Across Northern Ireland, we can see how traditional activities remain as popular as ever among the public. Yet, there have been some fascinating changes to the way we carry them out that take advantage of the latest technology in unexpected ways. By looking at three of the most popular areas, you can see how technology doesn’t have to take away any of the pleasure we get from these things.
New Bingo Hybrids
Bingo has a long and interesting history in Northern Ireland, with its boom period coming in the 1960s and 70s, as physical bingo halls flourished. In more recent times, we’ve seen bingo move online, with mobile games letting players mark off their numbers whenever it suits them. The social aspect has been retained through chat functions and live-streamed bingo.
An interesting development in this area has seen hybrid bingo slot games known as Slingo emerge. While the idea is similar to bingo, with numbers being marked off a card, the gameplay mechanism has a slots feel thanks to the spinning reels and special symbols. With titles including Slingo Da Vinci Diamonds, Slingo Cash Eruption and Slingo The Godfather, it’s clear that the format is suitable for a wide range of themes.
Because of these developments, physical bingo halls are no longer as prevalent as they used to be, though bingo groups within the Dobbin Centre in Armagh have adapted well to the times and continue to host regular group sessions throughout each week that remain popular with locals.
Pub Quizzes with Smartphone Technology
Pub quizzes are a classic evening source of light entertainment that have been around for at least 50 years, providing an extra way to socialise as well as a welcome opportunity to hone our general knowledge skills. The idea has always been to write down the answers on paper, or just shout them out before anyone else can do so. However, since most quiz-goers now take their smartphones with them, this has opened the doors for new ways of competing that ensure fairness and speed.
SpeedQuizzing NI offers a modern way of taking part where the answers are directly communicated via everyone’s phones, with their current venues listed here. The closest venue to Armagh is Joe Macs in Portadown, an approximate 20-minute drive away. Rather than turning quizzes into a cold, impersonal affair, SpeedQuizzing helps to retain the warmth and community aspect that many people love about them by simply reducing the administrative burden rather than the human contact. Similarly, FundRaisely provides a platform that’s used by charities to host events like quizzes and fundraising draws more smoothly.
Source: PxHere
Digital QR Codes for Sporting Events
Sports clubs and community facilities are among the aspects of daily life that have also been quietly upgraded. ClubZap is an example of a platform that lets local organisations move away from having to issue physical paper tickets and give out digital QR codes instead. This removes the need to handle paper and cash, while giving fans stress-free access to the events. A number of organisations local to Armagh use ClubZap, including Armagh City F.C. and Silverbridge Harps GAC.
Even booking a local pitch or sports facility has become easier, with Belfast-based Pitchbooking introducing a software platform used across Northern Ireland. In terms of organised sports, the IFA use a digital player registration process, as do the Ulster GAA. Centralised digital databases ensure that all of the necessary administration tasks are tackled behind the scenes, and the fans can just enjoy the games.
These different ways of modernising our leisure activities have made them easier to enjoy without affecting the basic appeal that’s kept them in our lives for so long. By continuing to coexist with and harness technology in this way, local businesses in Northern Ireland can continue to offer the public their favourite activities.
