The event industry makes use of new technology to give events that extra push to make them memorable and extraordinary. So what types of technology can we use at events? We can divide them roughly into the following categories:
– Sound
– Lighting
– Special Effects
– Scene and Automation
– Video and Projections
– Online Streaming
– Interaction
Sound
There is not much innovation happening within the sound category. The most important trend are the ‘newer’ sound desks and software which can influence the budget, but give event planners and their partners more flexibility and convenience during an event.
The latest sound desks and software allow for the memorization of settings, which eases the work during events involving complex scripts that involve many artists. One example is IRIS – Net, which allows audio systems with a multitude of similar or different devices to be configured, supervised and controlled centrally from a single user interface. Another trendy sound technology piece is Feonic’s Whispering Window surface transducers which turn surfaces into large speakers.
Lighting
It’s safe to say LED (light-emitting diode) is leading here. LED lighting is budget friendly since it has low energy use levels, a high life span, low heat release and low noise levels. LED lighting devices are compact and packed with functions. Some devices you’ll have to look into are the Mac III, Mac 350 and Mac Aura. Madrix is the software that will become your best buddy if you’re into LED pixel mapping.
Now, let’s look at some LED pixel mapping controlled by Madrix.
Special Effects
Special effects include:
– Pyrotechnics
– Lasers
– Air
– Foam
– Holograms, Fog, Mirrors
Pyrotechnics allow for many and different event solutions. Most of the devices used for pyrotechnics actually have a low energy usage and aren’t as harmful as they may seem. However, do hire professionals to install and operate them. Outdoor pyrotechnics usually get associated with fireworks, but there are many other types of pyrotechnics that you can use both outside and indoors. For example, you can try hiring confetti producers. Confetti comes in all shapes, sizes and colors and you can use them to create a joyful and cheerful atmosphere, especially if you spray them around the audience. There are also state pyrotechnics, flash pots, flame shooters, gerbs, waterfalls, airburst, and, of course, you can also hire a flame artist to do his magic.
Here’s an example of waterfalls (the reverse version of gerbs).
We move on to the next element – Air. You can create wind and air effects with fans and blowers that use compressed air. To make your show even better, you can fill a whole dance floor with foam thanks to a beast called the Super Foam Dome. It can create over 500 cubic feet of foam per minute and this is what it looks like:
For fog effects you have quite a choice – low fog effect, mist, water mist, smoke effects, dry ice, liquid CO2 fog and others. You can choose how long you want the effect to last for with great precision, which is a great plus. Fog effects are harmless and can be used to induce a variety of emotions, mainly they get used for tension and suspense.
When it comes to holograms you should be well aware of Tupac’s hologram performance at Coachella. There are countless possibilities that visualization technology brings. Musion have a number of 3D holographic projection systems which come at quite the price, though their EyeCandy is a smaller and a more cost effective holographic display technology.
Musion also offer live holographic transmission, or telepresence, which can bring people together regardless of their location. As the holographic technology gets advanced, it is likely to become more cost effective and the meeting and events industry is definitely facing some groundbreaking discoveries here.
Scene and Automation
Introducing moving elements and automation is pretty powerful. These can include moving screens, curtains, covers and many others. The musical We Will Rock You is an example of perfect scene automation, where the whole stage is turning in front of the eyes of the audience.
So, how does it all work? With some help from devices that have the capacity of controlling everything at once – sound, video, lights. One example of such a software is Medalion.
Video and Projection
When it comes to video and projections, there is something awesome entering the market. That awesome something are OLED bending displays. There have been some arguments as to whether or not OLED screens have good video quality, but in any case the technology is developing and improving rapidly. For projection the trends are towards LED screens, multimedia projectors and laser holograms. LED screens are scalable and can be installed at various places. Multimedia projectors are used not only for mapping but on all screens. Projectors are getting more powerful with every new edition and the resolution has gone far beyond HD. Laser projectors have a lower capacity, however they are smaller in size and have lower consumption values.
Online streaming
Online streaming is not new by any means, but here’s a couple of things to consider for your event streaming:
– How many viewers do you expect?
– How long will the stream last?
– What will the quality of the stream be?
– Will the stream be available on mobile devices?
Transmitting a quality signal can be quite a challenge and that is why you should use optic cables as opposed to LAN. Another new technology in this field is HDBaseT. HDBaseT allows one LAN cable to replace multiple.
Interaction
Interaction with the audience can be achieved in an infinite amount of creative ways. Some of the most popular events that encourage audience interaction, and application of new technology, are product launches. Check out how Ford made use of technology at their Ford Detroit Show to create content and value for visitors.
The evolution of online event registration services…
Before choosing your event management and ticketing software look thoroughly for a solution that will actually work for you. Take into consideration the options you are offered and the corresponding pricing. You should choose the solution that offers you the most flexibility and customization options. Weemss gives organizers complete control over their events, data, and revenue, as well as a number of features designed specifically to allow organizers around the globe to make the absolute most from their events.
Image credit: Erkan Utu | CC0 License
