How Much is Too Much When It Comes to Event Technology?

Technology

A few weeks ago, I picked up on a post about new event technologies that have been proposed for the National Stadium in Tokyo (HQ for the 2020 Summer Olympics). What caught my eye was that one of the proposals called for the installation of toilets in the venue that will record a user’s blood pressure and body temp as they do their business.

However unlikely it is that this particular innovation will actually become a reality in Tokyo or anywhere else, it’s certainly not the only over the top tech I’ve seen in the events industry – and it got me thinking: Is there ever a point with event technology when enough is enough?

Yes …

The salesman in me wants to scream, “NO!” But recognizing my own bias, I decided to pose the question to a couple experts to get a more objective view. Both of them agreed that there is a point when technology at events becomes too much and that point is when it gets in the way of the experience or becomes a distraction.

“People come to events to experience something specific –let’s say a concert or a sporting event,” said event designer and technology consultant, Joe English. “When we start distracting them away from the music or the game, then we’ve crossed over the line.”

As the Chief Creative Officer at Event Futurist consulting, Joe cites the frenzy over AR technology at events over the past few years as an example.

– See more at: TSNN-How much is too much when it comes to technology