When you look at a community as a tapestry, you realize why last week’s Reality Capture Network conference at Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts was so important to Orlando tech.
On its own, it certainly brought in some industry-specific star power, both from Orlando and from abroad.
Seeing local digital twins legend Carolina Cruz-Neira share the spotlight with Kevin Kidd of Brad Keselowski’s NASCAR race team punctuated that point in a really impactful way.
However, within the context of Orlando’s effort to grow its reputation as a strong tech community, it takes on even more importance.
If I were forced to give a grade, I would say R-CON for a first-time event earned a solid B to B+.
As a longtime advocate, I understand that some might think I beat the drum for Orlando tech to a point where any support I put out there gets watered down.
However, I will always support anyone who wants to enhance the ecosystem because I know how important each solitary event or initiative can become. That said, it’s not blind support because I also know it’s hard work to sustain the required effort and sometimes external factors endanger even the most noble of efforts.
Our overall strength and reputation from those not embedded here rely on that consistent drumbeat, not just from me but from the entire community.
So when I saw R-CON descend upon downtown Orlando, it represented another moment where Orlando could shine, especially when I saw the guest list.
In the spirit of constructive feedback – because we all want to see Orlando’s tech events grow – there were two areas that, in my opinion, hindered R-CON from reaching its full potential this year.
The number of exhibitor booths felt notably small for an event of this scope and the caliber of its speakers.
While the quality was high, a larger presence would have provided attendees with a more comprehensive view of Orlando’s strength in digital twins.
Secondly, the notice to the community felt a bit late.
I brought these points directly to the organizer, Matthew Byrd, and the feedback was well-received.
He acknowledged the need for earlier publicity and expressed his hope to grow the event in future years, which is exactly what we want to hear.
That said, R-CON had a real professional feel, which is encouraging for future events.
I approach efforts like this, which seemingly come out of nowhere, with a healthy level of skepticism.
I cannot help it. It’s the journalist in me.
In fact, as I sat near the business alley, I wondered if this was little more than a way to generate content for the organizers.
Everywhere I looked were ads and reminders of their podcast.
However, after R-CON and after meeting the team, I am convinced that they are committed to making this work here in Orlando.
Orlando, at its heart, is a hub for modeling, simulation, and training. It’s a natural location for the advanced digital twin and reality capture technologies that R-CON showcased.
Having an event of this caliber right here in downtown Orlando truly is a testament to our growing prominence in this specialized field.
And here’s the caveat: it’s one of many incredible initiatives and developments that collectively put more eyeballs on what we are building. That’s something we cannot take lightly.
Seriously, the fit and timing could not be more perfect for this community.
FULL. STOP.
Ultimately, I saw R-CON as more than just another tech conference.
It represented a significant step in solidifying Orlando’s position as a leader in reality capture and digital twin technologies.
But as a community, we need to keep seeing more efforts like this keep that message at the forefront and, perhaps just as importantly, we need to collectively share that story more often and to the right people.