The Meeting Education Event & Tradeshow 2008 held this past Dec. 3-4, at the Hilton San Francisco Financial District was a success by many standards, especially for myself and the rest of the Smart Meetings editorial staff. Not only did I participate in several informative and interactive workshops, I was able to meet planners from around California and beyond.

And not just meet, but thanks to the handy gadgets from nTag all of us had hanging around our necks, our connections were permanently recorded. One of the sponsors of the event, nTAg issued a device to everyone at registration, with each individual's work and contact information programmed in. So when I met Heather Williams, senior conference planner for Cal State, Sacramento, we merely pointed our devices at each other for a few moments until the display screen acknowledged that our cards had been passed.

Back in the office, an email appeared later that day with the information of all the people I had met and exchanged “cards” with through nTag. No mess, no spills, and so easy a fifth grader could use it. And while the device helped break the ice, I admit that my fascination with the gadget may have distracted me (and others) from more quality interaction. But hey, that's my fault. Regardless, I liked it so much I, too wanted to bring one home.