Difference between revisions of "Virtual Conferences"
 
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=Virtual Conferences=
 
=Virtual Conferences=
  
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This is a collection of links and information I've put together about virtual conferences.
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''I've left this page up in case anyone linked to it. However, this content is superseded by the report of the [https://www.acm.org/virtual-conferences ACM Presidential Task Force on Virtual Conferences].''
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This is a collection of links and information I've put together about virtual conferences. Amusingly, I wrote a paper about [http://svr-sk818-web.cl.cam.ac.uk/keshav/papers/94/videoconf_inet.pdf experiences with videoconferencing] in 1994.  
  
 
==Why==
 
==Why==
 +
* To deal with viral pandemics
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* To reduce carbon footprint
 
* To reduce carbon footprint
 
** [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195925502000276 Environmental impacts of an international conference]
 
** [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195925502000276 Environmental impacts of an international conference]
 
** [https://www.nature.com/articles/s42254-020-0151-2 Rethinking Conferences]
 
** [https://www.nature.com/articles/s42254-020-0151-2 Rethinking Conferences]
 
** [https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/highflying High Flying Academics]
 
** [https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/highflying High Flying Academics]
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* To deal with viral pandemics
 
  
 
==How==
 
==How==
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===Interaction modes===
 
===Interaction modes===
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Conferences support multiple interaction modes, which may need different solutions depending on the conference size
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Conferences support multiple interaction modes, which may need different solutions depending on the conference size. Generally speaking, this is a cross product of {1-1, 1-many, many-many}  X {synchronous, asynchronous}.
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* ''1-many stored video''
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** Archival conference record
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* ''1-1 asynchronous''
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* ''1-many live video in parallel with many-many text-oriented discussions on the ongoing presentation''
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** Not relevant in a conference setting
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**Plenary presentations
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** Speaker may give the same presentation multiple times to deal with time zones, or at least have multiple interaction sessions
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* ''1-1 synchronous ''
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* ''1-1 informal hallway conversations leveraging past history of interaction or creating new connections''
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** This is similar to an informal hallway conversation between people who know each other already, or not
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** Ability to have one-on-ones
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−
* ''Multiple synchronous small group interaction – e.g. a demo/poster session''
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* ''1-many asynchronous''
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** This is essentially an archival conference record
 +
** In some cases, comments can be added over time
 +
 
 +
* ''1-many synchronous''
 +
** This is a typical conference presentation
 +
** Generally live video in parallel with many-many text-oriented discussions''
 +
** To deal with time zones, a speaker could give the same presentation multiple times, or at least have multiple interaction sessions
 +
 
 +
* ''Many-many asynchronous''
 +
** Not relevant in a conference setting
 +
 
 +
* ''Many-many synchronous small group interactions''
 +
** This is typical of a demo/poster session
 
** Ability to hop around, like a poster session
 
** Ability to hop around, like a poster session
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** Ability to see demos being done, with VNC-like control
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** Ability to see demos being done
 
** Find out which demo is popular
 
** Find out which demo is popular
 
** Need a whiteboard, leave a message for others
 
** Need a whiteboard, leave a message for others
 
** Schedule presentations of the poster at a particular time
 
** Schedule presentations of the poster at a particular time
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* ''Asynchronous interaction''
 
−
 
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** Like a MOOC lecture with multiple flipped classroom, on EdX
 
  
 
===Tools/Resources available today===
 
===Tools/Resources available today===
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*'' 1-many stored video''
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* ''1-1 synchronous ''
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** [https://www.edx.org/ Ed X] and [https://dl.acm.org/ ACM DL] can store video from conferences for replay
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** Existing tools such as [https://skype.com Skype], Google Hangouts,  [https://zoom.us/ Zoom], [https://openvidu.io/ Openvidu] provide audio/video communication
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** An interesting alternative is [https://hubs.mozilla.com/#/ browser-based Virtual Reality] from Mozilla
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** You can also use a free shared whiteboard - [https://whiteboardfox.com/ Whiteboard Fox]
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** Some conferences have tried remote participation robots, for example at CHI, but with limited success and great cost
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** Herring, Susan C. "[https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/meet.14505001156 Telepresence robots for academics]." Proceedings of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 50.1 (2013): 1-4.
  
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* ''1-many live video in parallel with many-many text-oriented discussions on the ongoing presentation''
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*'' 1-many asynchronous''
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** Tools include [https://livestream.com/watch Livestream] and [https://folkproject.org/concertwindow/concertwindow.shtml ConcertWindow]
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** [https://www.edx.org/ Ed X] and [https://dl.acm.org/ ACM DL] can store audio/video from conferences for replay
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** Remote presenters can [https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Video-Record-presentations-2570dff5-f81c-40bc-b404-e04e95ffab33 record videos for presentation] at the conference and answer questions on the phone or in a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_chat#Software_and_protocols text-based chat room]
 
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** Trialed at SIGCOMM 2016 and worked well
 
−
 
 
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* ''1-1 informal hallway conversations ''
 
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** [https://skype.com Skype]/[https://zoom.us/ Zoom]/ [https://openvidu.io/ Openvidu] for audio/video communication and ‘rooms’
 
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** [https://hubs.mozilla.com/#/ Browser-based Virtual Reality] from Mozilla
 
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** Shared whiteboard - [https://whiteboardfox.com/ Whiteboard Fox]
 
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** Remote participation robots? Tried at CHI with limited success and great cost
 
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** Herring, Susan C. "[https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/meet.14505001156 Telepresence robots for academics]." Proceedings of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 50.1 (2013): 1-4.
 
  
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*''Poster and demos''
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* ''1-many synchronous''
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** Maybe can use [https://www.realvnc.com/en/ VNC] for remote demos
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** In addition to the 1-1 tools listed above, for larger audiences, tools include [https://livestream.com/watch Livestream] and [https://folkproject.org/concertwindow/concertwindow.shtml ConcertWindow].
 +
** Remote presenters can [https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Video-Record-presentations-2570dff5-f81c-40bc-b404-e04e95ffab33 record videos for presentation] at the conference and answer questions on the phone or in a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Online_chat#Software_and_protocols text-based chat room]. This was trialed at SIGCOMM 2016 and worked well
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** Websites such as [https://www.sli.do/ Slido] allow the audience to ask questions, as well
  
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* ''Asynchronous interaction''
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*''Many-many synchronous''
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** [https://slack.com Slack]
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** The 1-1 synchronous tools also support many-many interaction
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** We can also use [https://www.realvnc.com/en/ VNC] for remote demos
  
 
== Technical and sociological issues that need to be addressed by research ==
 
== Technical and sociological issues that need to be addressed by research ==
 
* How to achieve high quality of the video/audio?
 
* How to achieve high quality of the video/audio?
 
* How to re-create informality?
 
* How to re-create informality?
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** Can poke head into someone’s office, but can’t do that on skype
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** Can walk  up to someone in a hallway, but can’t do that on skype
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** The barrier to entry to interrupt someone is high because people are diffident about interruption
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** The barrier to entry to interrupt someone is high because people are diffident about an interruption
 
** Conferences reduce options and hence force interaction
 
** Conferences reduce options and hence force interaction
  
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* How to create conditions that support attendance? In a real conference there is no need to worry about food, where to rest
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* How to create conditions that support attendance? In a real conference, there is no need to worry about food, where to rest
 
** Make a commitment, perhaps in writing
 
** Make a commitment, perhaps in writing
 
** Need to create a social headroom
 
** Need to create a social headroom

Latest revision as of 21:10, 9 April 2020

Virtual Conferences

I've left this page up in case anyone linked to it. However, this content is superseded by the report of the ACM Presidential Task Force on Virtual Conferences.

This is a collection of links and information I've put together about virtual conferences. Amusingly, I wrote a paper about experiences with videoconferencing in 1994.

Why

  • To deal with viral pandemics

How

Who

In more detail

Here are some ideas that I came up with some time back with considerable input from Robbert van Renesse

Interaction modes

Conferences support multiple interaction modes, which may need different solutions depending on the conference size. Generally speaking, this is a cross product of {1-1, 1-many, many-many} X {synchronous, asynchronous}.

  • 1-1 asynchronous
    • Not relevant in a conference setting
  • 1-1 synchronous
    • This is similar to an informal hallway conversation between people who know each other already, or not
  • 1-many asynchronous
    • This is essentially an archival conference record
    • In some cases, comments can be added over time
  • 1-many synchronous
    • This is a typical conference presentation
    • Generally live video in parallel with many-many text-oriented discussions
    • To deal with time zones, a speaker could give the same presentation multiple times, or at least have multiple interaction sessions
  • Many-many asynchronous
    • Not relevant in a conference setting
  • Many-many synchronous small group interactions
    • This is typical of a demo/poster session
    • Ability to hop around, like a poster session
    • Ability to see demos being done
    • Find out which demo is popular
    • Need a whiteboard, leave a message for others
    • Schedule presentations of the poster at a particular time

Tools/Resources available today

  • 1-1 synchronous
    • Existing tools such as Skype, Google Hangouts, Zoom, Openvidu provide audio/video communication
    • An interesting alternative is browser-based Virtual Reality from Mozilla
    • You can also use a free shared whiteboard - Whiteboard Fox
    • Some conferences have tried remote participation robots, for example at CHI, but with limited success and great cost
    • Herring, Susan C. "Telepresence robots for academics." Proceedings of the American Society for Information Science and Technology 50.1 (2013): 1-4.
  • 1-many asynchronous
    • Ed X and ACM DL can store audio/video from conferences for replay
  • Many-many synchronous
    • The 1-1 synchronous tools also support many-many interaction
    • We can also use VNC for remote demos

Technical and sociological issues that need to be addressed by research

  • How to achieve high quality of the video/audio?
  • How to re-create informality?
    • Can walk up to someone in a hallway, but can’t do that on skype
    • The barrier to entry to interrupt someone is high because people are diffident about an interruption
    • Conferences reduce options and hence force interaction
  • How to create conditions that support attendance? In a real conference, there is no need to worry about food, where to rest
    • Make a commitment, perhaps in writing
    • Need to create a social headroom
  • How to convey body language and non-verbal cues?
  • How to integrate components properly?

An alternative

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