Getting NetSmart - Live demos: Could you do them?

Live demos: Could you do them?

Network World, 02/20/02

I think I had forgotten what it was like to see a true demo of a cutting-edge product. For years, I've been going to many of the larger trade shows - ComNet, NetWorld+Interop, Internet World - and for years, I've been watching canned demos or demos of products that are already in production systems. I had forgotten the sheer thrill of watching demos that succeed and those that fail.

But last week, I remembered all of it. I had the distinct pleasure of going to IDG Executive Forums' Demo 2002. Over the course of two days, more than 65 presenters were put in the proverbial hot seat to explain their products and services to an audience of more than 500 potential partners and investors.

Sandra Gittlen The sweat was practically beading off their foreheads as they wrestled with demos. One demonstrator, Chris Hare of Digit Wireless, stayed up to midnight one night practicing his presentation with his colleagues, including one who spent the conference dressed as Elvis. All this to promote a new type of cellular phone keypad that lets you easily type in letters of the alphabet instead of having to hit a corresponding number three or four times.

A demonstrator for Sprint Labs suffered the most horrific of fates - a failed demo. He was trying to show off the company's automated personal assistant, eSandy (no relation to this author). However, eSandy was a bit uncooperative and merely smiled and twitched as he asked her to read his horoscope. This caused him to raise his voice and plead desperately for eSandy to "please read my horoscope." His backup, a gentleman with a foreign accent was able to wake eSandy from her dormant state and conclude the demo. But not before a room full of people were able to laugh off their own panic at having to do a live demonstration.

Another exciting demonstration, but of a more successful ilk, came from Space Data. The company plans to attach wireless transceivers to the thousands of weather balloons that are launched each year. The goal is to use the transceivers to extend wireless access to remote areas of the country. Space Data will charge wireless service providers for access to the transceivers.

Another demonstration by ArrayComm featured a person poolside enjoying a frozen daquiri downloading a page using the company's i-Burst wireless smart antenna technology while the person onstage began a download from a dial-up service. The person poolside finished the download and ran across the hotel and into the ballroom by the time the other download finished.

Both the demonstrators who had 15 minutes to explain their products and those that were forced to pitch in just one minute should be commended. If you ever want a reminder of why you got into this business… just take a moment to observe the innovators in the hot seat.

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