Imagining what life and indeed, the business world, will be like in the future is always fun, but there are also many indicators of what’s to come all around us right now. If the rapid pace of technological advancement that we’ve seen in the last few decades is anything to go by, the future of the business world could be a very exciting one, particularly if you’re a tech fan.
So, what can we expect meetings to be like in the year 2026? Will we all still be meeting face-to-face in one central Leeds meeting room, or will we be connecting via technology from all corners of the globe? Here are just a few ideas to consider:
Interactive, 3D presentation tools
When asked by global technology company Barco, as part of its ‘Meeting Room of the Future Survey’, what their technology priorities were when upgrading meeting spaces, the number one priority by most participants was presentation tools. Unfortunately, it looks as if PowerPoint and other similar types of software are on the way out, being too flat, static and inflexible for businesses who are increasingly looking for more 3-dimensional, interactive and exciting ways to present.
What form will these new presentation tools take? Some experts are predicting something resembling ‘Minority Report’ (2002 science fiction film set in the future, starring Tom Cruise) style screens, which can be accessed in mid-air and controlled by body motion and expression. This multi-touch, gesture recognition technology does indeed exist, particularly in products such as Microsoft’s Kinect motion sensor add-on for the Xbox 360 console, but it is not yet widely used. This kind of technology could transform meetings, presentations and conferences, making them unrecognisable when you consider today’s projector screens and flip pads.
Multifunctional, adaptable spaces
The modern meeting room, with its four walls, conferencing table and project screen, could soon vanish in favour of more adaptable, multi-functional and even creative spaces. In order to work collaboratively, people need to feel inspired by spaces, and they also want to embrace new ways of working. Leeds meeting spaces which accommodate casual, impromptu meetings alongside formal business spaces, as well as enabling networking, collaboration, interactive presentation and creative sessions, are all expected to enjoy a boost in popularity as the years advance.
Virtual meetings
As you might expect from meetings in the future, you won’t actually need to be present in the flesh to take a very active part in proceedings. Teleconferencing and videoconferencing technology is already making virtual meetings possible, but they aren’t without their hitches, from slow Wi-Fi to lagging and interruptions. And, as our blog on face-to-face meetings versus teleconferencing points out, there are some very compelling advantages to holding meetings in person.
However, as the technology improves, delegates from all over the world will soon be able to take part in meetings, presentations on conferences, displayed on multiple screens in a central location, or perhaps even on the chairperson’s smartphone or tablet. Better collaboration on projects is expected to be one of the main outcomes of improvements in virtual meeting technology – although this has made some strides in recent years thanks to the popularity of cloud computing software.
BYOD (bring your own devices)
This is already a trend in the modern meeting, with up to 82% of the participants in the Barco survey admitting that they use their own devices in the meeting room.
However, as Yoav Nir on Business Computing World explains, meeting rooms of the future will need to be digitally equipped with the adaptors, tools and technology to accommodate all kinds of devices, to make meeting rooms truly adaptable. The aim is for anyone to come into a meeting space with their own device and get to work right away, without complicated setup issues to overcome. This seamless way of working, where technology helps to make aspects of the business world easier, is already something we want from our devices and the technology we use every day.
Wireless charging furniture
Ever since Ikea announced that it will be producing furniture capable of wireless charging for smartphones, tablets and other portable devices, the office environment has been gearing up for a major overhaul, one that is free of wires and cables. Meetings in the future will increasingly involve different types of interconnected mobile devices, all of which will need power. It may only be a small change in the traditional meeting set-up, but as predicted by Margi Murphy from ComputerWorldUK in her predictions for the ‘conference room of the future’, wireless charging furniture and equipment will be essential to avoid running out of power at a crucial point in the meeting.
Why thinking about the future really matters for modern businesses
The average lifespan for modern businesses is believed to be around 15 years, compared to an average of 67 years for businesses in the 1920s – meaning that a company founded this year may not even be around to see the dramatic changes expected in meeting rooms in Leeds and business facilities all over the world. If your business wants to stand the test of time and still be around in 100 years’ time, you might need to change a little more than how you conduct your meetings. Luckily, David K. Williams, contributor on Forbes.com, has some very useful and practical advice to help businesses increase their longevity – you can take a look at Willaims’ advice here.
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