19April 2019CXO INSIGHTSBy KenStockdell, AIA, LEED AP BD+C HKS Vice President Director of Convention CentersTechnology has been a hot topic in the convention and meetings industry for many years. This conversation has encompassed a broad range, from the potential demise of the industry resulting from the ability to hold web-based meetings to whether Wi-Fiaccess must be free. Based on industry research over the past several years, the concerns about a technology-driven end to the face-to-face meetings industry have been abandoned. Even with the gradual rise of generations who have grown up in a technology-saturated culture, the desire to meet face-to-face is still strong and perhaps even growing. Now the conversation has turned to how technology provides enhancements to face-to-face meetings and other live events. Two emerging technologies are hot topics in the industry today ­ Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR). Experiments with both technologies are happening in facilities and at events.Because of the devices required to support VR, mainly goggles of some form, this technology is primarily an individual experience not well-suited for group gatherings. This will remain true until the technology for multiple users in the same virtual environment matures and becomes more affordable. One way Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) and Its Impacts on Meetings and EventsKenStockdell
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