3D People!

My first conference in over a year and a half has successfully concluded! IAAPA met in Barcelona for the first conference since November 2019, after converting all 2020 and summer 2021 to virtual events. It was wonderful to see three-dimensional, live people (!) discussing design, management and recovery, and accessibility topics, among others.

I had a chance to catch up with fellow academics and industry friends, meet new people and

With the exception of when eating and drinking (such as this outdoor scene during a refreshment break), participants wore masks (FFP2 or surgical masks required) and distanced, with ample sanitizer at every turn. IAAPA arranged onsite COVID testing for attendees who needed a test to travel home. In all, about 8,500 people attended this conference – a drop from 2019, but a great return toward the After Times.

It was just a bit too soon for me to join a post-conference conference, TEA SATE. As great as that program looked, the coach bus transportation an hour there and back, and COVID test logistics–it was just a little too soon.

Barcelona Fira Gran Via exterior
main theatre with distancing
kickoff digital ribbon cutting
panel for "cheers to our mistakes" with Jakob Wahl, Andreas Anderssen, Amanda Thompson, and Jim Pattison Jr.
scene from the show floor with attendees experiencing VR hunting zombies or something
sizzle reel slide for IAAPA Europe 2022 using a photo of me, also John Riggleman
selfie with John Kageorge (VITAL Communication) over some refreshments outdoors
Scenes from IAAPA Europe: L-R Top-Bottom: Barcelona Fira Gran Via exterior; main theatre with distancing; kickoff digital ribbon cutting; panel for “cheers to our mistakes” with Jakob Wahl, Andreas Anderssen, Amanda Thompson, and Jim Pattison Jr.; scene from the show floor with attendees experiencing VR hunting zombies or something; sizzle reel slide for IAAPA Europe 2022 using a photo of me, also John Riggleman, from some past IAAPA conference; and selfie with John Kageorge (VITAL Communication) over some refreshments outdoors.

Author: Kathryn Woodcock

Dr. Kathryn Woodcock is Professor at Toronto Metropolitan University, teaching, researching, and consulting in the area of human factors engineering / ergonomics particularly applied to amusement rides and attractions (https://thrilllab.blog.torontomu.ca), and to broader occupational and public safety issues of performance, error, investigation and inspection, and to disability and accessibility.