Conference Ideas

Attendees lined up outside four soundproof booths in the lounge to record a 10-second video in response to the question, “What would I like to connect to the Internet of everything?” The company will post some of the videos to its Web site.

For the first time, Cisco placed the Social Media Hub near the registration desk, a prominent position that allows for continual access during the conference. Last year, social media monitoring took place from inside the event’s trade show, which had limited hours.

Behind the hub’s front desk, event staffers monitor and respond to comments and questions posted to Twitter and Facebook. Because the volume of social activity is so high throughout the event, those assigned to monitor it are each focused on specific content.

Cisco is using the Social Media Hub to host events such as a tweet-up Sunday night attended by more than 300 people.

Monitors behind the Social Media Hub's front desk display the volume of tweets over time, a leaderboard of the most active people tweeting with the event hashtags, photos shared on Twitter and Instagram, a word cloud of trending topics, and more.

A live feed of Twitter comments about the event scrolled on vertical monitors on either side of the main display.

Behind the front desk, high-top tables provided a place for attendees to relax or work.

For attendees without a smartphone, Cisco provided a camera mounted in a stationary column with the capability to take pictures and post them to Facebook or Twitter accounts or email to attendees.

The Social Media Hub included a variety of seating areas where attendees could gather.

Rather than setting up cyber cafés—specific areas with computers, Wi-Fi, and electric outlets—offer your attendees free Wi-Fi and charging stations throughout your event.

On a crowded show floor, a specialty showcase can help new exhibitors get exposure.

Holo-Walls offers interactive LED liquid tabletops filled with pressure-sensitive fluids that are designed to fit on 30-inch round cocktail tables. The illuminated, chrome-edged tiles are available to rent from $100 each; matching Liquid Fusion dance-floor tiles are also available, starting at $50 per tile.

Available to rent for events in Arizona starting at $9,000, Just Light That offers pressure-sensitive interactive LED-lit floors in sizes up to 24 by 32 feet that can be synced to music. The floors can also display logos, animated images, scrolling text, or static branding.