Ever been part of an audience and wanted to participate in a live event?

Your options were limited: either raise your hand and project as far as your voice allows; or patiently await a wireless microphone to relay its way through the crowd.

An enterprising start-up is looking to our smartphones to provide assistance.

Crowdmics is an app that lets users speak into their own microphone, with the sound broadcast over wi-fi to speakers in the room.

The company makes its money by charging event organisers a fee for the service.

It can also allow event attendees to take part in polls and submit comments to the presenter on stage.

The BBC's Richard Taylor was given a demo by company founder Tim Holladay.

You can follow Richard on Twitter @RichTaylorBBC