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LEAD IN:

Virtual and augmented reality, health technology and mobile tech are taking centre stage at the annual TechCrunch Disrupt startup event in London.

According to a recent report, the British capital remains Europe's biggest tech hub despite the recent 'Leave' EU vote.

Experts say how migration is managed once Britain leaves the 28-nation bloc could be pivotal for the city's future tech scene.

STORY-LINE:

During London's 2012 Olympic Games, the Copper Box Arena hosted fencing duels and handball matches.

Four years on, a completely different type of competition is hotting up.

At TechCrunch Disrupt London, an annual tech conference, fledgling companies are competing for venture capitalists' attention in 'Start-Up Alley' and 'Battlefield' areas.

The 'Startup Battlefield' gives entrants the chance to feverishly pitch their company to a panel of judges. The winning team takes away a prize of 50,000 US dollars.

Virtual reality is a hot tech trend currently, but high-cost headsets mean many are yet to sample premium VR content.

Poland-based RiftCat is aiming to change that.

Its developers created PC technology that allows gamers to play high-quality VR games through simple mobile VR viewers like Google Cardboard.

VRidge - as it's called - is intended to act as a bridge between mobile and PC VR content.

"When you have two branches of virtual reality, the PC VR and mobile VR and they both have their advantages and disadvantages - PC VR is the highest quality, but it's expensive and mobile VR is cheap because you can use your phone and put it, you have only the lenses, but it has not that much capability," explains Marek Antoniuk from RiftCat.

"So, basically we are making a bridge in between these two worlds."

Hot on the heels of virtual reality, augmented reality - or AR - is becoming a popular topic following the global success of smartphone game 'Pokemon Go'.

Liverpool-based SwapBots created an augmented reality game which seemingly brings simple cardboard toys to life.

Users can combine boxes to create different characters, there's a variety of single and multiplayer games for players to explore.

"When you're young yourself, you imagine your toys coming to life," explains Phil Charnock from SwapBots.

"And now you can - I won't say replace your imagination - but you can kind of see your imagination living on the screen.

"You can see the toy itself, starting to move around, see them battle with each other and I think that's an incredible thing to be feeding kids' imaginations like that."

Medtech company xRapid is demonstrating its automated diagnostic smartphone app, designed to diagnose diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis.

Using the smartphone's camera and when connected to a microscope, the app deploys digital imaging and artificial intelligence to analyse smear tests.

It's claimed the technology is particularly useful in remote areas, far from trained doctors or a reliable internet connection.

"We take a blood sample, we use any kind of microscope and with the iPhone app that we developed, we can tell you if you are sick or not, give all the important details to the doctor to give the right diagnostic and the right treatment to patients," explains Charles Van Overmeire from xRapid.

Seoul-based Attocube is demonstrating its smartphone-connected wooden blocks, designed to inspire and educate young minds.

Players are challenged to create various letters, numbers and shapes using cubes decorated with different geometric patterns.

The idea is to boost creativity and problem solving while still giving children screen time.

"We created this cube and children learn the alphabet or numbers or images and create different patterns, and they make more and more creative, and (the) brain strengthens, yeah," explains Johnny Moon from Attocube.

London-based Firef.ly is demonstrating its mobile travel app which combines planning, guides and journals all in one place.

Users can browse guidebooks, add locations to Buck Lists, shoot and embed videos and photos onto a map, and tailor digital postcards for friends and family back home.

The idea is to provide all smartphone-enabled travellers require in one app.

"You look at Facebook, it's great for peeling through somebody's wall, but it's a sporadic hit of a bunch of different things, it doesn't join up the story," explains Chad Cribbins from Firef.ly.

"So, ours is uniquely dedicated to a journal of your travels, that you can peel back through time.

"So, all these lines that we capture, over months and months, even just living in London, becomes an interesting narrative for you to hold onto."

Despite Britain's recent 'Leave' EU vote, London appears to be maintaining its place as Europe's tech capital.

According to the recent 'State of European Tech' report by tech investment firm Atomico, London boasts over 300,000 developers.

French capital Paris came in second with over 134,000 - less than half London's total.

"It still remains, whatever you want to say about Brexit or anything else, London and the UK is still the biggest hub of startup ecosystems in the whole of Europe and that's really not going to change anytime soon," says Mike Butcher from tech website TechCrunch.

Despite that, Butcher says how Britain handles migration once it exits the 28-nation bloc could be pivotal for London's startup scene.

"It's going to be about talent because migration and skilled migration are hugely at the core of startups," he says.

"You know, the two things that affect startups are money and talent, and talent is really going to be affected by Brexit, how people get visas, how people access the UK, and how people are able to hire into the UK.

"Brexit is absolutely the core of this conversation about startups today."

TechCrunch Disrupt London 2016 runs 5-6 December at the Copper Box Arena in London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

London, UK - 5 December 2016

1. High wide shot of TechCrunch Disrupt London 2016 show floor

2. Wide of booths and attendees

3. Tilt down from 'Startup Battlefield' sign to show floor

4. Various of Marek Antoniuk, RiftCat, demonstrating RiftCat VRidge virtual reality technology

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Marek Antoniuk, RiftCat:

"When you have two branches of virtual reality, the PC VR and mobile VR and they both have their advantages and disadvantages - PC VR is the highest quality, but it's expensive and mobile VR is cheap because you can use your phone and put it, you have only the lenses, but it has not that much capability. So, basically we are making a bridge in between these two worlds."

6. Low shot of attendee removing virtual reality headset

7. Various of Phil Charnock, SwapBots, demonstrating SwapBots augmented reality toys

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Phil Charnock, SwapBots:

"When you're young yourself, you imagine your toys coming to life. And now you can - I won't say replace your imagination - but you can kind of see your imagination actually living on the screen. You can see the toy itself, starting to move around, see them battle with each other and I think that's an incredible thing to be feeding kids' imaginations like that."

9. Pull out from SwapBots toy to tablet showing augmented reality technology

10. Various of Charles Van Overmeire, xRapid, demonstrating xRapid automated diagnostic app with microscope

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Van Overmeire, xRapid:

"We take a blood sample, we use any kind of microscope and with the iPhone app that we developed, we can tell you if you are sick or not, we give all the important details to the doctor to give the right diagnostic and the right treatment to patients."

12. Various of Johnny Moon, Attocube, demonstrating Attocube smartphone-connected wooden block learning game

13. Tilt up of smartphone showing Attocube app and complete letter 'D'

14. Pull out of blocks showing completed letter 'D'

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Johnny Moon, Attocube:

"We created this cube and children learn the alphabet or numbers or images and create different patterns, and they make more and more creative, and (the) brain strengthens, yeah."

16. Various of Chad Cribbins, Firef.ly, demonstrating Firef.ly travel smartphone app

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Cribbins, Firef.ly:

"You look at Facebook, it's great for peeling through somebody's wall, but it's a sporadic hit of a bunch of different things, it doesn't join up the story. So, ours is uniquely dedicated to a journal of your travels, that you can peel back through time. So, all these lines that we capture, over months and months, even just living in London, becomes an interesting narrative for you to hold onto."

18. Wide tilt down to TechCrunch Disrupt London 2016 show floor

19. Wide of sign, reading (English): 'Startup Battlefield'

20. Various of booths and attendees

21. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Butcher, Editor At Large, TechCrunch:

"It still remains, whatever you want to say about Brexit or anything else, London and the UK is still the biggest hub of startup ecosystems in the whole of Europe and that's really not going to change anytime soon."

22. Various of booths and attendees

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Butcher, Editor At Large, TechCrunch:

"It's going to be about talent because migration and skilled migration are hugely at the core of startups. You know, the two things that affect startups are money and talent, and talent is really going to be affected by Brexit, how people get visas, how people access the UK, and how people are able to hire into the UK. Brexit is absolutely the core of this conversation about startups today."

24. Tilt down to TechCrunch Disrupt London 2016 show floor

25. Close of tank robot toy moving

LEAD IN:

Virtual and augmented reality, health technology and mobile tech are taking centre stage at the annual TechCrunch Disrupt startup event in London.

According to a recent report, the British capital remains Europe's biggest tech hub despite the recent 'Leave' EU vote.

Experts say how migration is managed once Britain leaves the 28-nation bloc could be pivotal for the city's future tech scene.

STORY-LINE:

During London's 2012 Olympic Games, the Copper Box Arena hosted fencing duels and handball matches.

Four years on, a completely different type of competition is hotting up.

At TechCrunch Disrupt London, an annual tech conference, fledgling companies are competing for venture capitalists' attention in 'Start-Up Alley' and 'Battlefield' areas.

The 'Startup Battlefield' gives entrants the chance to feverishly pitch their company to a panel of judges. The winning team takes away a prize of 50,000 US dollars.

Virtual reality is a hot tech trend currently, but high-cost headsets mean many are yet to sample premium VR content.

Poland-based RiftCat is aiming to change that.

Its developers created PC technology that allows gamers to play high-quality VR games through simple mobile VR viewers like Google Cardboard.

VRidge - as it's called - is intended to act as a bridge between mobile and PC VR content.

"When you have two branches of virtual reality, the PC VR and mobile VR and they both have their advantages and disadvantages - PC VR is the highest quality, but it's expensive and mobile VR is cheap because you can use your phone and put it, you have only the lenses, but it has not that much capability," explains Marek Antoniuk from RiftCat.

"So, basically we are making a bridge in between these two worlds."

Hot on the heels of virtual reality, augmented reality - or AR - is becoming a popular topic following the global success of smartphone game 'Pokemon Go'.

Liverpool-based SwapBots created an augmented reality game which seemingly brings simple cardboard toys to life.

Users can combine boxes to create different characters, there's a variety of single and multiplayer games for players to explore.

"When you're young yourself, you imagine your toys coming to life," explains Phil Charnock from SwapBots.

"And now you can - I won't say replace your imagination - but you can kind of see your imagination living on the screen.

"You can see the toy itself, starting to move around, see them battle with each other and I think that's an incredible thing to be feeding kids' imaginations like that."

Medtech company xRapid is demonstrating its automated diagnostic smartphone app, designed to diagnose diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis.

Using the smartphone's camera and when connected to a microscope, the app deploys digital imaging and artificial intelligence to analyse smear tests.

It's claimed the technology is particularly useful in remote areas, far from trained doctors or a reliable internet connection.

"We take a blood sample, we use any kind of microscope and with the iPhone app that we developed, we can tell you if you are sick or not, give all the important details to the doctor to give the right diagnostic and the right treatment to patients," explains Charles Van Overmeire from xRapid.

Seoul-based Attocube is demonstrating its smartphone-connected wooden blocks, designed to inspire and educate young minds.

Players are challenged to create various letters, numbers and shapes using cubes decorated with different geometric patterns.

The idea is to boost creativity and problem solving while still giving children screen time.

"We created this cube and children learn the alphabet or numbers or images and create different patterns, and they make more and more creative, and (the) brain strengthens, yeah," explains Johnny Moon from Attocube.

London-based Firef.ly is demonstrating its mobile travel app which combines planning, guides and journals all in one place.

Users can browse guidebooks, add locations to Buck Lists, shoot and embed videos and photos onto a map, and tailor digital postcards for friends and family back home.

The idea is to provide all smartphone-enabled travellers require in one app.

"You look at Facebook, it's great for peeling through somebody's wall, but it's a sporadic hit of a bunch of different things, it doesn't join up the story," explains Chad Cribbins from Firef.ly.

"So, ours is uniquely dedicated to a journal of your travels, that you can peel back through time.

"So, all these lines that we capture, over months and months, even just living in London, becomes an interesting narrative for you to hold onto."

Despite Britain's recent 'Leave' EU vote, London appears to be maintaining its place as Europe's tech capital.

According to the recent 'State of European Tech' report by tech investment firm Atomico, London boasts over 300,000 developers.

French capital Paris came in second with over 134,000 - less than half London's total.

"It still remains, whatever you want to say about Brexit or anything else, London and the UK is still the biggest hub of startup ecosystems in the whole of Europe and that's really not going to change anytime soon," says Mike Butcher from tech website TechCrunch.

Despite that, Butcher says how Britain handles migration once it exits the 28-nation bloc could be pivotal for London's startup scene.

"It's going to be about talent because migration and skilled migration are hugely at the core of startups," he says.

"You know, the two things that affect startups are money and talent, and talent is really going to be affected by Brexit, how people get visas, how people access the UK, and how people are able to hire into the UK.

"Brexit is absolutely the core of this conversation about startups today."

TechCrunch Disrupt London 2016 runs 5-6 December at the Copper Box Arena in London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

London, UK - 5 December 2016

1. High wide shot of TechCrunch Disrupt London 2016 show floor

2. Wide of booths and attendees

3. Tilt down from 'Startup Battlefield' sign to show floor

4. Various of Marek Antoniuk, RiftCat, demonstrating RiftCat VRidge virtual reality technology

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Marek Antoniuk, RiftCat:

"When you have two branches of virtual reality, the PC VR and mobile VR and they both have their advantages and disadvantages - PC VR is the highest quality, but it's expensive and mobile VR is cheap because you can use your phone and put it, you have only the lenses, but it has not that much capability. So, basically we are making a bridge in between these two worlds."

6. Low shot of attendee removing virtual reality headset

7. Various of Phil Charnock, SwapBots, demonstrating SwapBots augmented reality toys

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Phil Charnock, SwapBots:

"When you're young yourself, you imagine your toys coming to life. And now you can - I won't say replace your imagination - but you can kind of see your imagination actually living on the screen. You can see the toy itself, starting to move around, see them battle with each other and I think that's an incredible thing to be feeding kids' imaginations like that."

9. Pull out from SwapBots toy to tablet showing augmented reality technology

10. Various of Charles Van Overmeire, xRapid, demonstrating xRapid automated diagnostic app with microscope

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Van Overmeire, xRapid:

"We take a blood sample, we use any kind of microscope and with the iPhone app that we developed, we can tell you if you are sick or not, we give all the important details to the doctor to give the right diagnostic and the right treatment to patients."

12. Various of Johnny Moon, Attocube, demonstrating Attocube smartphone-connected wooden block learning game

13. Tilt up of smartphone showing Attocube app and complete letter 'D'

14. Pull out of blocks showing completed letter 'D'

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Johnny Moon, Attocube:

"We created this cube and children learn the alphabet or numbers or images and create different patterns, and they make more and more creative, and (the) brain strengthens, yeah."

16. Various of Chad Cribbins, Firef.ly, demonstrating Firef.ly travel smartphone app

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Cribbins, Firef.ly:

"You look at Facebook, it's great for peeling through somebody's wall, but it's a sporadic hit of a bunch of different things, it doesn't join up the story. So, ours is uniquely dedicated to a journal of your travels, that you can peel back through time. So, all these lines that we capture, over months and months, even just living in London, becomes an interesting narrative for you to hold onto."

18. Wide tilt down to TechCrunch Disrupt London 2016 show floor

19. Wide of sign, reading (English): 'Startup Battlefield'

20. Various of booths and attendees

21. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Butcher, Editor At Large, TechCrunch:

"It still remains, whatever you want to say about Brexit or anything else, London and the UK is still the biggest hub of startup ecosystems in the whole of Europe and that's really not going to change anytime soon."

22. Various of booths and attendees

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Butcher, Editor At Large, TechCrunch:

"It's going to be about talent because migration and skilled migration are hugely at the core of startups. You know, the two things that affect startups are money and talent, and talent is really going to be affected by Brexit, how people get visas, how people access the UK, and how people are able to hire into the UK. Brexit is absolutely the core of this conversation about startups today."

24. Tilt down to TechCrunch Disrupt London 2016 show floor

25. Close of tank robot toy moving

LEAD IN:

Virtual and augmented reality, health technology and mobile tech are taking centre stage at the annual TechCrunch Disrupt startup event in London.

According to a recent report, the British capital remains Europe's biggest tech hub despite the recent 'Leave' EU vote.

Experts say how migration is managed once Britain leaves the 28-nation bloc could be pivotal for the city's future tech scene.

STORY-LINE:

During London's 2012 Olympic Games, the Copper Box Arena hosted fencing duels and handball matches.

Four years on, a completely different type of competition is hotting up.

At TechCrunch Disrupt London, an annual tech conference, fledgling companies are competing for venture capitalists' attention in 'Start-Up Alley' and 'Battlefield' areas.

The 'Startup Battlefield' gives entrants the chance to feverishly pitch their company to a panel of judges. The winning team takes away a prize of 50,000 US dollars.

Virtual reality is a hot tech trend currently, but high-cost headsets mean many are yet to sample premium VR content.

Poland-based RiftCat is aiming to change that.

Its developers created PC technology that allows gamers to play high-quality VR games through simple mobile VR viewers like Google Cardboard.

VRidge - as it's called - is intended to act as a bridge between mobile and PC VR content.

"When you have two branches of virtual reality, the PC VR and mobile VR and they both have their advantages and disadvantages - PC VR is the highest quality, but it's expensive and mobile VR is cheap because you can use your phone and put it, you have only the lenses, but it has not that much capability," explains Marek Antoniuk from RiftCat.

"So, basically we are making a bridge in between these two worlds."

Hot on the heels of virtual reality, augmented reality - or AR - is becoming a popular topic following the global success of smartphone game 'Pokemon Go'.

Liverpool-based SwapBots created an augmented reality game which seemingly brings simple cardboard toys to life.

Users can combine boxes to create different characters, there's a variety of single and multiplayer games for players to explore.

"When you're young yourself, you imagine your toys coming to life," explains Phil Charnock from SwapBots.

"And now you can - I won't say replace your imagination - but you can kind of see your imagination living on the screen.

"You can see the toy itself, starting to move around, see them battle with each other and I think that's an incredible thing to be feeding kids' imaginations like that."

Medtech company xRapid is demonstrating its automated diagnostic smartphone app, designed to diagnose diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis.

Using the smartphone's camera and when connected to a microscope, the app deploys digital imaging and artificial intelligence to analyse smear tests.

It's claimed the technology is particularly useful in remote areas, far from trained doctors or a reliable internet connection.

"We take a blood sample, we use any kind of microscope and with the iPhone app that we developed, we can tell you if you are sick or not, give all the important details to the doctor to give the right diagnostic and the right treatment to patients," explains Charles Van Overmeire from xRapid.

Seoul-based Attocube is demonstrating its smartphone-connected wooden blocks, designed to inspire and educate young minds.

Players are challenged to create various letters, numbers and shapes using cubes decorated with different geometric patterns.

The idea is to boost creativity and problem solving while still giving children screen time.

"We created this cube and children learn the alphabet or numbers or images and create different patterns, and they make more and more creative, and (the) brain strengthens, yeah," explains Johnny Moon from Attocube.

London-based Firef.ly is demonstrating its mobile travel app which combines planning, guides and journals all in one place.

Users can browse guidebooks, add locations to Buck Lists, shoot and embed videos and photos onto a map, and tailor digital postcards for friends and family back home.

The idea is to provide all smartphone-enabled travellers require in one app.

"You look at Facebook, it's great for peeling through somebody's wall, but it's a sporadic hit of a bunch of different things, it doesn't join up the story," explains Chad Cribbins from Firef.ly.

"So, ours is uniquely dedicated to a journal of your travels, that you can peel back through time.

"So, all these lines that we capture, over months and months, even just living in London, becomes an interesting narrative for you to hold onto."

Despite Britain's recent 'Leave' EU vote, London appears to be maintaining its place as Europe's tech capital.

According to the recent 'State of European Tech' report by tech investment firm Atomico, London boasts over 300,000 developers.

French capital Paris came in second with over 134,000 - less than half London's total.

"It still remains, whatever you want to say about Brexit or anything else, London and the UK is still the biggest hub of startup ecosystems in the whole of Europe and that's really not going to change anytime soon," says Mike Butcher from tech website TechCrunch.

Despite that, Butcher says how Britain handles migration once it exits the 28-nation bloc could be pivotal for London's startup scene.

"It's going to be about talent because migration and skilled migration are hugely at the core of startups," he says.

"You know, the two things that affect startups are money and talent, and talent is really going to be affected by Brexit, how people get visas, how people access the UK, and how people are able to hire into the UK.

"Brexit is absolutely the core of this conversation about startups today."

TechCrunch Disrupt London 2016 runs 5-6 December at the Copper Box Arena in London's Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.

London, UK - 5 December 2016

1. High wide shot of TechCrunch Disrupt London 2016 show floor

2. Wide of booths and attendees

3. Tilt down from 'Startup Battlefield' sign to show floor

4. Various of Marek Antoniuk, RiftCat, demonstrating RiftCat VRidge virtual reality technology

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Marek Antoniuk, RiftCat:

"When you have two branches of virtual reality, the PC VR and mobile VR and they both have their advantages and disadvantages - PC VR is the highest quality, but it's expensive and mobile VR is cheap because you can use your phone and put it, you have only the lenses, but it has not that much capability. So, basically we are making a bridge in between these two worlds."

6. Low shot of attendee removing virtual reality headset

7. Various of Phil Charnock, SwapBots, demonstrating SwapBots augmented reality toys

8. SOUNDBITE (English) Phil Charnock, SwapBots:

"When you're young yourself, you imagine your toys coming to life. And now you can - I won't say replace your imagination - but you can kind of see your imagination actually living on the screen. You can see the toy itself, starting to move around, see them battle with each other and I think that's an incredible thing to be feeding kids' imaginations like that."

9. Pull out from SwapBots toy to tablet showing augmented reality technology

10. Various of Charles Van Overmeire, xRapid, demonstrating xRapid automated diagnostic app with microscope

11. SOUNDBITE (English) Charles Van Overmeire, xRapid:

"We take a blood sample, we use any kind of microscope and with the iPhone app that we developed, we can tell you if you are sick or not, we give all the important details to the doctor to give the right diagnostic and the right treatment to patients."

12. Various of Johnny Moon, Attocube, demonstrating Attocube smartphone-connected wooden block learning game

13. Tilt up of smartphone showing Attocube app and complete letter 'D'

14. Pull out of blocks showing completed letter 'D'

15. SOUNDBITE (English) Johnny Moon, Attocube:

"We created this cube and children learn the alphabet or numbers or images and create different patterns, and they make more and more creative, and (the) brain strengthens, yeah."

16. Various of Chad Cribbins, Firef.ly, demonstrating Firef.ly travel smartphone app

17. SOUNDBITE (English) Chad Cribbins, Firef.ly:

"You look at Facebook, it's great for peeling through somebody's wall, but it's a sporadic hit of a bunch of different things, it doesn't join up the story. So, ours is uniquely dedicated to a journal of your travels, that you can peel back through time. So, all these lines that we capture, over months and months, even just living in London, becomes an interesting narrative for you to hold onto."

18. Wide tilt down to TechCrunch Disrupt London 2016 show floor

19. Wide of sign, reading (English): 'Startup Battlefield'

20. Various of booths and attendees

21. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Butcher, Editor At Large, TechCrunch:

"It still remains, whatever you want to say about Brexit or anything else, London and the UK is still the biggest hub of startup ecosystems in the whole of Europe and that's really not going to change anytime soon."

22. Various of booths and attendees

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Butcher, Editor At Large, TechCrunch:

"It's going to be about talent because migration and skilled migration are hugely at the core of startups. You know, the two things that affect startups are money and talent, and talent is really going to be affected by Brexit, how people get visas, how people access the UK, and how people are able to hire into the UK. Brexit is absolutely the core of this conversation about startups today."

24. Tilt down to TechCrunch Disrupt London 2016 show floor

25. Close of tank robot toy moving

LEADIN:

Assistance robots, digital art and virtual fitting rooms are just some of the gadgets competing for attention at Paris' annual Viva Technology event.

French President Emmanuel Macron hopes to position France the new gateway to Europe for internet and tech companies.

STORYLINE:

These Pepper robots by SoftBank robotics are greeting visitors to Paris' Viva Technology.

Robotics is a top trend at the annual event. Limoges, France-based Cybedroid is showcasing its semi-humanoid, autonomous robot, called 'Leenby.'

The so-called "cobot" - meaning collaborative robot - is intended to address the needs of the elderly or assist in medical environments.

Using two lidar sensors and a stereovision camera, 'Leenby' is able to map his surroundings. He's also equipped with voice recognition.

"I believe robots are made to help people, make their days easier, to enable them to perform more human tasks, to step out of menial tasks, repetitive tasks and dull tasks," says Lou Josselin, an engineer at Cybedroid.

"So, robots can handle that, so you can focus something that needs to a human to perform."

Naveil, France-based AdEchoTech is demonstrating its remote, robotic ultrasound solution, called 'Melody.'

Using just a wi-fi internet connection, radiologists thousands of miles away are able to control this ultrasound probe in almost real-time.

A video conferencing system lets patients see and speak with their physician.

"We are in the heart of telemedicine. Territory countries, like Canada, Russia, where there are a lot of first nation communities living up north, they are thousands of miles from the first hospital," explains Philippe Homsi from AdEchoTech.

"Instead of asking them to bring them down to the hospital - and that costs a lot of transportation costs actually, incur a lot of transportation costs - this kind of system, one is setup, the radiologist from miles away can enter communities, examine the patient."

Forget talking into a smartphone, South Korea-based Innomdle Lab is demonstrating a smart wrist strap that lets users make calls with just their fingertip.

The SGNL (pron. 'signal') smart strap generates vibrations through the users' hand running up to their fingertip.

When the fingertip is placed on the ear, the vibrations echo to create amplified sound.

Innomble Lab is the first company to officially spin off from Samsung Electronics. The start-up has raised almost $1.5 million USD on crowd funding website Kickstarter.

"If you want to have phone conversations without your smartphone, you need extra devices like earphones or Bluetooth headsets, which is (a) hassle to carry all the time with you," says Jean Kim from Innomdle Lab.

"But with this device, you don't have to worry about carrying it, all you need to do is click this button, and place your fingertip to your email and answer the phone."

Digital studio Smart Machines is demonstrating its high-tech graffiti wall, named 'Picturae.'

Its digital nature allows users to undo, redo, print and save their creations.

Patrick Suchet from Smart Machines says he was inspired to create 'Picturae' after seeing some less-than-inspiring digital artworks.

"I saw people with small smartphones and doing drawings on their small corner, and I said to myself; 'No, it's not possible. Digital drawing can't be that,'" says Suchet.

"And I said, okay take a big canvas and try something. And this is it."

SweetFit is showcasing its virtual fitting room, which allows shoppers to digitally try countless clothes with just a wave of the arm.

The screen combines augmented reality and gesture recognition technology to seemingly overlay different designs on the user's body.

Florence Moine from SweetFit says it increases the visibility of brands and acts as a time-saver for customers.

Now in its third year, the three-day Viva Technology event is welcoming over 8,000 start-ups and 1,400 investors.

"This shows actually clearly a show of strength in the French economy towards start-ups, but it's still early days," says Mike Butch, Editor-at-large at tech website TechCrunch.

"London is still very much the European powerhouse for tech, but Brexit is going to have a huge effect on that, But Macron is doubling down on start-ups and on tech, as clearly a future part of the French economy."

Viva Technology runs 24-26 May at Paris Expo.

Paris, France- 24 May 2018

1. Various of Pepper robots welcoming visitors to Viva Technology tech event

2. Tilt down from sign, reading: 'Viva' to show floor

3. Pan left form Cybedroid worker to 'Leenby' collaborative robot

4. Various setup shots of Lou Josselin, Engineer, Cybedroid, interacting with 'Leenby'

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Lou Josselin, Engineer, Cybedroid:

"I believe robots are made to help people, make their days easier, to enable them to perform more human tasks, to step out of menial tasks, repetitive tasks and dull tasks. So, robots can handle that, so you can focus something that needs to a human to perform."

6. Various of Cybedroid worker leading 'Leenby' robot by hand

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Lou Josselin, Engineer, Cybedroid:

"You can have it in a retail store, for example, giving you directions on the products you want to buy, you can have it in a museum, to give you a tour of the museum. Or you can have it in the hospital, for example, carrying trays, carrying plates and food, delivering medicine to the room so that the nurses can spend more time taking care of the patient."

8. Various of AdEchoTech workers simulating telemedicine ultra sound session

9. Tilt down of ultrasound probe moving remotely

10. Close of screen, showing ultrasound

11. Mid of AdEchoTech worker remotely controlling ultrasound probe

12. Mid AdEchoTech worker having ultrasound

13. Close of AdEchoTech worker remotely controlling ultrasound probe

14. Close of ultrasound probe moving

15. Close of screen, showing probe

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Philippe Homsi, Export Manager, AdEchoTech:

"We are in the heart of telemedicine. Territory countries, like Canada, Russia, where there are a lot of first nation communities living up north, they are thousands of miles from the first hospital. Instead of asking them to bring them down to the hospital - and that costs a lot of transportation costs actually, incur a lot of transportation costs - this kind of system, one is setup, the radiologist from miles away can enter communities, examine the patient."

17. Various of Jean Kim, Innomdle Lab, demonstrating SGNL (pron. 'signal') phone call smart strap

18. Close of SGNL on Kim's wrist

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean Kim, Innomdle Lab:

"When you have (an) incoming call, this device will send to your SGNL, and this device will convert the signal into the vibration, the vibration will go through your wrist to your fingertip. So, when you place your fingertip to your ear, you can hear the sound."

20. Mid of Innomdle Lab demonstrating SGNL to visitor

21. Close tilt up of SGNL

22. Various of Kim demonstrating SGNL

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean Kim, Innomdle Lab:

"If you want to have phone conversations without your smartphone, you need extra devices like earphones or Bluetooth headsets, which is (a) hassle to carry all the time with you, but with this device, you don't have to worry about carrying it, all you need to do is click this button, and place your fingertip to your email and answer the phone."

24. Various of artist demonstrating Smart Machines' Picturae digital graffiti wall

25. SOUNDBITE (English) Patrick Suchet, Smart Machines:

"I saw people with small smartphones and doing drawings on their small corner, and I said to myself; 'No, it's not possible. Digital drawing can't be that.' And I said, okay take a big canvas and try something. And this is it."

26. Various of Florence Moine, SweetFit, demonstrating SweetFit virtual fitting room

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Florence Moine, SweetFit:

"It's changed, rethinking the customer experience in the shop, it increases visibility of the brand's collection, it's time saving for customers and creat-able for the brand by sharing photos on social networks. And create traffic at the point of sale and it's a solution to the existing gap between words and shops."

29. Various of Viva Technology show floor

30. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Butcher, Editor-at-large, TechCrunch:

"This shows actually clearly a show of strength in the French economy towards start-ups, but it's still early days. London is still very much the European powerhouse for tech, but Brexit is going to have a huge effect on that, But Macron is doubling down on start-ups and on tech, as clearly a future part of the French economy."

31. Various of Viva Technology show floor

LEADIN:

Assistance robots, digital art and virtual fitting rooms are just some of the gadgets competing for attention at Paris' annual Viva Technology event.

French President Emmanuel Macron hopes to position France the new gateway to Europe for internet and tech companies.

STORYLINE:

These Pepper robots by SoftBank robotics are greeting visitors to Paris' Viva Technology.

Robotics is a top trend at the annual event. Limoges, France-based Cybedroid is showcasing its semi-humanoid, autonomous robot, called 'Leenby.'

The so-called "cobot" - meaning collaborative robot - is intended to address the needs of the elderly or assist in medical environments.

Using two lidar sensors and a stereovision camera, 'Leenby' is able to map his surroundings. He's also equipped with voice recognition.

"I believe robots are made to help people, make their days easier, to enable them to perform more human tasks, to step out of menial tasks, repetitive tasks and dull tasks," says Lou Josselin, an engineer at Cybedroid.

"So, robots can handle that, so you can focus something that needs to a human to perform."

Naveil, France-based AdEchoTech is demonstrating its remote, robotic ultrasound solution, called 'Melody.'

Using just a wi-fi internet connection, radiologists thousands of miles away are able to control this ultrasound probe in almost real-time.

A video conferencing system lets patients see and speak with their physician.

"We are in the heart of telemedicine. Territory countries, like Canada, Russia, where there are a lot of first nation communities living up north, they are thousands of miles from the first hospital," explains Philippe Homsi from AdEchoTech.

"Instead of asking them to bring them down to the hospital - and that costs a lot of transportation costs actually, incur a lot of transportation costs - this kind of system, one is setup, the radiologist from miles away can enter communities, examine the patient."

Forget talking into a smartphone, South Korea-based Innomdle Lab is demonstrating a smart wrist strap that lets users make calls with just their fingertip.

The SGNL (pron. 'signal') smart strap generates vibrations through the users' hand running up to their fingertip.

When the fingertip is placed on the ear, the vibrations echo to create amplified sound.

Innomble Lab is the first company to officially spin off from Samsung Electronics. The start-up has raised almost $1.5 million USD on crowd funding website Kickstarter.

"If you want to have phone conversations without your smartphone, you need extra devices like earphones or Bluetooth headsets, which is (a) hassle to carry all the time with you," says Jean Kim from Innomdle Lab.

"But with this device, you don't have to worry about carrying it, all you need to do is click this button, and place your fingertip to your email and answer the phone."

Digital studio Smart Machines is demonstrating its high-tech graffiti wall, named 'Picturae.'

Its digital nature allows users to undo, redo, print and save their creations.

Patrick Suchet from Smart Machines says he was inspired to create 'Picturae' after seeing some less-than-inspiring digital artworks.

"I saw people with small smartphones and doing drawings on their small corner, and I said to myself; 'No, it's not possible. Digital drawing can't be that,'" says Suchet.

"And I said, okay take a big canvas and try something. And this is it."

SweetFit is showcasing its virtual fitting room, which allows shoppers to digitally try countless clothes with just a wave of the arm.

The screen combines augmented reality and gesture recognition technology to seemingly overlay different designs on the user's body.

Florence Moine from SweetFit says it increases the visibility of brands and acts as a time-saver for customers.

Now in its third year, the three-day Viva Technology event is welcoming over 8,000 start-ups and 1,400 investors.

"This shows actually clearly a show of strength in the French economy towards start-ups, but it's still early days," says Mike Butch, Editor-at-large at tech website TechCrunch.

"London is still very much the European powerhouse for tech, but Brexit is going to have a huge effect on that, But Macron is doubling down on start-ups and on tech, as clearly a future part of the French economy."

Viva Technology runs 24-26 May at Paris Expo.

Paris, France- 24 May 2018

1. Various of Pepper robots welcoming visitors to Viva Technology tech event

2. Tilt down from sign, reading: 'Viva' to show floor

3. Pan left form Cybedroid worker to 'Leenby' collaborative robot

4. Various setup shots of Lou Josselin, Engineer, Cybedroid, interacting with 'Leenby'

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Lou Josselin, Engineer, Cybedroid:

"I believe robots are made to help people, make their days easier, to enable them to perform more human tasks, to step out of menial tasks, repetitive tasks and dull tasks. So, robots can handle that, so you can focus something that needs to a human to perform."

6. Various of Cybedroid worker leading 'Leenby' robot by hand

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Lou Josselin, Engineer, Cybedroid:

"You can have it in a retail store, for example, giving you directions on the products you want to buy, you can have it in a museum, to give you a tour of the museum. Or you can have it in the hospital, for example, carrying trays, carrying plates and food, delivering medicine to the room so that the nurses can spend more time taking care of the patient."

8. Various of AdEchoTech workers simulating telemedicine ultra sound session

9. Tilt down of ultrasound probe moving remotely

10. Close of screen, showing ultrasound

11. Mid of AdEchoTech worker remotely controlling ultrasound probe

12. Mid AdEchoTech worker having ultrasound

13. Close of AdEchoTech worker remotely controlling ultrasound probe

14. Close of ultrasound probe moving

15. Close of screen, showing probe

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Philippe Homsi, Export Manager, AdEchoTech:

"We are in the heart of telemedicine. Territory countries, like Canada, Russia, where there are a lot of first nation communities living up north, they are thousands of miles from the first hospital. Instead of asking them to bring them down to the hospital - and that costs a lot of transportation costs actually, incur a lot of transportation costs - this kind of system, one is setup, the radiologist from miles away can enter communities, examine the patient."

17. Various of Jean Kim, Innomdle Lab, demonstrating SGNL (pron. 'signal') phone call smart strap

18. Close of SGNL on Kim's wrist

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean Kim, Innomdle Lab:

"When you have (an) incoming call, this device will send to your SGNL, and this device will convert the signal into the vibration, the vibration will go through your wrist to your fingertip. So, when you place your fingertip to your ear, you can hear the sound."

20. Mid of Innomdle Lab demonstrating SGNL to visitor

21. Close tilt up of SGNL

22. Various of Kim demonstrating SGNL

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean Kim, Innomdle Lab:

"If you want to have phone conversations without your smartphone, you need extra devices like earphones or Bluetooth headsets, which is (a) hassle to carry all the time with you, but with this device, you don't have to worry about carrying it, all you need to do is click this button, and place your fingertip to your email and answer the phone."

24. Various of artist demonstrating Smart Machines' Picturae digital graffiti wall

25. SOUNDBITE (English) Patrick Suchet, Smart Machines:

"I saw people with small smartphones and doing drawings on their small corner, and I said to myself; 'No, it's not possible. Digital drawing can't be that.' And I said, okay take a big canvas and try something. And this is it."

26. Various of Florence Moine, SweetFit, demonstrating SweetFit virtual fitting room

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Florence Moine, SweetFit:

"It's changed, rethinking the customer experience in the shop, it increases visibility of the brand's collection, it's time saving for customers and creat-able for the brand by sharing photos on social networks. And create traffic at the point of sale and it's a solution to the existing gap between words and shops."

29. Various of Viva Technology show floor

30. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Butcher, Editor-at-large, TechCrunch:

"This shows actually clearly a show of strength in the French economy towards start-ups, but it's still early days. London is still very much the European powerhouse for tech, but Brexit is going to have a huge effect on that, But Macron is doubling down on start-ups and on tech, as clearly a future part of the French economy."

31. Various of Viva Technology show floor

LEADIN:

Assistance robots, digital art and virtual fitting rooms are just some of the gadgets competing for attention at Paris' annual Viva Technology event.

French President Emmanuel Macron hopes to position France the new gateway to Europe for internet and tech companies.

STORYLINE:

These Pepper robots by SoftBank robotics are greeting visitors to Paris' Viva Technology.

Robotics is a top trend at the annual event. Limoges, France-based Cybedroid is showcasing its semi-humanoid, autonomous robot, called 'Leenby.'

The so-called "cobot" - meaning collaborative robot - is intended to address the needs of the elderly or assist in medical environments.

Using two lidar sensors and a stereovision camera, 'Leenby' is able to map his surroundings. He's also equipped with voice recognition.

"I believe robots are made to help people, make their days easier, to enable them to perform more human tasks, to step out of menial tasks, repetitive tasks and dull tasks," says Lou Josselin, an engineer at Cybedroid.

"So, robots can handle that, so you can focus something that needs to a human to perform."

Naveil, France-based AdEchoTech is demonstrating its remote, robotic ultrasound solution, called 'Melody.'

Using just a wi-fi internet connection, radiologists thousands of miles away are able to control this ultrasound probe in almost real-time.

A video conferencing system lets patients see and speak with their physician.

"We are in the heart of telemedicine. Territory countries, like Canada, Russia, where there are a lot of first nation communities living up north, they are thousands of miles from the first hospital," explains Philippe Homsi from AdEchoTech.

"Instead of asking them to bring them down to the hospital - and that costs a lot of transportation costs actually, incur a lot of transportation costs - this kind of system, one is setup, the radiologist from miles away can enter communities, examine the patient."

Forget talking into a smartphone, South Korea-based Innomdle Lab is demonstrating a smart wrist strap that lets users make calls with just their fingertip.

The SGNL (pron. 'signal') smart strap generates vibrations through the users' hand running up to their fingertip.

When the fingertip is placed on the ear, the vibrations echo to create amplified sound.

Innomble Lab is the first company to officially spin off from Samsung Electronics. The start-up has raised almost $1.5 million USD on crowd funding website Kickstarter.

"If you want to have phone conversations without your smartphone, you need extra devices like earphones or Bluetooth headsets, which is (a) hassle to carry all the time with you," says Jean Kim from Innomdle Lab.

"But with this device, you don't have to worry about carrying it, all you need to do is click this button, and place your fingertip to your email and answer the phone."

Digital studio Smart Machines is demonstrating its high-tech graffiti wall, named 'Picturae.'

Its digital nature allows users to undo, redo, print and save their creations.

Patrick Suchet from Smart Machines says he was inspired to create 'Picturae' after seeing some less-than-inspiring digital artworks.

"I saw people with small smartphones and doing drawings on their small corner, and I said to myself; 'No, it's not possible. Digital drawing can't be that,'" says Suchet.

"And I said, okay take a big canvas and try something. And this is it."

SweetFit is showcasing its virtual fitting room, which allows shoppers to digitally try countless clothes with just a wave of the arm.

The screen combines augmented reality and gesture recognition technology to seemingly overlay different designs on the user's body.

Florence Moine from SweetFit says it increases the visibility of brands and acts as a time-saver for customers.

Now in its third year, the three-day Viva Technology event is welcoming over 8,000 start-ups and 1,400 investors.

"This shows actually clearly a show of strength in the French economy towards start-ups, but it's still early days," says Mike Butch, Editor-at-large at tech website TechCrunch.

"London is still very much the European powerhouse for tech, but Brexit is going to have a huge effect on that, But Macron is doubling down on start-ups and on tech, as clearly a future part of the French economy."

Viva Technology runs 24-26 May at Paris Expo.

Paris, France- 24 May 2018

1. Various of Pepper robots welcoming visitors to Viva Technology tech event

2. Tilt down from sign, reading: 'Viva' to show floor

3. Pan left form Cybedroid worker to 'Leenby' collaborative robot

4. Various setup shots of Lou Josselin, Engineer, Cybedroid, interacting with 'Leenby'

5. SOUNDBITE (English) Lou Josselin, Engineer, Cybedroid:

"I believe robots are made to help people, make their days easier, to enable them to perform more human tasks, to step out of menial tasks, repetitive tasks and dull tasks. So, robots can handle that, so you can focus something that needs to a human to perform."

6. Various of Cybedroid worker leading 'Leenby' robot by hand

7. SOUNDBITE (English) Lou Josselin, Engineer, Cybedroid:

"You can have it in a retail store, for example, giving you directions on the products you want to buy, you can have it in a museum, to give you a tour of the museum. Or you can have it in the hospital, for example, carrying trays, carrying plates and food, delivering medicine to the room so that the nurses can spend more time taking care of the patient."

8. Various of AdEchoTech workers simulating telemedicine ultra sound session

9. Tilt down of ultrasound probe moving remotely

10. Close of screen, showing ultrasound

11. Mid of AdEchoTech worker remotely controlling ultrasound probe

12. Mid AdEchoTech worker having ultrasound

13. Close of AdEchoTech worker remotely controlling ultrasound probe

14. Close of ultrasound probe moving

15. Close of screen, showing probe

16. SOUNDBITE (English) Philippe Homsi, Export Manager, AdEchoTech:

"We are in the heart of telemedicine. Territory countries, like Canada, Russia, where there are a lot of first nation communities living up north, they are thousands of miles from the first hospital. Instead of asking them to bring them down to the hospital - and that costs a lot of transportation costs actually, incur a lot of transportation costs - this kind of system, one is setup, the radiologist from miles away can enter communities, examine the patient."

17. Various of Jean Kim, Innomdle Lab, demonstrating SGNL (pron. 'signal') phone call smart strap

18. Close of SGNL on Kim's wrist

19. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean Kim, Innomdle Lab:

"When you have (an) incoming call, this device will send to your SGNL, and this device will convert the signal into the vibration, the vibration will go through your wrist to your fingertip. So, when you place your fingertip to your ear, you can hear the sound."

20. Mid of Innomdle Lab demonstrating SGNL to visitor

21. Close tilt up of SGNL

22. Various of Kim demonstrating SGNL

23. SOUNDBITE (English) Jean Kim, Innomdle Lab:

"If you want to have phone conversations without your smartphone, you need extra devices like earphones or Bluetooth headsets, which is (a) hassle to carry all the time with you, but with this device, you don't have to worry about carrying it, all you need to do is click this button, and place your fingertip to your email and answer the phone."

24. Various of artist demonstrating Smart Machines' Picturae digital graffiti wall

25. SOUNDBITE (English) Patrick Suchet, Smart Machines:

"I saw people with small smartphones and doing drawings on their small corner, and I said to myself; 'No, it's not possible. Digital drawing can't be that.' And I said, okay take a big canvas and try something. And this is it."

26. Various of Florence Moine, SweetFit, demonstrating SweetFit virtual fitting room

27. SOUNDBITE (English) Florence Moine, SweetFit:

"It's changed, rethinking the customer experience in the shop, it increases visibility of the brand's collection, it's time saving for customers and creat-able for the brand by sharing photos on social networks. And create traffic at the point of sale and it's a solution to the existing gap between words and shops."

29. Various of Viva Technology show floor

30. SOUNDBITE (English) Mike Butcher, Editor-at-large, TechCrunch:

"This shows actually clearly a show of strength in the French economy towards start-ups, but it's still early days. London is still very much the European powerhouse for tech, but Brexit is going to have a huge effect on that, But Macron is doubling down on start-ups and on tech, as clearly a future part of the French economy."

31. Various of Viva Technology show floor