Technology

Zkipster is a service to manage guest check-in on iPads at private events. It launched last year in the United States following a European debut in 2011. Users upload their guest list on a Web platform and then access it at the event through an iPad app; it takes an average time of two seconds to check in a guest at an event with 750 people. Hosts can edit the guest list in real time and send email and text alerts when specific guests arrive. After the event, the system can generate data such as the time that people arrived, which can be helpful when planning staffing for future events. Clients include Hearst, HBO, Hugo Boss, and the Whitney Museum. Future updates will allow each guest to be identified with a photo rather than just a name. Pricing can be done on a per-event basis for $75 or as a subscription for $750 for four months or $2,000 per year.

Blyve is a platform for live online events. The system is intended for companies to host interactive online events: for example to launch a new product, share educational information, or conduct training. Walgreens has used Blyve to host an interactive chat on beauty tips, with the link to the chat embedded on the Walgreens Web site. The system has interactive features such as polls and moderated Q&A functions. A Twitter widget allows hosts to search for tweets about the online event and then invite the people who tweeted to join the conversation. The platform can also integrate media from Ustream, YouTube, Instagram, and other services. Hosts can use the platform to generate revenue by including ads or offers from sponsors. Pricing is either per event or, for recurring events, based on the number of participants.

Postano is a tool used to display social media feeds online or at an event. The system aggregates content from Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, Tumblr, Pinterest, and more based on specific account names or hashtags. Hosts can monitor the content before it is shared through the system or have it instantly displayed. The Postano display can be designed with custom colors, logos, and animations, and it can be shared through Facebook, a Lightbox widget, on a large screen, or on a touch-screen monitor. At Dell World in December the company used Postano to display a live feed of content from several conference hashtags during remarks from C.E.O. Michael Dell and elsewhere at the event. Additional Postano clients include Tiffany & Company, Microsoft, and Nine West. Pricing starts at $5,000.

Emobile is the newest product in the suite of event management software from Etouches. The tool allows users to design, test, and publish their own Web-based mobile app through a simple drag-and-drop interface. The product is integrated with other software from the company so planners can import data such as agendas and directories of speakers and attendees. In addition, attendees can use the app to communicate with one another. For now, Emobile creates a Web app that can be downloaded by scanning a QR code. In April it will become available as a mobile app for iOS, Android, and other platforms. The product is a $500 add-on to the Etouches software package.

When EventMobi launched in 2009 as one of the first do-it-yourself app creators, it was primarily a digital show guide. Since then it has been updated with interactive features. The latest updates, which begin rolling out in February, will give planners the ability to communicate with subsets of attendees—for example, to invite V.I.P.s to a private dinner or send an alert to all exhibitors. EventMobi is also adding a private real-time chat function for attendees so they can use the app to initiate meetings or networking.

Room monitors can check in attendees by tapping an N.F.C.-enabled device to event badges embedded with an N.F.C. tag.

Atmosphere offers large video displays of performers and motion graphics.

Deco AV's V-Cube can play video.

Insteo's new signage software broadcasts live streaming feeds of social networking sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and Foursquare.

The iShadow bar displays images that are triggered by movement.

Toronto firm Bensimon Byrne created a social media activation, dubbed the "Bird Box," for the event.

Signage laid out the four steps for using the Bird Box.

To activate the technology, guests placed their wine glasses—which had R.F.I.D. tags on the bottoms—and their personalized wristbands on the box. The box was pre-programmed with action tweets, which encouraged guests to participate in various activations at the event. The tweets from @Open_Wines included: "Hey @[user], Damn, you look great. Find our photog @textstyles + pose for a photo so we can remember this FOREVER. #BeOPENparty."

One of the interactive stations was called "Tantalize that Tongue," and a neon sign encouraged guests to "Get Yourself a Snack."

In line with the "Be Open" theme, the snack on offer was rather exploratory. John Placko from the Modern Culinary Academy scooped a round ball of a whipped-cream-like substance into a bowl of liquid nitrogen. He removed it seconds later to spray it with orange zest and top with Pop Rocks. Guests popped the balls into their mouths and found that they tasted just like doughnuts.

2nd Floor supplemented the innovative snack with passed hors d'oeuvres, including mini plates of poutine.

Another station had the directive "Express Yourself," and guests could apply temporary tattoos from Tattly.

The "Ball Out" station encouraged guests to be open to playing ping-pong with a stranger. Spin Toronto provided the game tables.

There were separate "red" or "white" bars for different varities of wine.

Inspired by magnetic poetry, Narrative PR created glasses decked with words such as "pet," "wild," and "think."

A well-produced mobile app can make it easy for attendees to manage their entire event experience from the palms of their hands.

Your guests' N.F.C. wristbands become a cashless payment system when they are loaded with drink credits or linked with the user's credit card.

Tagstand provided N.F.C.-enabled wristbands that allowed guests to vote for their favorite roll with a tap of their wrists.

Guests could also opt to link the bracelets to their social media accounts, allowing them to tap the prox cards against signage to check in on Facebook, tweet preset phrases, win a V.I.P. gift bag, or download the official Rumble playlist.

Tasting Table's planning team tapped event designers We Came in Peace to create a vintage Coney Island boardwalk atmosphere. A fabricated entrance arch displayed sponsor logos and a lobster claw surrounded by marquee lights. Staffers dressed as lobsters roamed the crowd.

The DJ booth and Fuze's iced tea stand resembled old-school Coney Island carnival booths.

The Stella Artois beer bar and Bordeaux wine bar were built to look like boardwalk concession stands.

Last year's winner, Maine's the Clam Shack, reclaimed the top prize once again, keeping it simple with fresh lobster and melted butter on a sweet roll.

Some eateries offered less traditional submissions, like Marc Murphy of Ditch Plains, who served a Sabrett hot dog on a roll, topped with a dollop of lobster mac 'n' cheese.

Voting results were displayed in real time via a digital scoreboard projected onto the walls around the venue.

Inside the Tequila Don Julio-sponsored V.I.P. lounge, metal barstools, succulents, and Mexican papel picado banners created an industrial chic atmosphere that blended seamlessly into the event's summery feel. Guests could gain access to the lounge—as well as get curated gift bags and early access to the event—by purchasing $250 V.I.P. tickets instead of the $150 general admission tickets.

Tequila Don Julio created four signature cocktails for the event. A voting stand next to the central bar let guests tap to pick their favorite drink, and the live results were screened onto the venue's walls. The winning drink was the Piña Picante, made with tequila, pineapple, agave, lime, and black pepper.

Guests could pose atop a giant wooden lobster at the photo booth station.

V.I.P. guests received tote bags stuffed with swag from companies like Bliss, Dean & Deluca, OXO, and Brooklyn Slate Company. Guests could also pick up foam lobster claws.

Organizers will distribute the silicon SavorBands to all guests attending the tasting events in the North Venue.

Understanding key concepts in technical production will save time and money.

The installation was made of empty vodka bottles and connectors from a 3-D printer.

Guests could tweet to change the color of the lighting.

A 3-D printer created miniature replicas of the construction set, and bottle connectors.

Attendees can access a Bing Pulse from any device using any browser. Microsoft says the system requires low bandwidth, so millions of people can participate at the same time with no delay.