There are 2,085 media that will attend 3GSM 2007. Last year, about 2,000 of them got lost because of all the bad signage and directions that the NEW 3GSM had prepared. We are still waiting for a device that willl allow you to track yourself and other trade show buddies movements at big shows like this. Why? Well if the facility doesn’t get any signals so you can use your mobile device at the largest mobile show in the world (like last year) you can’t find a) your way to your meeting b) find your way out c) a friend to go have some tapas and forget all about it.
What big shows like this could benefit from is some sort of transmitter device (many of us – media, clients and random lost others – talked about this a lot last year at 3GSM and we KNOW the technology is out there) that would serve has a homing beacon to guide you to stands or elusive meeting rooms in the former parking garage – those stands BTW, are not in any known chronological or alphabetical order but rather working off of some encrypted code that was a reject from the TV show Alias. Like the way a museum works – you get some big wand and walk around to hear about the lovely painting – only this device would take you a yet another meeting that you had to get off your list – but you would get there on time and without delay.
On the other hand, maybe part of the trade show experience, the shared drama that creates a sort of Stockholm syndrome with our organizers, is what makes us feel a little sad when we leave and looking forward to next year. It’s like summer camp for grown ups.
