Technology has grown at an astronomical pace in the last few years, which has surely affected your life in some way. Your business will work largely over the internet, your car will have the latest sat nav system and your phone will be capable of far more than you would have expected just two or three years ago.
However, it is often still difficult to understand how this new technology can specifically help you and your business. One of the clearest signs of this is the fact that every conference is not a sea of people using tablet PCs like the Apple iPad. Tablets are incredibly useful for conference-goers, yet surprisingly underused.
Are you thinking about taking a tablet along to your next conference, but aren't sure it's the right choice for you? Here are a few reasons to do so, along with advice for current tablet users about how to get the most out of their device at a conference:
Note taking
First of all, note taking is difficult at a conference at the best of times. The vast majority of people can type a lot faster than they can write things out by hand, but carrying a laptop around with you all day is far from practical. Luckily, you can easily take a tablet with you in your bag with no problems.
This is not only good for typing out notes. You can also use the internet to research any topics that come up in your sessions that you are not entirely clear about. Most conference venues have Wi-Fi, so you should be able to supplement your notes with quick facts without too much of an issue.
Conference calls
Conferences are full of new ideas and inspiration, which usually causes many people to construct fantastic plans for their business that fade away before they get a chance to implement them. If you find this has happened to you, then bring a tablet to your next conference and use it to hold a video call with your office in the middle of the day.
This is the best way to ensure the ideas you have get acted on straight away. It also enables you to run things by your colleagues while they are fresh in your mind so they can give you their opinions, adding to your experience in general.
There's an app for that
Finally, there are thousands of applications or 'apps' available on tablets that will make your conference a lot easier. A search of the relevant online store will bring up hundreds of tools designed solely for giving you a better experience at a conference.
For example, you could download a simple program that enables your tablet to be used as a dictaphone. There is also note-taking software available, which means everything you write can get backed up online straight away. You will never lose your notes again! Have a look and see what you can find to make your next conference easier!
