Blockchain Papers

Judit Grotte, Borbála Gondos

The event management sector has experienced significant technological transformation, creating both new opportunities and complex challenges for organizers and participants. This study explores emerging trends reshaping the planning and experience of events, with a focus on artificial intelligence (AI), which enables personalized program recommendations, chatbot interactions, and predictive analytics. Hybrid and virtual formats have become standard, offering interactive digital environments and gamified experiences. Technologies such as augmented and virtual reality (AR/VR) enhance engagement through virtual venue walkthroughs and immersive exhibitions. Smart devices, wearables, and Internet of Things (IoT) applications support access control, real-time analytics, and contactless transactions, while blockchain and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) add security and exclusivity to ticketing systems. Digital marketing strategies—like influencer outreach, short-form video content (TikTok, Instagram Reels), and AI-generated media—are also examined for their role in increasing event visibility and audience interaction. The study highlights sustainability efforts such as digital ticketing, energy-efficient infrastructure, waste reduction, and carbon offsetting. These innovations position technology not just as a logistical tool but as a driver of sustainable and impactful event design. Drawing on Hungary’s recent experience in hosting international sporting events, we analyze fan engagement tools like dance cams, AI-powered look-alike cams, and personalized athlete intro cards. Expert interviews from the FINA World Championships (2022), World Athletics Championships (2023), and Swimming Championships (25m) (2024) offer insights into how such tools enhanced audience involvement and operational efficiency. The findings emphasize the strategic role of technology in enriching attendee experiences and delivering innovative, future-ready event solutions.

Gérald Estadieu, Ka Man Ng, Filipa Martins de Abreu, Daniel Filipe Farinha

The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged individuals and all international collaborations, including research and academic international conferences. Most conferences had to adapt to an online or hybrid mode at best, if not cancelled or postponed. During this period, we were invited to organise the third edition of an international conference on Arts, Technology and Society. At its core, it is an academic conference, but it also offers a platform for an art exhibition and forum for artists to share and exhibit. Due to Macao's physical constraints and its inaccessibility for outside visitors, the Local Organising Committee took the challenge to organise the first virtual art exhibition in an academic conference, including Non-Fungible Tokens (NFT) for artists willing to sell their digital artwork. This paper presents the creative process as well as the technical issues faced during the conference and exhibition preparation time. As NFT-based virtual exhibition is a new offer within an academic international conference and a new tool to permanently promote artists’ work, we are also proposing some possible future works to develop further this approach and give it a larger visibility. We believe such type of exhibition can play an important role on a world seeking for more sustainable communication.