For years I’ve been quietly sitting on the fence monitoring how virtual conferences and tradeshows would ultimately impact the industry out of the corner of my eye. I was a little apprehensive in terms of if or how I should dip my toe into this concept since it first burst on to the meeting technology scene.

Like many show organizers, I initially bought into the possibility that virtual tradeshows and events would be the death of face-to-face meetings. Fearful of the unknown of what virtual meetings and tradeshows would ultimately result in, the struggle to whether or not to implement a virtual component or option into my events and tradeshow then began.

Should we broadcast or offer sessions virtually or not? If we offer sessions virtually, will people opt not to attend in person? Or, will we be reaching a new audience of individuals that otherwise would not be able to attend the meeting? Gosh – will it really cost that much to add a virtual component to the event? Can this be a new sponsorship opportunity? If it is successful, did I just kill my show and will I witness attendance drop in favor for attending virtually?

For years, these questions swirled through my head. Not certain as to what the impact would be and being difficult to predict, it was challenging to develop a case either way to present to the leadership as to why or why not we should be implementing a virtual component to the event. Overwhelmingly though, the leadership opted for the risk averse road and were fearful that giving attendees a virtual option would lead to a decline in attendance.

Finally though, at IAEE’s Expo Expo Opening General Session this morning, keynote speaker, Dr. Michio Kaku, put my worst fears to rest. Why should I believe what he has to say? Well, to start, he received a B.S. (summa cum laude) from Harvard University where he came first in his physics class. He went on to the Berkeley Radiation Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley and received a Ph.D. He continues Einstein’s search for a “Theory of Everything,” seeking to unify the four fundamental forces of the universe— He is a two time New York Times best seller and has had more than 70 articles published in physics journals. Yeah – I think I’m going to go with what this guy has to say!

He walked us through what technology will look like 10, 20, 50 years from now– things like internet contact lenses that connect you online with a simple blink and can translate a conversation with someone speaking to you in a foreign language, disposable paper computers and cars that drive themselves and a host of other technologies—that he said are already in existence.

But, how will all of this impact face-to-face meetings in the future? Dr. Kaku emphatically believes that technology will only enhance face-to-face meetings and will never destroy them. Good news for all you event organizers and suppliers out there!

Reason being is that we are genetically the same as our cavemen and cavewomen ancestors. We will always opt for “high touch” over “high tech” – meaning real experiences shared with other people. Our ancestors used to communicate around a campfire to share and exchange information. Tradeshows and meetings are campfires. Facebook is a campfire. Exhibit booths of the future may create alternate realities where 3D screens will essentially create a new world for you to step into, however, they will still be set up on a tradeshow floor. I have embraced technology as a friend.