I will list these as they come to mind:
a) narrowly defined list serv where each participant is strongly encouraged to subscribe - and maintain after the conference;
b) blog site(s) for the same purposes, with a particular emphasis on sharing web sites and other blogs (RSS anyone?)
c) circulation of email and profiles of all attendants who will allow same;
d) web archive for all written materials and slide visuals;
e) "stand alone" audio recordings that can be made by telephone and linked to the blog and/or slides and/or speaker's web site.
More difficult than any of the above -as these entail only attention to detail and the minimum in technology skills - is the attempt to change the culture of real time presentations from a "one to many" format to "many to many" format. (Virtual conferences in real time get very, very boring in a big hurry if only the speaker does the bulk of the talking.)
(Physical conferences attendees seem willing to sit quietly for the longest, most boring presentations (of course they will be seen as rude if they get up and leave wheras in the physical ones they just quit the application (or multi task) and listen with one ear.)
Energy? Or lack of same in virtual conferences as compared to the physical?
I think this depends on the *follow up* --- which I think also depends on telephone contact and more intimate one-to-one conversations that can take place on the telephone.
This is the weakest area of virtual conference promoters. They are much like those on this DDN list --- how many have YOU picked up the phone for purposes of establishing a relationship? Phone costs? First, European and American rates have dropped to the point that if the call isn't worth what the carrier charges, it probably isn't worth the time of the callers. Second, in comparison to the amount spent on taxis and tips alone, the costs of the telephone are minimum as compared to attending out of town physical conferences.
What would happen if after virtual conferences there was more phone contact? small groups that would meet in real time on the phone for "informal" discussions? Organized effort to do just that?
Are you sure that the virtual community doesn't get stronger after virtual conferences than does a physical one? And if the community gets stronger by way of the virtual, is this not the biggest reason of all to hold more virtual conferences - and less physical ones?
What is the BEST part of a virtual conference that cannot be duplicated? One can gather the finest people in the world; ones who never have to leave their desktop...or their cell phone...that is if **your** conference is worthy of **their** (virtual) time. Is it?
At 12:06 PM -0500 2/4/05, Stephen Snow wrote:
Folks,
It would be interesting to think about the differences between virtual and fF2F conferences and the value of each. There is a belief in some quarters that the F2F conference is dying because of telecom. I don't know about that. I do know, though, that virtual conferences serve me differently than F2F ones. I have been wondering how.
The F2F conferences really provide the energy of real connection. I more often come away from virtual conferences information rich but a little tired -- all that screen time and alone time. Virtual conferences don't give me -- an extravert -- the energy that comes from F2F.
They also lack some of the spontaneity and serendipity (though not always and not always completely).
I am wondering perhaps if there are better ways to begin thinking about designing F2F conferences so they capitalize more on their greater strengths and the ways they are differentiated from the virtual ones. Both appeoaches have their place, even for the same information!, so I am wondering what people think about that, how F2F might be designed differently and how virtual might be designed differently, also.
Steve Snow
-----Original Message-----
From: Sudhir Raghupathy <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Feb 3, 2005 8:27 PM
To: The Digital Divide Network discussion group <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Subject: [DDN] Conferencing Discussion
All,
Perhaps I should clarify my stance. I am an advocate of virtual conferencing, especially as it applies to the Digital Divide - because of the opportunity it offers those who cannot afford to travel from different parts of the world as well as the environmental benefits inherent in such an approach. Anyone with access to the internet can participate, especially in free conferences like the one I am currently promoting (see my last post). I would never suggest all conferences take this approach- as I tated before there is inherent value in face-to-face contact. These types of conferences represent terrific potential, however, in their own right - coupled with efforts to make internet access universally accessible such efforts help educate and connect the world.
My apologies If I misrepresented earlier!
Best Regards,
Sudhir
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