Technology is now one of the key elements of a successful and unprecedented event. As this is an integral part of our lives, it is not at all surprising that your guests expect your event to include its share of innovation as well. If virtual reality or video mapping may be the first technologies that come to mind to inject digital into your event, we bet you hadn't thought of some of the ideas we are going to offer you! Ready to take a look at the events of the future? Let's go!

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3 reasons why you should include technology in your event

To make your events more interactive

The participants in an event no longer have the same position as before. While they were primarily spectators, they are now asking to take part in the experience, to be part of it. It's no longer just about getting information, but also about making your voice heard and getting involved. Therefore, you will quickly lose their attention if you maintain their passivity by asking them to sit for an hour listening to a speaker, for example. Technology is an effective way to create interactions with them and continue to arouse their curiosity. We'll give you examples of this a bit below!

To offer a timeless experience

Whatever the objective of your event, you certainly also want to give your guests a good time. To do this, you must succeed in getting them out of their daily lives by offering them something that they are not used to seeing or doing. Technology is a valuable tool to invite them to exploring new dimensions, to immerse them in a world that is not theirs and that should therefore leave them with an unforgettable memory.

On this subject, we recommend that you read our article on the benefits of immersive events. In this one, we give you other ideas for experiences to give to your guests, and you will find that these are not necessarily linked to technology.

To modernize your brand image

By incorporating technology into your event, you are showing your desire to innovate and stay at the forefront of technological advances. This approach reinforces the image of your brand by positioning it as being modern, dynamic and future-oriented.

10 ways to integrate technology into your event

Virtual reality

You couldn't pass up; virtual reality (VR) is one of the hottest technologies of our time. Thanks to a helmet allowing a 360° vision, we can dive into computer simulations that sometimes seem more real than life. VR is of interest to individuals as well as businesses, who use it for example to present their latest products, offer a show or boost a decor.

Virtual reality is different from Augmented reality, which enriches reality with virtual events.

Virtual experience at Galeries Lafayette

Video mapping

Video mapping is an artistic technique that consists of project images onto a real surface in 2D or 3D, such as a building, an object, or a natural environment. Decorations similar to optical illusions are thus created by mappers videos. They virtually model the surface they are working on, then design the video animations that will be projected on top of it. Video mapping is often accompanied by a soundtrack that reinforces the immersion of the experience.

3D mapping on Notre Dame Cathedral in Strasbourg

The drones

We can make them draw shapes, write words or even use them as a countdown: the shows offered by drones have no limits, except for the imagination of drone choreographers (yes yes, it's a real job!). A technological feat thanks to which you can illuminate your event and affirm your CSR strategy because, as Erwan Grimaud, manager of MC-Clic, indicates: “For a duration of seven minutes, a traditional fireworks display emits 24,000 grams of CO2, and heavy particles. For the same duration of the show, show rejects... zero.”

The majestic drone show in the sky over Shanghai

By the way, drones are also a great option for Take great photos !

The holograms

Holograms are 3D images projected into the air thanks to a holographic projector. This technology consists - for one of its techniques, but there are multiple techniques - of a system of propellers on which LEDs are arranged. The propeller then starts to rotate until it becomes invisible to our eye, which can only perceive the image created by the LEDs. Impressive, isn't it? The technique of Pepper's Ghost (or Pepper's ghost) uses a semi-reflective plate and specific lighting techniques. The result is the appearance of objects or people that are not physically present. This is how, for example, Michael Jackson came back to life during a show in 2014!

Artificial intelligence

You can exploit the possibilities offered by artificial intelligence (AI) by integrating functionalities such as Chatbots to answer participants' questions. Another option for using AI are personalized recommendation systems to guide your guests to the activities that best suit them (during a festival for example). Artificial intelligence also makes it possible to do analyses in real time to get in-depth information on everyone's preferences and behaviors. For example, as part of a trade show, you could identify the most popular conferences, understand attendees' content preferences, or even adjust activities based on live feedback. These analyses allow you to better understand your audience and to optimize the overall experience of your event.

Animating robots

Let's go up a notch in terms of artificial intelligence with this guest who will surely not be expected by the rest of your guests! Equipped with sensors and cameras, some robots are able to welcome you, provide you with information, and offer you activities. Some may even Recognizing emotions like joy, sadness, or anger. In fact, we present to you Pepper, a 1.20 meter humanoid robot equipped with all these skills!

Pepper interview at Darty

Digital and hybrid events

The number of digital and hybrid events exploded during the various lockdowns due to the health crisis. The UNEXPECTED agency was at the forefront of this turning point (140 digital services carried out in 2020 and 2021)! Events had to reinvent itself overnight to continue to maintain the link during this timeless period. It was necessary to redouble our inventiveness to create highlights from a distance. This has been possible thanks to creative ideas like the Shooting an interactive TV show, the organization of online games or even the sending of goodies to each participant.

Digital events remain interesting mainly for companies whose teams are spread over different territories or in the context of conferences.

Wearable technology

Translated by “wearable technology”, wereable refers to connected objects or clothing, comprising advanced computer and electronic elements for this purpose. Wearable devices record what we see, our heart rate, breathing rate, hours of sleep, and even our sense of well-being or stress. The industry offers various types of wearables: from bracelets, necklaces, rings and earrings to clothing, and of course watches.

A well-known example of wearable is that of LED wristbands carried by the crowd at Coldplay concerts. Creating waves of colored light, the bracelets are synchronized with a radio transmitter allowing them to be manipulated according to the music. We let you discover the beauty of performance!

Coldplay - A Sky Full Of Stars (Live at River Plate)

The Social Wall

A Social Wall (or engagement wall) content collection (photos, texts, videos...) published by the participants in your event, with their agreement, to broadcast it in real time on a screen. It can help create a sense of community and allows you to animate the decor of your event.

The fogscreen

The fogscreen is a projection screen made of smoke, which allows you to get through. The idea and the implementation are not that complicated, but you had to think about it!

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Let's recap! By integrating innovative technological solutions, event organizers can offer an enriching, interactive and memorable experience to their participants. The use of technology also improves engagement, promotes exchanges and strengthens relationships between the guests. More generally, we can also see that technology simplifies organizational processes, optimizes communication, and expands the audience thanks to online broadcasting.

By adopting a forward-thinking approach, businesses strengthen their brand image by demonstrating their commitment to innovation. Thus, by exploiting the potential of technology, events are reinventing themselves and offering unique experiences that will - we hope - mark people's minds.