What Event Planners Need to Know About 5G Today + 4 Other Tech Stories to Read
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In this month’s round up of top tech stories, we look at how important data protection and data security has become for event planners two years since the introduction of GDPR. We also look at some cool new tech tools, including short-range projectors and a VR solution that makes venue site-inspections a lot more practical (and less expensive!). Finally, we look at why traditional event chatbots may be a thing of the past and some of the other practical treats 5G and AI have in store for us for events in the future.
Have a look at the top event tech stories you don’t want to miss:
M&IT: Has the Events Industry Grasped Data Protection After 2 years of GDPR?
Data protection regulations got serious back in 2018 when the European Union enforced the stringent General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) law, meaning the way companies collect, process and protect the personal information of EU citizens changed forever. And while some event planners are still struggling with GDPR compliance, it seems the regulation has brought about a number of positive changes to our industry, especially with regards to event marketing, data management and data security. The article highlights how events are now also starting to promote their data protection credentials a lot more than before in an effort to show attendees that they can be trusted with their most valuable asset – their personal information. Read more.
NEW eBook: The Event Planner’s Guide to Good Data Management
MeetingsNet: 5G Broadband – What Event Planners Need to Know Right Now
5G is set to significantly change how content is delivered and consumed at events and conferences, but according to this article, planners must address technical and logistical considerations to make the most of the bandwidth that will soon be at their disposal. One suggestion is to ask venues if they already have 5G antennas in their largest meeting and pre-function spaces to handle the needs of a lot of people.
Another thing to account for is that 5G burns mobile-phone battery power more quickly than 4G, so additional charging stations might have to be provided. Planners could also mention this in pre-event materials and encourage attendees to bring their own power banks for on-the-go-recharging. Read more.
Related reading: Top Wi-Fi Considerations for Event Planners
Event MB: 5 Tech Trends from CES That Will Impact Events
The team at EventMB do a good job here of putting together some of the most relevant tech news that came out of this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) – especially those that are set to change the way people experience events in the future. For example, the article suggests there will be a move away from using traditional chatbots at events and more focus on tech like Samsung’s latest evolution of smart assistants – humanoid AI chatbots that act like Siri or Google Assistant but actually learn and display emotions. The interface provides a much smoother and human-like experience with lighting speed responses, making it more palatable for events (having a helpful chatbot can also mean saving thousands in extra staff!).
Another trend is 5G as planners resistant to using engagement tech for lack of reliable or affordable Wi-Fi will now be able to engage with an incredible amount of data transfer. Want to beam in a hologram speaker? Easy. Want to create some amazing AR activation? Done. Other notable trends in the article include the emergence of cool new short-range projectors, interactive screens and the use of voice-assistants. Read more.
MeetingsNet: VR-based Venue Site Inspections Take Another Step Forward
It seems Virtual Reality technology is making site inspections more robust for event and meeting planners after the launch of the XR Event Planner from Accenture and Qualcomm Technologies. The VR technology solution places event planners and hotel sales staff side-by-side in a virtual reconstruction of an event space, allowing them to remotely envision and configure the layout in real time. InterContinental Hotels Group is the first hotel company to partner with the two technology firms to test-drive the tool with organisers interested in viewing the event space at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown.
The pilot program recreates the venue space in three dimensions, including accurate reflections of architectural features, layouts, lighting, carpet design, table settings, and fabric patterns. Users can modify room layouts by toggling between table and chair configurations, stage placements, decorations, and lighting as they all collaborate remotely and add notes for colleagues or for the hotel’s set-up personnel. The solution could shorten the time frame between a planner’s first inquiry to a property and signing a deal to hold a meeting there and decrease cost associated with bookings events. Read more.
Corbin Ball: Artificial Intelligence – The Upcoming Impact on Events
AI is set to become the most significant technology change agent of the 2020s. According to event tech expert, Corbin Ball, the technology is already making steady inroads in our industry with many innovative solutions now available in the market. One of the examples cited in the article include Wordly, a simultaneous interpretation system that uses AI voice recognition to instantly translate an event presentation into 15 languages. Another is TrackMany which uses iPhone cameras as facial recognition data collectors to anonymously track a range of attendee demographics. Other tools include AI-powered matchmaking tools and content aggregators that use AI to deliver more personalised content to event audiences. Read more.
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