Tech Tuesday: The Interactive Wall

Tech Tuesday highlights some of the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. ABCey would like to recognize these up and coming companies for their innovative ideas and ability to think outside the box!

Being an event planner, we’ve attended conferences and presentations of all kinds. Some of the least memorable include lots of talking, little visuals and minimal audience engagement. Well, there’s a groundbreaking technology that utilizes an Interactive Wall that is changing the way speakers communicate with their audiences.

You may have first seen this type of interactive video wall during the election coverage and now it’s available for events! One company providing this service is PSAV, a leading audiovisual provider that has services all over the world, and even right here in San Francisco. These interactive walls have 46-inch square screens configured in either a two-by-two or three-by-three format. If that is not sufficient enough, custom screens of any size can be created. The wall essentially operates like a large iPad with over two dozen apps that create maps, presentations, and games.

An interactive wall can also be used for many purposes, being educational or for digital signage. If used for a trade show, the wall can display logos and information specific to a certain vendor. What we love most is that it enables planners to present their ideas in a digital way specific to their themes, while also providing sponsorship and advertising opportunities. To learn more about how this interactive wall works, check out the video below!

Would you try an interactive wall at your next event? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter!

ABCey’s Weekend Lineup 12.6.13 – 12.8.13

There’s a ton of fun events taking place all over San Francisco this weekend, as usual. We’ve got a holiday tradition at Yerba Buena, a fun athletic event benefiting the Make-A-Wish foundation, a couple of amazing music performances, and of course an awesome vendor fair. Not to mention, we have a special featured event by DISTRIKT that you just can’t miss!

FEATURED EVENT: Distrikt Holidaze Koktail Party | Saturday, December 7 | 161 Erie St | Time to get all gussied up and fancy schmancy! This awesome event boasts a great list of DJ’s to perform including: DJ Kramer, Ben Seagren, Matt Kramer and many more! Better yet, all proceeds go to DISTRIKT and Make-A-Wish Foundation. Make sure to get tickets at a great price online, but don’t worry, because you can still get them at the door! Don’t miss out on this one of a kind holiday event!

1. The Velveteen Rabbit: 25th Anniversary | Friday, December 6 | 11am | Yerba Buena Center for the Arts | Head on down to the Yerba Buena Center for this beloved Bay Area holiday tradition. Told though music, dance and a powerful narrative, The Velveteen Rabbit celebrates the unique relationship between a little boy and his stuffed rabbit, and the enduring power of love. The classic festive costumes and madcap characters definitely bring the perfect amount of holiday cheer!

2. Brave the Bay 2013| Saturday, December 7 | 11am | San Francisco Aquatic Park | Attendees choose which athletic event most appeals to them – or they can participate in all of the activities in the “Santa Triathlon!” Come as a spectator (it’s free to watch) or join the fun to help raise money for Make-A-Wish. You’ll be helping grant wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions. This active, festive holiday-themed event is perfect for San Franciscans of any age!

3. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Tour | Saturday, December 7 | 8pm | Bill Graham Civic Center | Experience a totally different form of music and appreciate a genre beyond its limitation by getting tickets to this Macklemore and Ryan Lewis show. The duo linked up in order to create their unique debut EP titled VS. Witness the coming together of hot genres such as contemporary, and Hip-Hop while also experiencing other less familiar genres. It’s definitely a show you wouldn’t want to miss!

4. Lights Down Low | Saturday, December 7 | 10pm | Monarch | This weekend two popular acts, from slightly different spectrums of the musical scale, will come together for an amazing event. Deniz Kurtel, who is a huge fan of Burning Man and is often the featured centerpiece of Wolf + Lamb, is bringing her influences of deep house music. The other act, Pictureplane, will bring his music mixes that include dark synth, new wave, pop and progressive house music. It should be exciting to see how these two artists will work together this weekend.

5. SF Made | Sunday, December 8 | 10am – 5pm | Fort Mason Center | Check out San Francisco’s favorite local holiday fair. You can discover locally made gift items from 50 different vendors including: jewelry, apparel, gourmet gifts, chocolate and more! Also new this year, enjoy hot mulled wine from Sutton Cellars and yummy holiday knishes from King Knish.

Let us know where you’ll be heading this weekend! Leave us a comment below, or on Facebook & Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: Brightbox

There’s so much social media activity at events now-a-days. Anywhere you look, someone is posting a picture on Instagram, commenting on Facebook, or retweeting something on Twitter with their smartphone. One major downside to this is how quickly battery life decreases. Unfortunately, it’s not really safe or practical to leave your phone charging by some random outlet. This is why we think Brightbox would be perfect to have at any event.

Brightbox helps eliminate the issue of having to wait by your phone at a charging station. It has 6 built-in secure charging stations so users can leave their phone for a few minutes, or even a few hours. All users have to do is unlock a compartment with the use of their credit card. If the event is sponsored by a vendor, charging is actually free for attendees. So, the credit card simply acts as a key. The great thing about Brightbox is that it charges a flat fee as long as the device is plugged in.

We think this device would be a really great tool to have at any event. It lets users charge their phones without having to be restricted to one part of the venue. What do you think about Brightbox? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter!

Startup Monday: Lyft

Startup Monday is ABCey’s weekly post that features some of the best and brightest companies in the Bay Area. They are often companies that we have our eye on or have worked with in the past & would like to share with friends and followers of ABCey Events.

The life of an event planner can be really hectic at times. On top of all the meetings, to-do lists and site visits, we are often on the go. The only difficult thing about traveling, especially in San Francisco, is finding a great, affordable way to get to your destination. Thankfully Lyft is here to help!

Lyft is quickly rising up to be a successful startup founded on a simple idea. Their goal is to set up everyday car owners with people who need rides. Lyft is great because it does not require users to flag down cars or call a taxi company. Instead, it simplifies everything through it’s mobile application where users can create an account and add their personal credit card information. They can then link to their Facebook or LinkedIn accounts.

Once a ride is requested, it show users a picture of the driver, but also of the car that will be picking them up. Cars usually have a hot pink mustache attached to the front, so that they’ll be easy to spot! Once the car arrives, passengers are encouraged to sit in the passenger seat to help build a reputation with the driver. At the end of the ride, donations are suggested but not mandatory.

There are a few other ride-sharing companies out there, such as Uber, however there are some major differences. Lyft is said to be more laid back with a fleet of compact cars, and drivers are even said to give their passengers a fist-bump when they first get in! Uber on the other hand is more reserved (passengers sit in the backseat). Lyft drivers can receive donations whereas Uber automatically adds a 20% tip.

Next time we do a site visit, we will definitely give Lyft a try. It would also be great for our event attendees, since we all know how limited parking is in San Francisco. What do you think about this ride-sharing service? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook or Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: Google Glass

I remember walking around downtown San Francisco one afternoon, and I saw a guy that looked just like the guy from Star Trek. No, it wasn’t because he was wearing a black and yellow outfit. It was actually because he was wearing some weird contraption around his eyes. Turns out those are, what we call today, the Google Glass.

We’re sure you’ve seen the Google Glass, or if not, at least heard of it. However some people don’t really quite get it. Instead of being glued to your laptop or smartphone, Google wanted to create a hands-free way for people to still stay connected. However this technology isn’t without some downsides. Read on to see our breakdown of the Glass’ pros and cons.

Pros:

1. Convenience: As we mentioned before, it really gives users the chance to do things such as email, text, or take pictures, without the need of pulling out their phone. Users can do those things instantaneously by pushing a button, giving verbal commands or by small head movements.

2. Multitask: How many times have you had to fumble with your navigation system to look for directions? Or, how quickly did you have to flip through your cookbook to find how much liquid to add before everything gets burned? Well now you can use the glass to find things like directions or recipes immediately, without having to take your eyes off what you’re doing.

3. Open Platform: This is really great for companies and developers that want to implement new applications and programs. Thanks to this new technology, the sky is the limit for what people can create.

Cons:

1. Privacy: The video and camera could present a possibility for misuse. One could be recording someone else in a public place without them knowing.

2. Stress: Wearing the glasses all day and having the computer right in front of your eye might not be too good. This will definitely lead to social and information overload. The lack of winding down periods, like being fully disconnected from technology, is said to increase stress and anxiety in people.

3. Price: It’s estimated that these glasses will be $1,500. That’s a huge amount of money for a specific technology. Therefore not everyone will be able to get one. Fortunately the glasses are made with common parts that can be easily made in large quantities. Hopefully this will eventually help lower the starting cost of the glasses.

We think the Google Glass is a great invention. Of course it has some flaws, but the potential things we can do to change technology are endless. We’re sure the Glass would be fun to experiment with at one of our events, but for now we can’t seem to get over how ridiculous they look! What do you think about Google Glass? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

Startup Monday: Stripe

Imagine being a couple of young 20-something’s trying to make a difference in the e-commerce industry. Now, imagine taking on one of the biggest companies in the online payment industry, PayPal. It’s sure easier said than done. However, it’s exactly what Stripe co-founders John and Patrick Collison are trying to accomplish!

Shortly after moving to San Francisco, the Collison brothers realized that taking credit card payments requires way too much work – you would either need a merchant account, PayPal or Google checkout account. Why not make things easier? The brothers realized if business owners embedded code into their website, they can start running credit card payments on their own. This company’s new technology is really great because it allows for payments to be distributed to multiple bank accounts. This is currently a big issue for other start ups like Lyft, which tries to pay drivers with different accounts.

What’s really great about Stripe is that it allows you to do more than a one-time charge to a customer’s card. You can set up a subscription that will charge the card a specific amount at any interval. It also safely stores credit card information so that customers don’t have to enter it every time they visit the website.

This company has already gotten so much attention in a short span of time. It’s even gained a number of high profile clients, like Foursquare, Shopify, and the Museum of Modern Art. Although it’s still in its early stages, Stripe is definitely set to change the face of how businesses work.

What do you think of Stripe? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter.

ABCey’s Weekend Lineup 11.22.13 – 11.24.13

The weekend is just around the corner and we couldn’t be more excited! Just in time for the holiday spirit, we’ve got everything from a tree lighting ceremony, an SF Opera performance to a massive wine tasting event. Keep reading to find out more of ABCey’s fave picks!

1. Poolside DJ Set | Friday, November 22 | 9pm | Audio Discotech | Just because the weather has gotten colder, doesn’t mean we can’t enjoy summer-sounding music. This Los Angeles duo, also known as Poolside, is set to bring what they call ‘daytime-disco’. Their music will bring you straight to the beach or the pool party, or wherever you find your sunny paradise!

2. Pier 39’s Tree Lighting Ceremony | Saturday, November 23rd | 3pm | Pier 39 | Come down to the Pier for their annual tree lighting ceremony! There will be a ton of activities for the kids, such as a meet and greet with friends from the Disneyland Resort. There will also be performances from local Bay Area choirs. Make sure you stick around to the end of the night to watch the 60ft majestic Christmas tree lighting ceremony!

3. Monarch 2 Year Anniversary | Saturday, November 23rd | 10pm | Monarch SF | Time flies when you’re having fun! Come celebrate with the club that has seamlessly changed the face of the San Francisco night life scene. This party will not only feature some of the hottest DJs, but also Monarch’s friend Danny Daze. Get ready for a great night of dancing and celebrations!

4. San Francisco Vinters Market | Saturday, November 23rd – Sunday, November 24th | 12 – 4pm | Fort Mason Center | This is the first and only wine tasting and buying event in the Bay Area. Up to 200 wineries from Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Santa Barbara and beyond will be pouring their favorite wines including new releases, special collections and hard to find vintages for you to taste and buy!

5. SF Opera presents The Barber of Seville | Sunday, November 24th | 2pm | War Memorial Opera House | Enjoy a wonderful performance by the San Francisco Opera. Along with the romantic and melodic voices come impressive stage and costume designs. They cleverly transform from white to bright colors as the evening progresses. If you’ve never been to the opera before, this would definitely be a great experience for you!

We’ve definitely got a great weekend ahead. Where do you plan on going? Leave us a comment below or on Facebook & Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: Wifarer

If you’re anything like me, figuring out directions isn’t my strong point. I can somehow manage to end up on the complete opposite direction of where I’m supposed to be. That’s why I always have Google maps by my side! Unfortunately, I have this same problem when I’m inside really big venues. Thankfully there’s a new app called Wifarer, and it turns indoor mapping into an experience all on it’s own.

There are a few businesses that have indoor maps, like Google, however Wifarer takes it a step further. It actually makes sure you understand where you are. In order to do this, Wifarer has done three amazing things:

It created a way to find locations indoors without GPS.
It has drawing maps so detailed that they can guide you to anywhere you want to go, from the nearest bathroom to the emergency exit.
There isa ton of proximity-based content, just like if you were to walk past a sculpture, Wifarer can tell you all about it.

This can also be extremely useful for users when they attend events. Event planners can incorporate this app by including turn-by-turn directions inside the venue. They can also include location-specific content, such as information on a certain exhibitor when they walk past the booth. Planners can also charge exhibitors for what they want to share through the app, such as photos or videos.

We love this idea and can’t wait to test it out at our next big event. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

Startup Monday: Blacklist

Customer service is such an important aspect for any business to have. Well, what happens if the business doesn’t live up to your expectations? There’s now a place, called Blacklist, where you can go to vent your frustrations. Unlike Yelp where users can list what’s great and not so great about businesses, Blacklist focuses on user opinions to fight back solely on unsatisfactory business practices.

Some people call the Blacklist the “digital megaphone” for people to get heard by speaking out and making sure their voices get heard. Was the waitress extremely rude? Or, did no one offer help while you were shopping? You can now say something through their recently launched beta feed. There, users can notify other people of their unpleasant experiences with a certain company either online or through social media.

The great thing about Blacklist is that it creates a community of users that had a similar experience. It helps to offer a “power in numbers” dynamic. This way, companies will be able to see how the consumers really feel and hopefully do their best to make up for the grievances. Nothing feels better than knowing a company really cares and wants to improve their business for their consumers.

We think this is a great tool for users to have. Would you voice your opinions on Blacklist? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!

ABCey’s Weekend Lineup: 11.15.13 – 11.17.13

Another weekend is coming up and we can’t be more excited! If you’re having difficulty making up your mind on what to do, let ABCey help you. We’ve got a list of awesome events that include helping a child’s wish come true to experiencing breathtaking theatrical performances. Read on to find out what else we have in store!

1. Make A Wish Day: SF Becomes Gotham City for Miles | Friday, November 15th | 10:30am – 2pm | Union Square or San Francisco City Hall | Watch as San Francisco becomes transformed into a real life Gotham City. The special role of Batman will be played by none other than a bright, cheerful 5 year old boy named Miles. He suffers from a rare form of Leukemia. So the Make-A-Wish Foundation is doing their part to help make sure his wish, of being Batman, comes true. The public is welcome to participate and cheer Miles on!

2. Cirque du Soleil: Amaluna | Friday, November 15th | 8pm | AT&T Park | Cirque du Soleil kicks off its newest show, Amaluna, this week in the Bay Area. Come experience an emotional and captivating story featuring some of the world’s best performers and acrobats. If you have never been to a Cirque du Soleil show, you definitely wouldn’t want to miss this!

3. Steve Aoki: Aokify America Tour | Saturday, November 16th | 8pm | Bill Graham Civic Auditorium | EDM party rocker Steve Aoki is back in the Bay Area and is said to have the most insane tour, ever! There will be no shortage of his usual crowd-rafting, cake-throwing, champagne spraying antics. However according to Aoki, he definitely has a few more surprises up his sleeve!

4. West Coast Craft | Saturday, November 16th – Sunday, November 17th| Fort Mason Center | This craft and design show will feature carefully selected designers, artists, and craftspeople living and working on the West Coast. Using a variety of mediums, including wood, metal, leather and paper, these designers create singular items that exemplify the mood and aesthetics of their West Coast lifestyle.

5. 2013 Korean Cultural Day Festival | Sunday, November 17th | Union Square | Come celebrate traditional and modern Korean culture. This free cultural festival includes a colorful Royal March with the Korean Dynasty’s costume parade, K-Pop music and dance, traditional folk music and dance performances. There will also be a ton of delicious food for visitors to try!

Where do you plan on going this weekend? We’d love to hear it! Let us know below or on Facebook or Twitter!