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Insights on events, technology, and the future of gathering
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Insights on events, technology, and the future of gathering
Quick answer: schools’ rapid shift to virtual learning during the 2020 lockdown forced classrooms to be rebuilt around cameras, displays, WiFi and collaboration software. Canapii believes events are heading the same way: conference centers and hotels will need similarly equipped meeting rooms, because the future of events is hybrid.
Slightly nervous children have been heading back to class in recent weeks, and the lucky ones are discovering that their school was transformed while they were away. Those transformed classrooms tell event organizers a lot about where meetings and conferences are heading next.
Education was probably the most impacted of all industries by the global lockdown during 2020, partly because the education systems of most countries had fallen so far behind in their use of technology. Countries with the resources to invest in education woke up to a historic chance to reinvent the school system, discovering that many children equipped with laptops can study successfully from home, at least for some of the time.
Teachers went through an accelerated learning curve too, learning how to use Teams, video, OneNote and audio recording. They discovered how much easier their lives are when children submit homework digitally, ideally via Google Apps or Office365. Children, in turn, found it much easier to save all their lessons and notes on a computer than to search through an exercise book.
Many teachers and schools will not want to go back to the way they taught before, even with the kids back in front of them. This is driving a redesign of the classroom, which suddenly needs:
Large digital displays and powerful speakers
WiFi, cameras and lapel microphones
Styluses and audio mixing capabilities
Cybersecurity and SaaS subscriptions
Soundproofing, so lessons are not polluted by what is happening next door
So why have the challenges of the classroom set the brains at Canapii whirling? Because we passionately believe the future of events will be hybrid. Conference centers and hotels need to start enabling that future by equipping meeting rooms much like the classrooms described above, so in-room and remote participants can share the same session seamlessly.
The future will involve Canapii recognizing which room you have walked into and knowing who that meeting is with. Your devices should then auto-connect to the equipment in the meeting room, so your meeting starts smoothly and on time. Canapii already has QR code and Bluetooth-based location services, so that part is easy. We will soon begin work with the tech hardware industry on how to make all that meeting-room tech Canapii-controlled.
The global lockdown closed classrooms, forcing schools to teach remotely almost overnight. Because most education systems had underinvested in technology, the shift was abrupt - but it proved that children equipped with laptops can study successfully from home, at least for some of the time.
Much the same kit as a modern classroom: large digital displays, cameras, lapel microphones, WiFi, powerful speakers, audio mixing capabilities, styluses, cybersecurity and soundproofing so sessions are not disturbed by the room next door.
A virtual event takes place entirely online, while a hybrid event combines an in-person audience with remote participants joining through an event platform, so both groups experience the same sessions and can interact with each other.
Yes. Canapii supports in-person, virtual and hybrid formats, with QR code and Bluetooth-based location services already built in. The platform is ISO 27001 certified, GDPR compliant and backed by 24/7 support.
Curious how a hybrid-ready platform can futureproof your meetings and conferences? Learn more by requesting a demo today.