I've heard of online gaming weddings, where people get virtually married in a digital world, but the iPad Bridesmaid is the first time I've seen virtual interaction brought to a real-life wedding.
Renee Armstrong, as seen in the video on the Apple tablet screen, is the iPad Bridesmaid. Unable to physically attend the wedding of her good friend, she decided to make an appearance remotely using Apple's Facetime. She was carried around the entire ceremony by a groomsman and managed to chat and even take pictures with the other guests.
Implications - As consumers are becoming more accustomed to the use of technology, many are now equating virtual interaction to tangible interaction. Corporations may consider offering consumers face-to-face services via digital technologies as a method of saving time, money and energy from physical commuting.
What's Driving This Trend
- Virtual Event Attendees
- Using technology to make virtual participation possible will revolutionize the events industry.
- Remote Customer Service
- Companies can save time and resources by offering virtual face-to-face customer service.
- Digital Guest Appearances
- Digital appearances can become a common way for individuals to participate in weddings, conferences, and other events.
Who This Affects Most
- Event Planning
- Technology can be used by event planners to reach larger audiences and reduce costs for attendees.
- Customer Service
- Virtual face-to-face technology can positively impact industries such as healthcare, customer service, and retail.
- Wedding Planning
- Technology can be used by couples and wedding planners to get loved ones involved who can't be physically present in the ceremony.
