RiseVision

First off, I have to admit turn-out was lousy. There was a lot of noise and banter, but very little “put your idea where you mouth is” when crunch time came around. BUT, what we didn’t get in quantity we made up for in quality.

Drum roll please…

From @spyeglass came the concept of the bridal registry and being able to walk the store adding and deleting items on your iPad, with possibly the oh so anticipated iPad camera that is coming, and tying that interaction and the promotion of it to digital signage throughout the venue. The same registry that’s available online would be available to the couple picking their loot. They could review and edit as they please as they walk the store. Additions for a store map, offering people who bought this also bought that and all of the other cross selling bells and whistles could be available. And once done the couple could share their list across their social graph.

@sixteennine’s idea is to create a better process for event registration and networking at tradeshows and similar venues. When someone registers for an event they can include their social profile and interests at the show and broadcast their registration, when they show up they scan their QR code to register and their arrival is broadcast on large format displays, their social network and on the Twitter #hashtag for the event. By registering the attendee has access to the show’s mobile and tablet (iPad) app and from there they can check the show agenda and book which events they will attend, follow show announcements (Twitter streams), browse whose there and their interests and request to meet up with fellow show goers. And after each event they can access the resources that the Presenter had designated to share with all attendees. And where applicable all of this would be available on large format displays around the show.

@streamline_avi remembered his school days, that were not so long ago, and all of the Mac’s around campus. His thought is that by now those are more than likely iPads and all of it should be tied to large format digital signage throughout the campus – the UniBoard as he calls it.

Every student can grab the news from the display or read the entire thing on their iPad. And if they are using a mobile phone each topic is presented as a section that they can scroll back and forward through on their smaller resolution display.

@SunMoshie has brought a new direction, literally, to the contest. This idea focuses on aiding the user via technology. Large format displays are used for wayfinding and by scanning a QR code the viewer can take the map with them on their iPad or mobile phone. Each destination on the map can have available resources like a University catalog, enrollment instructions, menus, coupons, etc. This could be seen as “green takeaways.”

And last, but definitely not least, from @milklizard – no, I didn’t make that up – comes the game engagement idea. A portion of a venues digital signage is devoted to promoting the game. If the viewer wants to play they download the app on their mobile or tablet (iPad), register and if they win they receive a coupon or some form of incentive for their efforts and if they choose, they can announce their victory to their social graph!

All of the above was reviewed by our panel of highly distinguished judges – Alex, Alexey, Brian, Donna, Manish, Neal, Oleg, Rob, Ryan and Todd, and yours truly. One vote each, no buying votes or threatening to expose anyones’ dark secrets, all in all a fair and civilized process if I do say so myself. It was close, but the indisputable winner is Dave Haynes of Sixteen Nine fame for the Tradeshow revolution, that, in my humble opinion is so badly needed. Congratulations Dave! Send your address over and I will get your new iPad shipped pronto.

And the contests don’t end there. I have another one in mind and am looking for ideas on what the prize should be? Another iPad? Something different? Any thoughts out there?