The Orange County Convention Center hosted the first-ever Orlando Interactive Experience (OrlandoiX), a digital festival, from Oct. 2 through Oct. 6, which featured power-packed days of dynamic keynote speakers, panels, exhibits and entertainment.<\/p>\n
The one-of-a-kind, five-day digital festival showcased leading advancements in entertainment technology, interactive media and digital arts throughout Central Florida.<\/p>\n
\u201cOrlandoiX showcases our leading tech, gaming and digital industries,\u201d Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs said. \u201cThe synergy and collaboration resulting from OrlandoiX will help to create economic development opportunities for the region by fostering discovery, innovation, capital investment, and ultimately, job creation.\u201d<\/p>\n
OrlandoiX offered attendees the opportunity to take part in the Gaming Experience, which featured walk-up tournaments, game building challenges and an expo of local gaming studios\u2019 latest projects. Other activities included an opening party held at Wall Street Plaza and hosted by IZEA, a Battle of the Geek Bands, during which four bands performed and a winner was chosen by audience vote, as well as a Startup Summit comprised of local entrepreneurs sharing their startup journeys.<\/p>\n
According to David Glass, founder and executive producer of OrlandoiX, the festival was created \u201cto showcase cutting-edge digital technology from around the world, and to bring tech industry leaders to Orlando for a week of conferences and exhibitions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Mayor Jacobs and the Orange County Board of County Commissioners approved Glass\u2019 request for a $20,000 grant to ensure that the digital festival\u2019s inaugural year would be a success, to further increase its chances of returning in the upcoming years, and to encourage continued local economic development opportunities in technology.<\/p>\n
On Monday, Mayor Jacobs proclaimed Oct. 2 through Oct. 6 as OrlandoiX week throughout Orange County during her welcome remarks for the festival\u2019s Speaker Series.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom the digital arts to design and gaming, opportunities within Central Florida are truly limitless,\u201d Mayor Jacobs said. \u201cOur overall digital eco-system \u2013 including a tremendous pool of talent and creativity \u2013 is a great source of energy, drawing other partners, entrepreneurs and creators to Central Florida.\u201d<\/p>\n
OrlandoiX speakers comprised a wealth of industry experts, including Global Director of Digital Marketing at The Coca-Cola Co. Kimberly Gnatt; Dell\u2019s Chief Innovation Officer Jim Stikeleather; Vice President of Social & Community Strategy at About.com Matthew Knell; Founder & CEO at IZEA Ted Murphy; Code School Founder Greg Pollack and the National Football League\u2019s Chief Information Officer Michelle McKenna-Doyle.<\/p>\n