Disruption will be the overwhelming theme during this year’s Global Gaming Expo’s “Innovation Lab,” but not with the word’s negative connotations.
The Innovation Lab – which is held on the G2E tradeshow floor during the three-day conference in Las Vegas – will feature more than 20 sessions featuring new ideas and technological advancements that are playing a role in influencing the gaming industry’s future.
“Disruptive technology,” says Allie Barth, vice president of industry relations for the American Gaming Association, which produces G2E with Reed Exhibitions, offers attendees of gaming’s largest tradeshow and conference opportunities to learn about cutting-edge technologies and how they may impact the industry.
G2E is scheduled for Oct. 15-17 at the Sands Expo.
“It’s important that we provide a platform to address key topics at G2E that may dramatically affect the gaming landscape,” Barth said. “Now in its fourth year, the Innovation Lab has evolved to inspire conversation and spark creativity on issues like artificial intelligence, cyber defense and more.”
The Innovation Lab offers 15-minute “TED-style” talks and demonstration kiosks. This year’s program is organized across the following themes: Disruptive technology (Tuesday, Oct. 15); New uses for existing technology (Wednesday, Oct. 16 and Emerging trends (Thursday, Oct. 17).
Among the participants and topics offered during the Innovation Lab include, a session on cyber defense and gaming laboratory innovation offered by BMM Testlabs on Oct. 15 from 2 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Wendy Anderson, chief of staff for BMM, and Gene Chayevsky, the company’s executive vice president for Europe and South America, will conduct the talk.
Also on Tuesday, from 1:30 p.m. to 1:45 p.m., Mike Dabadie, co-CEO of Heart+Mind Strategies, a Washington, D.C.-based strategic research consultancy, will discuss research that suggests technology can change the profile of the gaming consumer and drive new industry growth.
On Wednesday, from 11 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., James McCaffrey, a Microsoft Research Labs Software Engineer, will explain what deep neural systems can and cannot do and how they are responsible for technology breakthroughs, such as intelligent assistants (Siri, Alexa) and self-driving cars.
Also on Wednesday, from 2 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., Agilysys Senior Vice President of Sales Don DeMarinis will discuss how modern technology is shifting the way the hospitality industry thinks about providing service, both in the guest room and on the casino floor.
