Incorporating Technology Into Your Meetings

Effectively using technology in meetings has become a crucial factor for success. As technology becomes easier to integrate into meetings, it becomes more and more important for both experiences and outcomes. Merging technology with meeting planning tools — including websites, apps, social media, and other IT initiatives — brings inspiring opportunities to make each meeting and event an effective and valuable one. Modern audiovisual technology can automate manual processes and streamline each element of an event. It can be used to quickly communicate important information, such as last-minute changes, to attendees and can also create targeted communication plans for moving forward after a meeting. Here are a few exciting ways to incorporate technology into your meetings.
 
Video Calls and Web Conferencing
With so many remote and virtual employees, meeting attendees are often working from home, in another office, or even in another country. With the right tools, they can still contribute to a meeting via video calls or web conferencing. Both free and paid-for apps enable you to see each other and share presentations and documents with ease. 
 
Interactive Whiteboards
Interactive whiteboard software for large touchscreens supports brainstorming sessions, group involvement, and audience feedback. Many electronic whiteboards have USB ports enabling connection to devices including flash drives, cameras, and camcorders. Some are even “smart” and can connect wirelessly to a local network or the Internet, allowing real-time input from multiple users in different locations.
 
Interactive Projectors
Advanced projection technology has led to new interactive projectors that not only display files for everyone to see, but allow individual team members to engage with documents via touch technology, similar to interactive whiteboards. This means your group will be able to edit documents, presentations, and reports together as a team.
 
Social Media & Mobile Apps
Integrating social media and mobile apps into meetings and events allows meeting planners and presenters to use large-screen LED displays to share real-time results on trending topics, statistics, poll results, and comments or questions from attendees. Displaying live feeds and results for everyone to see and discuss on shared screens also keeps individuals from focusing on personal mobile devices, increasing the interactive experience for all.
 
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality technology has the potential to become the next big thing for meetings and events. There is growing use of VR by venue operators to create virtual tours and site inspections, to showcase venues ahead of a formal opening, and to create VR experiences for properties worldwide. More applications can be expected in the near future.

​Access to modern communication tools is quickly becoming one of the most important elements of meeting venue selection. Maritime Conference Center, situated just four miles from Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, offers a full range of modern audiovisual equipment and technical support. We’d love to help you incorporate technology into your next meeting in the Baltimore, Annapolis and Washington, DC area.

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