From the dancefloor to your computer screen

TECHNOLOGY is allowing clubbers to interact with their friends on a night out — even if they’re not in the room.

The move follows groundbreaking wireless technology installed by Irish firm VisionID, whose experts installed wall-to-wall wi-fi in some of the country’s top nightclubs.

As a result, customers can share their experiences throughout the night live on Facebook.

The move is part of an entertainment project involving Clonmel-based VisionID, Ogilvy Dublin and technology developed by FISH Technologies.

Clubbers share photos of their night, what drinks they are enjoying and instantly update their status via their Facebook account, inviting friends to join in the fun.

Among the clubs invol-ved are Krystle in Dublin, the CHQ building in Dublin’s IFSC, Havana Browns in Cork, the Foundry in Carlow, Icon in Limerick, Mynt in Belfast and IcoSense in Cookstown, Co Tyrone.

Clubbers sign into their Facebook account as soon as they arrive, which is then synched with a radio frequency identification (RFID) key fob.

Every time they swipe the fob on a staff member’s tablet computer it allows them to upload a photo, food or drink image or information on prizes they may have won on the night.

VisionID specialises in futuristic RFID technology which offers multiple solutions across all radio frequencies and cutting edge technology.

The challenge involved in connecting clubbers with their online social network in real time was to deliver wireless coverage in 100% of the nightclubs, VisionID’s Cathal Murtagh explained.

The firm has previously worked with retailers, hospitals, pharma firms and distribution companies but the Ogilvy project was their first for the nightclub industry.

They used the Motorola AP5131 wireless access point throughout the venues in conjunction with tablet computers to provide the technology.

“The Mesh Network we put in place provided full, wireless coverage throughout the nightclub, over multiple floors,” Mr Murtagh said. “We had no issues overcoming the challenges provided by a large number of people gathered together accessing both the network all at once across the various floors.”

It is hoped the move will spur more venues to invest in the service and that it becomes what “cutting edge technology-savvy clubbers come to expect as they connect, not just in the same venue but with their online social network on a night out”, he said.