Tech Tuesday: Lightwave

Tech Tuesday highlights the best and brightest ideas in the tech world. ABCey would like to recognize these up and coming technologies for their innovative ideas and impact on the event world!

Gathering data before, during, and after an event can be tricky but always necessary. Here at ABCey, we are constantly on the lookout for new technologies to help us gather event data in order to analyze attendee engagement. We recently came across Lightwave, a wearable technology that does just that!

How it Works: Lightwave is a smart wristband that measures movement, audio levels, temperature, and excitement of wearers. The data gathered allows performers & event organizers to gauge their audience’s interest in a scientific way and enables them to tailor their event accordingly. It aims to provide analytics for live events and artists with real-time data of how the audience is feeling and responding to the entertainment.

Why We Love Lightwave: This new type of experience data can shape the event environment so attendees can connect emotionally with the entertainment and each other. This technology can be applied to all types of live events: concerts, sporting events, conferences- pretty much anywhere where audiences want to feel connected to the live experience! It’s also great for event organizers and performers to have access to data & feedback from the audience to adjust and modify the live experience to make it more enjoyable for attendees! Plus it’s super cool and futuristic design draws attendees in and will be something they will be talking about long after the event ends!

Do you think this wearable device will work for your next event? Would you give it a try?! Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: 3 Technologies to Wow Attendees

Tech Tuesday highlights 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!

As event professionals, we are constantly looking for ways to be creative and offer attendees something unique and special during events. Here at ABCey, we have found three great event technologies to help capture attendee’s attention and increase engagement!

1. Beak Labs| During an event, it is expected to have visuals and pictures but with Beak Labs, the visuals become a story through design and technology using short film, smartphones, and tablets. They combine media and technology to create immersive and interactive digital art experiences for attendees. In addition to video installation, Beak Labs can create “Tweetlantis” and “Planet140”, large-scale digital backdrops showcasing social media during the event. What a cool way to impress your audience and create something they will remember!

2.Blippar | Hosting an event with some big brand name sponsors? Or, just looking for a new way to engage your attendees? Blippar is a free app enabling users to bring the world around them to life using the camera on their smartphone. The app scans and recognizes graphic images such as logos or ads and offers exclusive content and interactive opportunities including games, videos, and virtual photo booths! The content can be anything the brand or event host wants to share and can range from event calendars to a virtual photo frame that can be shared on social media. We love that this app has so many features that can really help create a memorable experience for your attendees.

3. CrowdSync | Ever wish you could see those pictures or video that the person next to you is taking? This app allows users to relive events by merging attendee’s pictures and videos at the same time and same place. When the user uploads their content, it will be matched to other content from the same event. This app is also a great way to connect and expand your network! Let your attendees know about this app and unlock some awesome post event footage.

Would you try any of this event tech for your next event? Let us know in the comments below, or on Facebook and Twitter.

Startup Monday: et al

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.

It has happened to all of us – your friends are planning a group dinner or a special outing and cannot decide what amazing restaurant in San Francisco to try, let alone coordinate a date or time that works well with everybody. This situation typically results in those dreaded long threads of back-and-forth email conversations that overflow your inbox. We believe we have found the perfect phone app that will resolve this issue!

Et al eliminates the email chains and instead give you a way to make plans with your friends in a way that is quick, easy, and most importantly, fun! The phone app allows guests to vote on date, time, and location options. Once votes are in, the details are finalized and an RSVP is requested by everyone. Et al also has text and email syncing capabilities so you’ll never miss an invite! Chat messaging and photo sharing are other features that add to this amazing phone app!

Jenny Hunt founded et al and the app is her vision for a simple and aesthetic experience that makes planning getaways and get-togethers with friends fun again. The app is available on the iPhone and the website offers full functionality as well. Et al is great for hosting a dinner party, bridal parties, weekend trips, or even wine night! We love that et al makes the planning process simple & easy; therefore we can spend more time enjoying the presence of others!

What do you think of et al? Will you be using it for your next get together? Please let us know in comments on Facebook and Twitter!

Illuminode: Mind Glowing Social Technology

Are you looking for something to “brighten up” your next event? Let us introduce you to Illuminode, where lighting meets art, technology and a completely new type of media for socializing. Illuminode creates full-spectrum, interactive LED illumination for fashion, brands, events, artists, architects and beyond. Since we’re fairly concerned with events over here at ABCey, we thought would look into it more for you...

They aren’t just creating “pretty lights” for an event; their initiative is to create a new way for devices to connect and communicate wirelessly to form social relationships the same way that people do. The Illuminode team consists of electrical engineers, logistics specialists, and designers who create these large scale social technologies. One of their first prototypes and one of our favorites are the “Social Umbrellas.” The LED umbrellas are inherently social and will not work alone. When joined by two or more noded umbrellas they explode in a brilliant display of sequenced light!

We also absolutely love the Billion Jelly Bloom projects where Illuminode integrates their wireless Blinkternet modules into the wonderful creatures to provide a brand new interactive experience!

Illuminode devices should have particular appeal to event planners with their easy and simple set-up. Do you think you will try this “mind-glowing social technology” for your next event? How do you think your audience/guests could use these devices to interact, or to help facilitate and reinforce relationships? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!