Before attending Elevate Festival 2026, one of the questions I had was simple: what happens after a technology makes a good first impression? I was interested in the difference between a product that looks impressive in a demo and one that people can actually understand, use, and find valuable. After attending the festival, that question became more specific. Two sessions in particular made me think less about what technology can technically do and more about how it fits into

HV08 – Retail Placement Condition Comparison The placement of a digital display shapes more than its visibility. It also affects how customers encounter the screen, how long it remains within view, and what other activities compete for their attention. During HV07, NexGen AI Showcase reviewed field observations from different retail environments and identified recurring conditions related to placement, customer movement, and the surrounding environment. HV08 moves this work i

A good demo can get attention. What interests me more is what happens after that. How does a new technology become something customers can understand and use? What makes a product commercially relevant rather than simply interesting to see? And what needs to happen behind the scenes when an idea begins moving toward a real market? These are some of the questions I’m taking with me to Elevate Festival 2026 in Toronto. From September 22 to 24, I’ll be attending the festival as