It’s time to get techy, planners. The International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) introduces jaw-dropping innovations to the global marketplace every year. As the conference wraps-up today, it’s time to reflect on the full-scope of innovations we can expect over the next 12 months. Consumer technology will certainly thrive this year. And when the tech-world gets a boost, the events industry gets busy. Here are key event planner takeaways from CES 2018.

Watch it on the BIG Screen

Aptly called The Wall, the mega-screen is a whopping 146 inches wide. The size is far from the only selling point. The visuals are crisp, fine-tuned with MicroLED display. Although the price is expected to be quite astonishing, the product is set to roll out in 2018. Event planners can look forward to seeing The Wall in venues in the years to come so now might be the time to start thinking about how to use that colorful space wisely.

Redefine Connectivity

The Sgnl wristband redefines staying connected. The band connects to your phone using Bluetooth, transmitting sound whenever you touch your ear with your finger. So, forget the physical need for receivers in general. The product works by transporting the audio vibrations up your wrist to your finger. Perhaps most importantly, attendees at CES have reported pretty good sound quality.

How will this support the future of event planning? When an event is in full swing, you need to stay connected. Your handy-dandy hand will allow you to do just that. Farewell headsets!

Develop a New Perspective

Rokid’s AR Glasses are just another instance of the push for Augmented over Virtual Reality. Although the clunky design leaves much to be desired, the functionality is remarkable. Running on Wi-Fi, the glasses allow you to look at a person and see all of their social media profile and contact information. The product is expected to be available for purchase in late 2018. Price predictions are around $400, similar to other virtual headsets such as Oculus. No more fumbling introductions while you try to remember a name at a cocktail party.

Watch as Drones Light up the Sky

Are drones the new fireworks? The light-up display over the Fountains at Bellagio on Thursday has us thinking yes. The Intel Corp. display of semiconductors flew 250 light-emitting drones. These light-weight devices, no more than a few pounds, are called “Shooting Stars.” The drone display was featured at the 2017 Super Bowl during Lady Gaga’s performance. It’s also set to light up the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea.

It may be some time before spectacular displays are in the mainstream. But look at the rapid popularization of drones in general. You can purchase one at your local Walmart now.

Roll out the Screens

Can you think of anything cooler than poster-screens? Add in 4K resolution and you have something extremely elegant and practical. Seriously, it can roll up like a poster and roll out as a flat panel TV. The OLED panel, LG Display is the most advanced of its kind.

Order from the Robomart

It’s just the right climate for Robomart. The perfect storm of delivery at its peak mixed with the emergence of self-driving cars made this progression inevitable. Not to mention, the great potential for all types of goods should the product team up with the likes of Amazon and Postmates.

Planners wouldn’t just benefit in their everyday lives. This delivery of goods could be an excellent feature when orchestrating event components. Need an extra cable? The Robomart is on its way.

Let’s Get Over the ‘Booth Babe’

If you’ve been to any tradeshow, you’ve seen them. They’re everywhere. The “booth babe” is the term for an attractive woman whose job is to lure attendees to a booth. Given the current social climate, it’s time to get more creative.

“The booth babe thing is unfortunate and it would be ideal for CES to get rid of all of that—it’s totally unnecessary and people are here to do business,” Lorraine Twohill, Google’s CMO told AdWeek. “I think there’s still a lot of work to be done to make CES feel inclusive of women. If CES genuinely wants to have an event that feels welcoming to women, then you can’t have [booth babes.]”

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