Virtual queues for the SPF Police Community Roadshow

A public roadshow is a different animal from a seated event. People drift in and out, families arrive together, and the popular activities draw a crowd all at once. For the Singapore Police Force's Police Community Roadshow — at Woodlands on 29 and 30 November, and at Heartbeat@Bedok on 6 and 7 December — we ran the activity queues virtually so nobody had to stand in a physical line to take part.

Each activity had its own screen with a QR code. Visitors scanned to join the queue for the Mini Road Safety Park, the cycling and driving simulators, the reaction and balance challenges — whatever caught their eye — then went off to enjoy the rest of the roadshow while their place held. When their turn came near, they were called back. No roping off a corner of the venue for a line, no kids losing interest while they waited.

For the organisers, the win is twofold. Families get a relaxed afternoon instead of a series of queues, and the team gets a live picture of which activities are busy and how the crowd is flowing across the site. At a community event meant to feel open and friendly, taking the physical lines out of the experience is a surprisingly large part of making it feel that way.