Massive Technology Show (That's What It Was Called)

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Massive Technology Show (That's What It Was Called)

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Massive Technology Show (That's What It Was Called)

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When NowPublic offered me a ticket to attend the Massive Technology Show, I could not say no. This is because I am not only one of the few local news wranglers based in Vankoov, but also I cover tech on this site quite a bit, and I could not risk my street cred by not attending. So I went along early in the morning to catch NP co-founder Leonard Brody's speech.

The gist of the speech (refreshingly devoid of extraneous PowerPoint flourishes) was that Canada is a greater innovator in the tech industry than most people realize, and that the future is bright up here if we play our cards right, and that citizen journalism (with an emphasis on NP) is a harbinger of the changing face of social interaction, as more and more people not only turn to the Internet for information, but also crave greater control over their consumable media. But you knew that.

Downstairs was the less sexy side of tech: server-side software, security applications, biz-to-biz consultancies, tech recruiters, telecom companies, designers of digital gambling machines, technocentric marketing firms, and lots of free pens. I took one.

Like at all trade shows, attendees were scouring the floor for business opportunities and new connections. As one attendee put it, "I can't tell if they're hitting on me or trying to sell me something". In Trade-Show Land it's all one and the same...

Primarily this was a trade show for the companies behind the companies that bring us the Internet as we know it. It's more suit-and-tie than hoodie-and-jeans, but we wouldn't be us, not on a grand scale, without them being them.

There were a few notable end-user-friendly booths, namely iStock (stock photography), Yahoo!, and Electronic Arts, whose xbox- and Wii-equipped booth attracted the biggest crowds.

And, yes, Segway was there. And, yes, I tried it. It's fun, but I prefer motorcycles.

(All photos and video in article shot by me)