In the spirit of our weekly grammar notes, the resident tech experts on our Event Technology team send out periodic updates on current trends in the tech world and their impact on the industry. This week, we unpack a hot industry topic: the Internet of Things.

Internet of Things (IoT)

In its simplest form, this is the concept of connecting any device that has a power switch to the Internet and/or to another device. This includes EVERYTHING with an on/off switch: your coffee maker, washing machine, living room lamp, wearable devices… almost anything you can imagine. Basically, if it has an on and off switch (or even is an on/off switch like the light switch in my house) then chances are it can be a part of the IoT. Gartner predicts that by 2020 there will be more then 26 billion connected devices… some put this number even higher. The IoT is a giant network of connected “things” and the relationships that these things have with people and other connected things is advancing at a very rapid pace. Many people are taking advantage of things like having their front porch and foyer lights turn on when their cell phone arrives home, or getting a $70 credit on your power bill for connecting PGE with your NEST thermostat so your air conditioner uses less power during peak times. This technology is changing the ways we interact with objects, and allowing objects to interact with one another.

This obviously can create opportunities to create even more engaging experiences for attendees at an event, and we are are continually seeking information about exciting ways that people are using this technology within a crowded space. Bandwidth and responsiveness are 2 major concerns within an event space, so we are looking for solutions that have several implementations under their belt to ensure that they understand the demands of an event space. Stop by and see us if you want to see an example in an event space, or have an example of something that was done within an event space…

Partner Highlight: Quickmobile

We have just completed an upgrade of our Quickmobile container application to their newest platform. Opus Agency has it’s own application available in both the Apple and Android app stores, as well as offering a mobile web friendly version that doesn’t require downloading an application, so check us out. This is a highly cost-effective solution to bring to you clients by utilizing an app that is already built and available in the application stores, where we can create a fully branded event app experience within the existing application by simply managing the content in the Quickmobile CMS. Check out the download page and let us know if you want to see a sample event.