#TechTuesday: Oculus Rift For Your Next Event

#TechTuesday 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!

Are you watching an event or hosting a virtual business meeting? You might wonder, “Where’s the interaction? I feel as if I’m barely there!” Well, that may change soon as Oculus VR, whom produces Oculus Rift, is pushing to provide consumers affordable virtual reality. Oculus Rift is a headset that provides users the ability to be immersified into virtual reality, and will serve as a means to offer something new and immersive to live audiences. Why not feel as if you are actually there to obtain a better experience?

Despite Oculus Rift being advertised for the gaming community, it has been successfully able to extend to other areas, one being EVENTS! With the inclusion of videos and other social features, the potential is vast!

The sky’s the limit with Oculus Rift!

Many large events have often had trouble with increasing the venue size with the surplus of attendees.
Well, no longer! Oculus Rift allows visitor numbers to increase with no limit as visitors attend the event online. This boosts the attendance rate and can provide an unforgettable experience for everyone.

What should you know to prepare for such an awesome technology?

CieEvents proposes that the event management team should be aware that there may be some work involved in order to have stable and accessible virtual reality throughout the event. With both live and virtual attendance, host companies may go all in with their event budget, implementing more massive and engaging events.

How it works:

After purchasing Oculus Rift, set up the hardware by plugging in all of the required adapters and wires. Users may then install any software needed from the Oculus Website. After completing the installation, restart the computer. Any games or applications that is in the Oculus Store may be purchased on the website. The user is now able to set his/her headset to delve into virtual reality.

Why we love it:

Oculus Rift grants exciting technology for the future. It would not only allow people to feel more of a connection to the event, but also provides an enhanced experience. This is not a typical event/meeting that the user would experience. It would feel more real enhancing your visual senses!

What are your thoughts on Oculus Rift? Let us know on Facebook and Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: Maptiv8

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!

In today’s events world, we are always looking for ways to engage event attendees. Maptiv8, founded by Seth Familian of Familian&1, is a new private directory visualization platform for students, alumni, event attendees, and supporters.

The Map Admin sets branding and adds the member list, which enables you to visualize the list in an appealing and simple way. Maptiv8 will then invite members via email, and reveal affinities within the community. Once members sign in with Facebook, LinkedIn, or email, the map will automatically take shape! This ignites connections and actions among the Map members.

Some of Maptiv8’s powerful features are an easy 30-second profile setup, activity feeds and profile notes, up to three custom affinity groups which can be based off of cities, industries, or companies, campaigns and events, and volunteer tools to drive engagement.

What’s great about this platform is there are three different options that can be used based on the type of groups you are involved with. GradMap is designed for students, alumni, faculty and staff. OrgMap is for members and supporters of both non-profits and for-profits. RSVPeeps is for attendees of events and conferences to utilize, which will enable event networking!

The pricing is straightforward and aligned with the number of Map members. Mini is used for up to 100 members, Midsize is up to 500 members, and Mega is up to 5,000 members. We love Maptiv8 because it has so much versatility and adheres to audiences made up of different groups and sizes!

Would you use Maptiv8 to engage your attendees?! Which features do you like best? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!

Top 10 Event Tech Trends in 2014

The incredible advances in technology bring value and versatility to the event industry. At ABCey, we love keeping up on the latest in the tech world! While 2013 was filled with innovation, we can expect even more in 2014. Here are the top event tech trends to keep an eye on in the year ahead. This blog post has been adapted from George P. Johnson’s Kevin Jackson, Adding Value’s Randle Stonier, and TFI Group’s Simon Maier.

1. Event Apps: These innovative platforms cover everything from event itineraries to delegates being able to download files relevant to presenters, and attendees having the ability to directly interact with event speakers!

2. Connected Technology: Clients used to base their budget off of the number of guests they wanted to attend their event. In today’s world, advances in technology allow events to reach so many more people beyond the guest list.

3. Google Glass: Wearable technology, specifically Google Glass, is going to make a big impact on events this year. It will encourage planners to make event experiences more personal.

4. Tailored Social Networks: Public social networks will continue to be used to generate buzz for events. There is a growing number of tailored social networks that have features to connect people before, during, and after an event!

5. E-Posters: With the reduction of costs and advances in e-poster technology, the interactivity and versatility will be a hit for 2014 events!

6. Live Audience Engagement: Mobile apps and SMS texting can now enable guest conversations to be linked directly through to the podium, allowing the speaker to respond to inquiries. This can continue even after the session is over!

7. IPS and Geofencing: Indoor positioning systems lend themselves to plotting where you are in an indoor environment. Geofencing creates a virtual boundary of space so delegates can be given a route to various stands or booths in a venue.

8. Advanced Digital Display: In the events space, we can expect to see various monitors – one could display real-time news and another with content from the event, tied together with software that allows you to change over at the flick of a switch.

9. Spread of Content: It is common for organizers to set up portals such as live streaming and webcasting of live event content for larger audiences to have access to the valuable material. This will continue to be a trend in 2014.

10. Mobile App Integration: A key trend in 2014 will be incorporating more features into mobile apps, such as scientific abstracts, social networking, and interactive content!

What do you think of the top event tech trends for 2014?! Which do you hope to see at events? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: 5 Event Startups to Engage your Audience

The world of technology is constantly changing and is adding value to the event industry! Here at ABCey, we love to keep up on current startups and trends that can enhance the event experience for attendees. We did some digging to find 5 event startups that will engage your audience and make them active participants throughout your event.

1. Postano: Put your attendees in the spotlight and make them feel like social media rockstars through this unique platform! Bring your conversation to life at your next event by showcasing your attendees’ social content, tweets and Instagrams on social media displays. Attendees can actively participate rather than simply listen and this will enrich their experience and create visibility for your event.

2. Catchbox: The world’s first throwable microphone was created for audience engagement. It is a great way to get participants talking! Catchbox lowers the barrier for people to comment and present questions. The box comes in different bright colors and is easy to throw or pass from one audience member to the next, making participation easy and fun!

3. PowerVote: Maximize the value of your event by engaging your audience, encouraging your participants, and encouraging their feedback. If you want your to gather information about your audience’s opinion, PowerVote can instantly display voting results in an graphical format. Presentations can be directly streamed to the audience’s mobile devices and people can vote or provide feedback in the moment.

4. Sopreso: Through this unique platform, your audience can ask, comment, and like your presentation live. Once you develop a presentation and run Sopreso on your laptop, the audience can connect to the presentation with their smart devices. Additionally, this platform extends the lifetime of your presentation! You can easily follow up on your leads, answer all questions, and keep the community alive.

5. TweetWall Pro: A TweetWall offers a great opportunity to interact with audiences. Rather than asking a few audience members questions, inspire all attendees to share their thoughts. People can ask questions on Twitter and get live responses. Interesting topics can quietly be discussed, and interaction is highly encouraged. Onlookers of TweetWalls find it difficult not to participate, inspiring engagement from all viewers. Post event reports allow you to follow up with attendees directly!

With so many advances in technology, passive audience participation is coming to an end. We love each of these startups, and Postano really stands out to us because you can see what people are saying about your event and what popular topics of interest are, as well as create visibility for your event! Which of these unique event startups would you use to engage your audience members? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook and Twitter!

Have You Been Missing Out On Lazy Bear?

San Francisco is one of America’s best cities for foodies as chosen by Travel + Leisure readers! With tons of eclectic restaurants in the Bay Area, it can be tricky to decide where to dine. When we heard about an underground fine dining restaurant, we had to find out more!

Lazy Bear, run by David Barzelay, serves dinner to the public about three weekends per month, typically on Friday, Saturday, and Monday. Reservations are usually closed, so the best way to snag a reservation is to get on the mailing list. With over 10,000 subscribers, you will be one of many to hear about upcoming events.

Each set of dinners is an all-new menu and no dishes are repeated. Lazy Bear is the highest-rated “New American” restaurant in all of San Francisco according to Yelp.com and has been named one of the best underground restaurants in the city.

This unique restaurant usually has 1,000+ waitlists for 120 spots in one weekend. While the public events are popular to say the very least, Lazy Bear also holds private dinners for groups. The team will craft a custom menu for every event, making each experience at Lazy Bear personalized and special.

Here at ABCey, we love to check out restaurants that stand out among others which is why we find Lazy Bear so fascinating! This underground dining experience gained its popularity from word of mouth, so go check it! Let us know what you think in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!

ABCey’s Weekend Line-Up: 6.20.13-6.23.13

This weekend marks the official start of summer! Across the bay area, there are nighttime yacht cruises, a free BBQ, and hackathons galore. Celebrate everyone’s favorite season with ABCey!

1. API Hackday 2013 | Sunday, June 23rd | 8:00 a.m.-5 p.m. | 169 11th St. San Francisco | This all-day coding fest is where to be if you’re a developer who really wants to design apps and mashups with APIs. Admission and all the meals you could want are free so you can focus on creating the next best app! At the end, hackers will present their ideas and creations to the judge panel and have a chance to win some pretty cool prizes.

2. “Grilling in the Mo” Annual Fillmore Summer Fest Kick-Off | Saturday, June 22nd | 1:00 p.m.-5 p.m. | 1900 Geary St. San Francisco | Celebrate the official start of summer with some free BBQ! Bring the kiddos along for face-painting, line dancing, and fun for all.

3. Mobile Commerce World 2013 | Monday, June 24th | 8:00 a.m.-7:30 p.m. | Palace Hotel, San Francisco | Businesspeople in all fields will benefit from learning how to grow and expand their mobile commerce and marketing strategies at Mobile Commerce World. This three-day event will teach you everything to know about developing efficient mobile products and strategies and how to create the “next big thing.”

4. Hack//Meat: Re-imagine the Future of Meat | Friday, June 21st- Sunday, June 23rd | 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. | Institute of Design at Stanford | Food and tech come together in a giant hackathon to decide the future of the meat industry. Everyone from policy experts to technologists and other “steakholders” will be ready to discuss and develop new technologies and tools to progress the meat industry in America.

5. SPLASH! | Friday, June 21st | 7:30 p.m.-10:30 p.m. | 10 Marina Blvd, San Francisco | End your week in a big SPLASH! presented by UCSF’s Partners in Care. Sip champagne while a luxury yacht takes you around the bay to see the Giants game and the beautiful Bay Bridge lights. Proceeds go towards helping families and patient care at UCSF hospitals!

Which event are you most excited for? Tell us in a comment or on Facebook and Twitter!

ABCey’s Weekend Line-Up 6.13.13-6.16.13

If you and dad need some time away from the Father’s Day BBQs, take him to one of the events on ABCey’s Weekend Line-Up! From liquor-themed carnivals to street festivals and every tech event in between, ABCey’s here to amp up your family time this weekend!

1. San Francisco Craft Spirits Carnival | Saturday, June 15th | 1 p.m.-5 p.m. | Fort Mason Festival Pavilion | This is one carnival you definitely don’t want to miss! Try some of the local Bourbon, Whiskey, Tequila and other spirits available for unlimited sample along with your admission. And yes, those are technicolor trapeze artists, that’s not the absinthe talking!

2. GigaOM Structure 2013 | Wednesday, June 19th-Thursday, June 20th | 7 a.m.-6 p.m. | Mission Bay Conference Center at UCSF | From cloud to concept, this year’s theme will track how the real needs of businesses are driving IT construction and development. Speakers include representatives from Google, Amazon.com, and Revlon and startups and tech trailblazers will be recognized during presentations.

3. California Music Industry Summit | Friday, June 14th- Saturday, June 15th | 8 a.m.-5 p.m. | Laney College Theater, Oakland | Attention all music lovers and aspiring rock stars! This Friday, you’ll finally get your shot at stardom when hundreds of people from the music industry come out for a day of workshops, exhibits, and networking. Independent artists from all across America come to sing their hearts out and build relationships with others in the industry. Think of this as American Idol without the catfights.

4. North Beach Festival | Saturday, June 15th- Sunday, June 16th | 10 a.m.-6 p.m. | North Beach District, San Francisco | Take dad to San Francisco’s Little Italy this weekend for Tony’s Pizza and the North Beach Festival. Enjoy the summer sun and bay breeze as you wander through the craft stands and chalk art adorning this charming area of the city.

5. Bloomberg Next Big Thing Summit | Monday, June 17th- Tuesday, June 18th | 7:30 a.m.-9 p.m. | Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay | This hunt for the “next big thing” brings together entrepreneurs and investors to examine the impact of technology and business on innovation and the human experience. Talented journalists, businessmen, and analysts are sure to give conference-goers great insight into forward-thinking strategies for the tech industry’s future.

Would your dad like to go to one of these events? Let us know in a comment or on Facebook and Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: Pucs, Rechargeable Ice

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!

On nice, hot days like this, all we want to do is drink a cool lemonade or pop open an ice-cold drink. We all know the feeling when the ice quickly melts and you’re left with a beverage that’s watered-down and not-so-cold anymore. Pucs reinvents plain, old ice cubes into sleek, innovative “rechargeable” pucks that keep your drink cool and flavorful.

Made out of stainless steel, Pucs is a gradual conductor, meaning that it will chill steadily, evenly, and durably to either cool down your hot coffee or chill your favorite pop. Plus, its 100% stainless steel makeup ensures that your drink will not be diluted and be stripped of any flavor. At ABCey, we love Pucs because this means outdoor events can provide cool drinks without having to deal with the messiness of melting ice and the disappointment of watery fruit punch.

Pucs is revolutionizing our drinks and indoor and outdoor leisure! What do you think of rechargeable ice? Is this something you would test out? Let us know in the comments below or on our Facebook & Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: LIFX

White lights for the minimalists, blue lights for the thinkers, and red lights for the romantics. But you don’t have to stop there. At ABCey, we know just how important lighting it to setting the tone for any event. With LIFX, you can experiment with your basic colors and every shade in between, simply with a tap of the finger.

LIFX is basically the smartest, most versatile lightbulb you’ve ever seen in your life! Installed just like a regular lightbulb, the LIFX smartbulb is wifi-enabled so you can adjust its colors through your mobile device. Whether that means on your laptop or your smartphone, all you need to do is download the free app.

And, it gets even better! With LIFX, you can also adjust brightness and the timing of its brightness, meaning you can sleep to lights that automatically dim or wake up to self-increasing light. A fun feature it offers is music coordination, so you can put together your own light show in your own home or at an event!

LIFX does an excellent job of meshing creativity with user-friendliness. How do you control lighting at your events? Does LIFX do it all? Let us know in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!

Tech Tuesday: Nomad Go Everywhere

What’s a morning without coffee? And a meeting without coffee? And a morning conference without complimentary coffee? Days without a steaming cup of brewed coffee seem challenging at best for those coffee lovers out there, but you’ll never be coffee-less again with the Nomad Go Everywhere espresso machine.

Tiny in size and efficient in coffeemaking, the Nomad Go Everywhere can travel short and long distances literally in your handbag. The Nomad is roughly the size of a 6 inch cube and weighs about 2 ½ pounds. The pump lever produces up to 9 bars of pressure and enables users to have control over the usual mechanical features including water temperature, pressure, flow rate and volume.

All you need is access to hot water, and you don’t even need electricity! Just add your favorite ground coffee to the hot water and pump to get your daily dose. And, it gets better! The Nomad can be accessorized with the True Crema Valve which turns normal coffee into quality espresso.

What does this mean for you? Well this means you’ll never have a cranky morning again. The Nomad can accompany you and your next event whatever the occasion. Whether you’re in a meeting or on the road, or simply need to provide guests with the familiar espresso, rest assured your coffee can follow along wherever you go.

Is this something worth investing in? Let us know what you think of the Nomad Go Everywhere in the comments below or on Facebook & Twitter!