Futuristic Technology at Transforming Tourism Conference
News release
06th November 2012
Cutting-edge technology including micro-chipped posters, video postcard kiosks and 3D holographic imaging can be tried out at the Transforming Tourism conference next week.
The event at The Showroom in Lincoln on 14th November will include an interactive playground, thanks to Lincolnshire County Council’s onlincolnshire project, to demonstrate how digital technology can help enhance the tourist experience in Lincolnshire.
Visitors will have the chance to step into a video messaging kiosk and create an e-postcard which can be sent out to friends and family around the globe at the touch of the button. Other highlights include smart posters embedded with micro-chips which signpost people to more information when scanned with a smart phone and digital displays which can recognise human emotion and deliver a tailored advertising message to that individual.
The technology playground, which is part-financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is being run by Spalding-based online innovation agency Kind of Digital on behalf of the onlincolnshire project.
Fraser Henderson, from Kind of Digital, said: “It is important that local businesses get a flavour of the kinds of new technology that will help them be more commercially effective while delighting visitors. This can include meeting consumers’ demands to carry out online transactions such as making bookings or mobile payments.
"Innovation is essential for the purposes of continual improvement and Kind of Digital aspires to help Lincolnshire businesses harness technology in order to maintain their competitive advantage in what is a very tough marketplace."
Visitors will also have the chance to see how a camera called a GigaPan Epic Pro can take panoramic photographs which could transform how tourism businesses market themselves. Gigapans are digital images with billions of pixels which can be used to capture huge panoramas in fascinating detail.
The conference is being organised by the tourism and hospitality sector of the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce. It aims to show county businesses the array of digital opportunities that are available to them to promote the county and their business.
There will be talks from historical architecture expert and BBC presenter Jonathan Foyle and Mary Powell from Lincolnshire County Council about developments in the county, while Professor David Sleight from the University of Lincoln will offer an insight into social media.
Delegates can also attend seminars on topics including harnessing the power of PR to promote your business through the media and how markets can transform town centres. The event will be hosted by BBC Radio Lincolnshire presenter Melvyn Prior.
Simon Beardsley, Chief Executive of the Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “The future possibilities offered by digital marketing are pretty mind-blowing. The technology playground will show businesses the range of digital technology that is available to them. A display table of mobile technologies, plus the latest online booking and mobile payment software will be on view for delegates to explore with digital experts.”
Half-day tickets are £15 + VAT for Chamber members and £22.50 + VAT for non-members. Full day tickets are £25 + VAT for members and £32.50 + VAT for non-members. Bookings can be made at http://www.transformingtourism.com/ Follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #tourism12
Ends
Notes to Editors:
- onlincolnshire is a £57 million project run by Lincolnshire County Council which aims to provide broadband speeds of at least 24 Megabits per second (Mbps) for 90% of homes and businesses in the county, and a guaranteed 2Mpbs for the remaining premises by 2015.
- onlincolnshire is part-funded by the East Midlands European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013
- Some Internet users in rural Lincolnshire experience speeds of less than 1 Mbps. The UK’s average broadband speed is 7.6 Mbps, according to Ofcom.
- The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf
- For more information visit www.onlincolnshire.org
Cerri Delaney
Shooting Star PR
01522 528540
cerri@shootingstar-pr.co.uk
www.shootingstar-pr.co.uk
t: @CerriDelaney
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