There are hundreds of thousands of smartphone apps through which to wade for Android- (Droid, G1, Nexus One) and Apple-based (iPad, iPhone, iPod Touch) devices, without even getting into the relatively small BlackBerry and Windows Mobile app markets. Beyond the most basic productivity apps, here are some of the tantalizing possibilities (all are available for Android and Apple devices, unless specifically noted) for driving meeting and event success.
TripIt organizes your travel itinerary. That’s it. E-mail (or manually input) flight, hotel and other confirmation details to TripIt and the data are neatly blended into a concise document (destination maps can be easily added). And you can also share your travel details with your contacts.The TripIt app, with the above abilities and more, is free. The Pro version (US$69 per year) does more, including automatic flight updates (should there be delays or flight changes) and travel loyalty point tracking.
Making TripIt worth it from 4DK Technologies on Vimeo.
The most comprehensive (and fan favorite) air travel-related app is FlightTrack Pro. If air travel schedules and updates are your primary need, this is the cheaper alternative to TripIt. The Pro version is less than US$10 and gives users some of the same functionality as TripIt, specifically the ability to input flight data by simply submitting confirmation info via e-mail. But don’t discount the base model FlightTrack ($4.99), complete with live flight track maps and gate information.
Open up Layar to get the low-down on your final destination. This free app uses augmented reality and location-identification (such as GPS) to connect you with the information you need, from restaurant listings to mining the local knowledge ether by reading the latest local tweets. A variety of apps specialize in bringing you similar destination information, but none are as all-encompassing—this app guides you by applying layers of digital reality to your smartphone’s screen.
UCL in Layar from GIS plus AR on Vimeo.
In the current economy, not everyone you’d like at your next meeting or event will be able to physically attend—and without audiovisual budget to spare, the Ustream Broadcaster offers a free, simple alternative. Stream live audio and video from your smartphone to a specified URL shared with virtual attendees—this can also be recorded for sharing online and later viewing. Yes, this is one-way communication, but it’s also free and can prove valuable when used appropriately.
Ustream Broadcaster, la television eres tu from androidhero on Vimeo.
Exchanging details with new contacts is as simple as trading business cards—but you can leave an event with handfuls of these valuable, printed pieces of connection data. Transforming this into digitally manageable contact content can be a chore, even with many of the numerous business card scanner apps available.
Skip the middleman and put your new connections directly into your digital data realm. Bump (free) does this with a simple fist bump.
“Take nothing but pictures, leave nothing but footprints.” Well, step into augmented reality (AR) and leave your own “Kilroy was here.” Air Painter (Android, free) turns the new reality into a canvas for location-based information sharing. Write notes—or digital graffiti—on sidewalks, on walls and in the air, thanking your host city, promoting your next event (don’t spam augmented reality) or even recommending a particularly fine restaurant or venue. Draw arrows or leave floating directions to help guide event attendees, staff or future AR-enabled visitors. Imagine the treasure trove of advice and assistance that could one day reside in AR.
Of course, the future of AR exists only in the minds of those creative enough to see the possibilities and bounce between the realities. (Still confused? See this issue’s "Your Future, Today" feature for much more on AR.) As you can see, it’s time to add Augmented Reality Manager to the ever-growing list of meeting professionals’ titles and skill sets.
Certainly there are hundreds of apps that meeting professionals absolutely must know about! Well, what are you waiting for? Visit www.mpiweb.org and share your app knowledge—and tweet this story to your colleagues. The most important thing is to just get the word out. Apps will fuel the future of business innovation—and will only grow in importance for meeting professionals. One+
MICHAEL PINCHERA is associate editor of One+.
