Figure 1. Source: Spotme

SpotMe Device, make your meetings matter: Exchange Business Cards, Search People & More

>How a technological device can help meeting planners enhance their meetings?

It all started in Switzerland in a park. Bänz Ledin – SpotMe creator- saw two dogs introduce themselves to each other. So did their owners. Deeply involved in the event industry, he immediately thought of a technology that could connect one person to another. That is how in 2008, the SpotMe device was launch to connect people during events.

Figure 2. Source: SpotMe

The wireless SpotMe device is a new way to create and deliver mobile technology as well as meeting architecture services. Right now, it is the first of its types in the market. The key idea is to empower but never distract! SpotMe helps event planners to get attendees engaged (Personalized Training, Majority Map, Silent Auction, Live Scoring, Word Cloud, etc), to facilitate audience responses (Survey, Q&A, Votes, Suggestions, etc), to enhance networking (Business Card Exchange, Radar, Spotting, Shared Group List, etc.) but also to better manage logistics (Maps, Agenda, Table assignment, Access control, etc). In a nutshell, SpotMe will increase tenfold co-creation, interaction and interest into the subject being developed during an event. Last but not least, it also helps cutting costs: less paper (registration sheets, badges, signage, business cards, press kits) and less staff to handle crowd (all information being gathered on the device).

This new technology has been used during IBM Software Universe 2011 event held in India on October 20^th 2011. During registration, all participants received one device that has been personalised (on site photo was taken, personal information entered, etc) and formatted with the event details (hours of conference, plans, etc). Attendees spend longer than expected trying to handle the device’s functioning, apparently because of the lack of information given during registration. Attendees said that it does take a few minutes to get familiar with SpotMe but the benefits earned from it overcome those difficulties.

Figure 3. Source: SpotMe

>This device caught your attention? Have a look at its detailed features:

Find and Meet People- Finding someone specific in a crowd during a conference is not easy thing. Thanks to SpotMe you can now locate the people you are looking for within the conference area. SpotMe is that accurate that you will exactly see where he/she is sitting or standing.

@ The bloggers’ opinion: This device clearly facilitates contact, help not wasting time trying to find someone and facilitate networking. Would you use this device at the ITB Berlin if you had the possibility? Do you think it would help you find the manager of the company you would like to work for?

Radar That Is Standing Near you- SpotMe not only identifies who are present at the conference and where they stand, but also provides the names and details of the attendees electronically thank to “radar” and “spotting” functions.

@ The bloggers’ opinion: SpotMe makes business people life easier. It can also save you from awkward situations. For instance, have you already identify wrongly someone or forgot the name of someone else that put you in a bad position? Besides, does not all this technology lead to a lost of authenticity in relationships?

Instant Messaging And Messaging – Communicating with your contacts or people around you by messages is easy and quick with SpotMe.

@ The bloggers’ opinion: SpotMe’s advantage for messages is that you do not need to have the phone number of the person to contact him/her. SpotMe will connect you through directly. What is more, SpotMe also enhanced interactivity between speakers and attendees as Instant Messaging can be used for Q&A sessions and can drive too shy people to get involve in a discussion.

Swap Contacts And Photos – Paper business cards: Heavy? Old fashion? Slow? Now, with SpotMe, you can send and receive business cards and contact information from other devices without any difficulty. The device allows taking photographs and exchanging them with others.

@ The bloggers’ opinion: SpotMe brings a new interactive and more efficient way of exchanging business cards and content. However, the attendees need to make sure that they will be able to retrieve that content on their own computer once the conference ends. In any case, do you think that this type of electronic business cards would make obsolete traditional business cards?

Agendas And Appointment – SpotMe also has an agenda feature, which helps attendees knowing the event schedule, in order to tracking conference hours and appointments. SpotMe is like a personal assistant in a simple click.

@ The bloggers’ opinion: The device could be particularly useful in case of cancellation or postponement of some speakers. As all information are gathered centrally, it will help business people make the most of their time and be informed simultaneously.

Maps And Guides – You will never get lost in a conference anymore thanks to SpotMe! Find your way in all languages or have a look at the speakers and the sessions planned.

@ The bloggers’ opinion: This feature is particularly useful if attendees are not familiar with the local language. ITB exhibition is divided on several floors. Do you bet that you will get lost? ;) Would you like to have SpotMe with you to help you find your way?

 Video retrieved from YouTube on http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=iv&v=X2wqLZbnPGs&annotation_id=annotation_475838&src_vid=InCgOz835Hk  

Key words: SpotMe device, event meetings, technology, electronic exchange.

By Laurène Deneve; Nina Phanatzis on February 22nd, 2012.

Anonyme author (2011, October 22nd ). SpotMe Device: Allows You to ExchangeBusiness Cards, Search People and More. Retrieved 2012 February 4th from SocailWoot.com.at http://socialwoot.com/entrepreneurs/spotme-device.html