Mashed Potatoes

I was listening to the radio on the way into work the other morning and there was a discussion on the release or rather re-release of the classic Nokia 3310 mobile phone. There is a very valid question of why in this world of lightning fast connections and social media would anyone want a phone that just… phones?

After a minute or two of discussing the retro look, and how cool it was to be so last decade, the conversation moved on to how sometimes it’s nice to have less technology.

Here, at Crystal Interactive Meetings, we offer a wide range of engagement tech. At the top end there’s the full package of pre event consultation with all singing all dancing event apps on iPads delivered with fully installed WiFi and our tech specialists on site. Or, perhaps, a “Bring Your Own Device” option with our partners at Meetoo. Alternatively, a client may find our world leading handsets are perfect for the job.

These handsets that look a bit like, well, old mobile phones. The IML Communicator, now around 15 years old and still regularly used across the globe for its rock solid voting set the bar high for event tech and looks a bit like an old Nokia 3210.

The IML Connector, the most sophisticated dedicated audience engagement tool ever made, looks a bit like an old Blackberry. Our hardware is completely bespoke, it could have been made to any design but it’s about engagement, in this case not between people, but between people and technology. Time after time when I’m showing clients around our equipment store they’ll hold a handset, pause, smile and say “It’s like my old Nokia” or laugh and say “It’s a Blackberry!”. Instantly familiar, instantly at ease, instantly engaged.

This is perhaps why so many conversations with new clients start with an expectation to use iPads, they’re looking for a solution that will be cutting edge and look the part but be familiar to their delegates. Technology is a tool, just like a car, looking flash is great but you can’t get 3 kids and a weekly shop into a Ferrari.

That’s why we offer such a wide range of solutions for big meetings, small meetings, public meetings, secret meetings, WiFi, no WiFi, all delivered with the appropriate amount of technology. Too much tech and people become distracted and confused, too little and the spark to trigger a lively debate may be missed or an audience may become disengaged.

Like seasoning mashed potato, you need just the right amount to bring out the full flavour. We are the UK’s largest event technology specialist, we have vast experience and we’ve been doing this for a long time. Our technology specialists will guide you to choosing the perfect event technology to ignite a moment, to inspire a debate, to really bring out the flavour of your event.

So, you heard it here first, event technology is like mashed potato.