Gaylord National offers the latest in state-of-the-art technology for meetings, working with their internal partner, PSAV, who can assist with everything from small business meeting needs to conventions and conferences. The resort provides everything from lightning, sound, video and exclusive rigging for groups.
Some of the new technology offered on site includes: touch screen monitors; the Catchbox - a throwable microphone for audience participation; video mapping; LED and gobo lighting and more. By offering the newest technology available, meeting planners aren’t limited in turning their dream events into reality.
This September, Gaylord National also is looking to demo a Virtual Button with innovative IR Scanner Technology. This will allow for the projection of a digital wall in mid-air and it is something that no one else is doing at this time.
right now continues to be video projector mapping. Cataldi said that,while the tech- nology is not new, IMS has been develop- ing new,more cost effective ways to help their clients take advantage of the power- ful impact that 3Dmapping can have on a meeting or event.
"Using fixed structures like walls or columns in a room,or even creating them with unordinary objects and then deliver- ing custom content specifically designed to fit these shapes, really leaves lasting impressions on the audiences for whom we have produced events," he said. "We recently worked with Neumann Univers- ity, and they really wanted to 'wow' their audience. Using projection mapping, we were able to take their existing gymnasi- um stage architecture and create motion graphics that ran on it throughout the evening."
"Of course scenic decor and special effect lighting are still key to a produc- tion," he added, "but presenting video content in new ways like mapping is real- ly creating lasting impressions."
Sometimes budgets can be tight, and planners may feel they can't afford to implement a lot of technology as part of their event. But in truth, technology does not have to be out of reach.
The creative team at IMS Technology Services has been able to not only create custom branded applications for their clients, but they have found a number of
50 September October 2015
low cost or free applications that, with custom content,can be very effective.
"This is basically a low cost way of entry into the application world, but it does allow meeting professionals to 'try on,' if you will, an application and to measure its effectiveness before making large investments," noted Cataldi. "While there are limitations, having a partner who knows how to navigate these applications and write code will serve a planner well."
Wildemann said that Advanced Staging can help a planner to prioritize andmake sure that they are getting the most out of technology for their meeting dollar. "The first conversation we have with clients is… what are you trying to accomplish and how can we help you do that most effectively and cost efficiently? If the goal is to get a message across, then video is probably the first area to address. Keeping it simple is the mantra here…good view- ing angles,a bright enough projector and clear content is key."
However, Ryan McLaughlin, vice presi- dent of operations for Advanced Staging Productions, cautioned, “Don’t cut cor- ners by sticking to 4:3 aspect ratios. Your audience is now fully immersed in 16:9 in all aspects of their life, and they expect at least that level of presentation.”
If creating a mood is more critical to the event, then inexpensive lighting options always exist that can transform a room. Washing the walls with gobos, patterns
and colors is still a staple, noted Wildemann. "An LED design will give you ultimate flexibility in programming multi- ple looks for added drama."
Looking to the future, Wildemann said there is a cutting-edge technology on the horizon that is likely to impact the meet- ings and events industry in the coming years. "4K video has been on the verge of breaking out for the past couple of years," noted Wildemann. "More manufacturers are producing projectors and monitors that take advantage of the increased palette offered by this format. The chal- lenge has been enough content tomake it worthwhile, similar to the early days of High Definition. One area where 4K is starting to make an impact is live video where the user can use one wide shot of 4K video and digitally zoom to different areas of the image to produce the effect of a multi-camera shoot, but with fewer cameras and operators."
He added that it takes planning and a spe- cial skill set to maximize the effectiveness of 4K video, but this technology provides the flexibility and cost savings to help it garner acceptance. It also allows for wider screen setups with fewer projectors and less set up time,which is another plus to the bottom line.
Cataldi said that from what he has seen at IMS Technologies, when looking into the future Augmented Reality applications really have the potential to take off within themeetings and events industry. "Like all
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