Hologram technology allows presenters to “beam in” with lifelike 3D effects — in real time. However, with equipment costs extremely high, widespread use may still be some time off, if at all.
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, Princess Leia programmed an R2-D2 droid with a holographic message for retired Jedi, Obi Wan Kenobi. It was blue, it was grainy, it was far from perfect, but it was oh so sci-fi. That was in 1977 and hologram technology has come a long way since then. In fact, it is already available and business conferences may widely implement it in the coming years.
It can allow organisers and speakers to save costs, time, and with sustainability at the forefront, carbon emissions. Is it a matter of time before hologram technology is commonly used, or is this trend another flash in the pan?
Musion Events and 8 Northumberland Avenue currently have a completed installation of a permanent high-definition holographic projection system in the venue’s hospitality space, The Grand Ballroom.
Stephen Moore, chairman of 8 Northumberland Avenue, said: “The Musion installation blurs the lines between the physical and the digital, enabling us to offer limitless possibilities for a third of the price. We often oversee 50 to 60 events a year, offering the very best service and cutting-edge entertainment packages, which are now accentuated by our ability to provide such an innovative technology.”
It makes us question; will we see this more often in the future?
The Covid-19 pandemic has provided many obstacles to business conferences and events, but it has consequently opened our eyes. With speakers from across the globe, or perhaps more recently in isolation due to Covi19, Hologram technology could cut out the challenge of unavailability or travel, allowing speakers to attend events from the comfort of their homes in hologram form.
Not only would this be good for the environment, but it could also reduce travel times and provide significant return on the initial investment in the long run. It ensures that events can continue without a Covid hitch while speakers are presented in a much more engaging way than a Zoom call.
Moreover, it opens possibilities for your events to secure big-name speakers reluctant to travel or without the sufficient time to do so. Holographic technology relies on cameras that capture the speaker from several angles to create a 3D effect, making it look like the presenter is in the room.
Hologram technology is high-priced right now, but surely there’s a halfway house between free-to-low-cost software and expensive hardware?
Perhaps in time, it will be a standard device for businesspeople to own, but until that day, hologram presentations will likely be reserved for major events with top-tier corporate backers or high-ticket revenues. Real-time holographic presentations will likely remain the exception rather than the norm for the foreseeable.
After all, look at where we’ve come in the last 10 or 20 years. A ‘mobile phone’ was a rarity, only available to the rich and famous in the 90’s, let along the development we see today from the initial iPhone 1. Facial recognition, fingerprint log ins, an App for everything you could possibly think of and so on. Technology develops extremely fast, so why not Holograms?
Beyond the logistical difficulties that come with holographic technology, there is the question of whether it’s really worth the extra effort. Is it really that much better than watching a 2D screen projection of a speaker?
The more dynamic and interactive content and delivery is the more audience engagement. When it comes to event management, wowing the audience is the name of the game because leaving a lasting impression will make a brand the talk of the town. The main advantage is that hologram presentations give the audience a more three-dimensional impression of the speaker, as well as a full-body view. With that said, a standard Zoom interview allows the audience to see a close-up view of the speaker’s face.
Fundamentally, Holograms are impressive, headline-making features of modern-day business conferences and events, but they are in no way common, and it’s hard to see them becoming so for a while yet. Due to high technology costs, it seems impractical on a larger scale at this point in time, however the capabilities and possibilities it opens up are extremely exciting whilst still maintaining its novelty appeal.
Hippo offer Event Project Management and Global Venue Finding services. Contact us today on 01372 460 100 or events@hippoevents.co.uk to see how we can assist.