IT'S just after noon in a conference centre somewhere miles from home, and you're either sliding down your chair or hanging off the end of it.

Even the most sadistically-niche conference wants more of the former than the latter, which is why it’s always interested in information about who ruled the room and who stank out the joint like last month’s fish.

But what if they could get that information in real time during the conference itself?

Gateshead’s own ideas conference, Thinking Digital, is looking to try out a system like this, thanks to rapidly growing North East digital business Screenreach.

The Hoults Yard company will be showing off its interactive platform Screach at the conference at The Sage next week, but it’s also looking to demonstrate a few of its applications.

New Screenreach marketing guru Sarah Athey says the company will be allowing conference attendees to vote on speakers, and would also be making key announcements on new partnerships during the event.

She says: “We’ve created an experience whereby delegates can vote on speakers in real time, and your picture even comes up to say you’ve voted.

“You can also go into the Screach application on your phone and get the full conference itinerary.”