with live sensory engagement to immerse consumers in different flavors.

Using Oculus Rift headsets, consumers were taken inside virtual fridges to experience the best ingredients up close, while tasting various Boursin samples. Personalized videos of their experience were emailed to participants to share on social networks. The campaign resulted in an increased social reach of 5 million, 80k+ video views and 4,800 VR experiences.

Boursin Sensorium VR Experience by Because Experiential Marketing

To read more about what’s hot from Event Tech Live, see 6 Technology Trends from Experts at Europe’s Largest Event Tech Show. You can also watch our video on data integration from ETL at Event Tech Live 2016 – Do More With Your Event Data.

How AR is Driving Event Traffic and 5 Other Tech Stories Planners Should Read

Posted on by Eventsforce

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In this month’s round up of new and relevant technology stories, we look at some interesting applications of Augmented Reality (AR), including a mobile app that uses treasure hunts and prizes to drive traffic to events. We also find out how event planners can address Wi-Fi connectivity issues, as well as the latest updates from the world of social media, beacons and drones.

Have a look at the top event tech stories you may have missed:

BizBash: How This App Uses Augmented Reality to Drive Traffic for Events

Last year, Pokémon Go proved that the combination of augmented reality and a treasure hunt can be wildly popular with people of all ages. Now planners can tap into that craze to drive traffic at their events with a new app known as Seek. It’s based on a similar concept as Pokémon Go, using augmented reality to create a treasure hunt with real prizes.

The app allows planners to place virtual “treasure chests” anywhere around their event, which appear as dots on a map on attendee smart phones. Once they get within 10 feet of it, the app uses the phone’s camera to bring up an augmented-reality view showing the treasure chest in front of them. By clicking on it, the animated chest spins and opens to reveal if the user has won a prize. So, at a trade show or festival, for example, exhibitors can have a treasure chest in their booths and virtually “fill” it with items of their choosing. This draws traffic to their booth and gives them a new way to give away products and prizes as opposed to a traditional raffle. The story looks at different ways event planners can use the app and how it can also be used for personalisation by generating demographic data on attendees.

The Verge: Google’s AR Platform Tango is Going to Let Museum Visitors Explore Exhibits

While we’re on the subject of AR, have a look here at Google’s latest initiative to promote its new Tango AR platform. The company is partnering with a number of museums around the world to offer visitors Tango-enabled devices that can be used to explore exhibits in augmented reality.  You can use the handsets to do things like peer inside sarcophagi to reveal mummified bodies or visualise lost architecture. The app also offers quizzes and games making the whole museum experience a lot more engaging and interactive to visitors. Some food for thought if you’re considering how to apply AR around your events.

BizBash: 7 Ways to Ensure Wi-Fi Connectivity at Events

Last month, an Eventsforce industry poll found that 74% of planners found Wi-Fi connectivity a common problem around their events.  And sadly, this issue is not something that’s likely to go away anytime soon.  A seamless Wi-Fi connection at an event isn’t just an add-on service for attendees: it can mean the difference whether they can get away from their desks to attend the event in the first place. As well as helping guests stay connected to colleagues and conducting on-site business, a reliable Internet connection also allows your attendees to promote your event’s message on social media.

This article from Bizbash, gives some really useful tips on how to deliver smooth and seamless Wi-Fi connectivity at your events. The first of which is understanding how your attendees will be using Wi-Fi in the first place.  Will they be casually checking emails, or will they be doing more intensive things like streaming video or downloading and uploading large files? Not having this information will result in either paying too much for bandwidth you don’t need, or not having enough connectivity where the network gets bogged down, frustrating your attendees in the process. Other best practice advice includes simplifying passwords and informing users how to get access.

Event MB: Snapchat Spectacles Boost Social Media Coverage of Golden Globes

We talked about Snapchat’s new video-streaming glasses a couple of months back – and now we’re seeing the true potential of what the technology can mean for people in events. This month, L’Oreal’s celebrity makeup artist, Sir John, along with some of the company’s other brand ambassadors, wore the $150-a piece Snapchat Spectacles to give their followers a completely new and unique way of engaging with the event. The glasses were used to stream behind-the-scenes content, from celebrities getting ready backstage to the walk down the red carpet.

What event tech really stood out in 2016?  What made a difference?  And what should we expect for 2017?

EventTech Talk spoke to some of the industry’s well known event tech experts to find out what they felt was important and what the next year will bring. Have a look here.

In case you missed it, Snapchat has also just made it easier to navigate the app and find friends, groups, publishers and stories through a new universal search bar. This improved search facility could be a huge opportunity for brands and events that are hoping to build their Snapchat audiences. Launched this month for some people on Android and rolling out soon to all iOS and Android users, the search bar lets users dig out of Snapchat the best content and conversations.

MeetingsNet: Drones – Moving into Events at the Speed of Flight

Despite being one of the more controversial tech trends this year, the drone craze looks set to continue into 2017. Drones provide the opportunity for 360-degree video filming, as well as aerial filming and photography. They can also help you engage with your attendees in new ways, but as is the case for most new technologies, there are tricks to getting it right. This two-part article from Meetings Net looks at the kind of things event planners need to think about before taking on a drone project, as well as some creative ideas on how you can use drones to create a buzz around your events.

Attendees can learn about flying drones from pro pilots, then take part in drone racing themselves. Because they are equipped with cameras, drones can provide some amazing footage, both still and video, to bring a new perspective on sessions, trade show floors, or evening galas. Planners can also put virtual reality goggles on their attendees and let them experience the drone perspective on a personal level. While your budget may not be amenable, some events are using drones to produce amazing outdoor shows. Have a look at some of these examples here.

Event Industry News: New Beacon Enhances Event Analytics Technology

Beacons are already aiding visitors with wayfinding and personalised promotions. Now, brand new beacon technology is helping event managers branch out with data collection and conference and event analytics. Beacons were originally only able to function in relation to a smart device. Without a smart device that physically entered the event space and recalled the beacon information from the cloud, the system was unable to contribute value.

Click to get in touchHowever, this article explains how there is now a gateway beacon that connects beacons in the field to the cloud without the need for an intermediary. Beacons used in conjunction with cutting edge beacon gateway technology allow for a system that automatically and digitally collects beacon information without the need for a user to physically use their phone and interact with beacons. The result is far more reliable heat maps and data sets for later analysis as well as automated and instant alerts. Moreover, this technology is easily implemented into other apps, allowing solution providers the chance to quickly and effectively add asset monitoring and other beacon capabilities to their offerings.

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