Showtime For The Best In It Is Here Again
The Age
Monday September 1, 1997
AS PROMOTERS of "the best in information technology", Australian Exhibition Services are trying a few new tricks with the 1997 PC IT show at the Exhibition Centre.
By grouping exhibitors into categories on a searchable database, AES hopes to help the 50,000 attendees get straight to the displays they need.
AES director Gordon Whiteside says the "product locator" kiosks at every entrance is a custom-built Visual Basic program developed in Windows NT and Windows 95.
"It enables any person to go up and say: 'Well, I'm interested in looking at inkjet printer technology, I want to look at some routers and hubs for my communication requirements, I want to see the latest on intranet technolgoy, maybe some ISPs and I want to have a look at the latest notebook technologies,' " Whiteside says.
"Each of those classifications are entered by selection on a screen.
"From there, a laser printer sitting next to the terminal will print out two things; a grid floor plan of the entire show and a second printout, which will list each of the classifications and each of the exhibitors that have those products and where they are located."
Next year, the system will be further simplified with a trailblazer function that will produce colored "paths" around the show to save visitors from having to double back.
"When you have 300 exhibitors, it could mean you'd be crisscrossing your path all day long to get to where you want to be."
Whiteside says AES wants PC IT 97 to be a "one-stop, everything show" for small business, professionals, corporate, education, trade, finance, banking, insurance and manufacturing IT users and buyers.
As well as the commercial stands, there will be keynote speeches and product presentations and issues seminars in the adjoining stage. "People don't want to have to go to lots of shows."
A new visitor badge system will allow exhibitors to identify the visitors who are interested in their products among the thousands attending.
His tip for this year's hottest stands are anything to do with the Internet.
"There's a very strong trend that the Internet and its usage inside the office as a medium, not only for communicating, but also for advertising, is growing.
"As an example, in small business here in Australia, we had 9 per cent this time last year and there's 28 per cent now using it.
"That's quite a significant increase.
"Internet and communications technology is really the thing everyone is talking about."
THE 33RD PERSONAL COMPUTER SHOW
Venue: Melbourne Exhibition Centre
Location: 2 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne
Dates: 2 - 5 September 1997
Times: Tuesday 2 September 9 - 11am (Gold pass only), Tuesday 2 September 11am - 7pm Wednesday, 3 September 10am - 7pm, Thursday, 4 September 10am - 9pm Friday, 5 September 10am - 5pm
Exhibitors: 300 exhibitors showing a full range of computer hardware, peripherals, services, publications, software, multimedia, Internet, CAD, networking, training & education, communications, products and services, and emerging technologies.
Admission policy: All business visitors will be welcome, person, including children, not in this category will not be admitted.
Admission charge: $20
Organisers: Australian Exhibition Services Pty Ltd, 424 St Kilda Road.
Tel: (03) 9261 4500 Fax: (03) 9261 4545; The AES's website is at www.ausexhibit.com.au
© 1997 The Age