13 May 2016
The sun is shining, temperatures have been rising, and ice cream trucks are popping up out of nowhere. This can only mean one thing: summer season has started! While youngsters are planning to cramp their weekends with festivals, families are packing for holidays on the camp side or an entertainment park. Either way, technology will not be far away this summer. Disney has been heavily investing in its MagicBand, a smart device with RFID chip functioning as electronic key in its theme parks. However, what makes Disney’s MagicBand so successful is how it uses technology to create a unique experience.
The same goes for music festivals. As we all know, music and technology have had a difficult relationship in recent years. Had information technology first made it seem that making money out of music is something of the past (think Napster) , in recent years music festivals have been booming, fueled by the desire to make music into an experience. Now, technology is supporting the music experience even more directly. For instance, this year’s South by Southwest festival used Lightwave technology to impress its audience with lasers and special effects. Ever so hip Coachella festival introduced the ‘Coachella Explorer’ app which provides visitors with a 360-degree virtual reality experience of the festival. Using Oculus Rift and Google Cardboard, music fans can easily wander through the festival grounds, watch live footage, and even relive their Coachella experience.
Last but not least, America’s sweetheart Taylor Swift distributed LED wristbands to all of her fans during her tour. These bracelets include infrared transmitters which are synched to the show’s music, lighting, and movement of the fans – isn’t that one more reason to ‘shake it off’ during one of Taylors’ concerts?