Report from HCEA

Our colleague Corbin Ball was at the HCEA show this past week and filed a report for us.

HCEA stands for the Health Care Exhibitor's Association (www.hcea.org). This annual event is a conference between health care industry people who exhibit at trade shows and events and the suppliers of the exhibit industry.

Corbin reports:

"It was a quick in-and-out for me so I did not get the full feel. I don't have the attendance figures, but it seem about the same as past years (around 700 people). The exhibit (floor) also seemed about the same size as in past years. I did not see anything new on the floor in terms of event technology, however. Twitter is just starting to catch on at HCEA with Freeman using it to bring people by their booth. All in all, it was a good time."

Steady attendance, continued discussions, low-key introductions of technologies. Steady is good.

TTSG

Thanks to Corbin Ball, CMP, CSP, technology speaker and consultant from Bellingham, WA (www.corbinball.com)

At the Exhibitor's Show, Day 4: Top Technology Trends

Technology is transforming trade shows and events.....okay, now I've stated the obvious.

However, I didn't realize in how many ways until I listened to Corbin Ball's presentation. His reverse Top 10 format was a good way to get to the point. But, I tell ya, I felt like I was under an avalanche of information. But, such is technological change.

He did it the best way by saying up front, "hey, I've got all of these" cataloged at my website (www.corbinball.com). Saves a lot of rehash. But I would like to give my Thinking In Threes take on the key things I came away with:

1. We (as events and TS people) can't ignore Web 2.0
2. We need to push for universal retrieval devices or standards from our organizers
3. Virtual will ever replace face-to-face business

Lesson learned: Technology is great but let's not forget it really is a sharper pencil for us to use. Just be sure and use it.

TTSG