Difference between revisions of "Virtual Conferences"
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===Interaction modes=== | ===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 | + | 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} and {synchronous, asynchronous}. |
* ''1-1 asynchronous'' | * ''1-1 asynchronous'' | ||
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===Tools/Resources available today=== | ===Tools/Resources available today=== | ||
| − | *'' 1-many | + | * ''1-1 synchronous '' |
| + | ** Existing tools such as [https://skype.com Skype], Google Hangouts, [https://zoom.us/ Zoom], [https://openvidu.io/ Openvidu] provide audio/video communication | ||
| + | ** An interesting alternative is [https://hubs.mozilla.com/#/ browser-based Virtual Reality] from Mozilla | ||
| + | ** You can also use a free shared whiteboard - [https://whiteboardfox.com/ Whiteboard Fox] | ||
| + | ** Some conferences have tried remote participation robots, for example at CHI, but with limited success and great cost | ||
| + | ** 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 asynchronous'' | ||
** [https://www.edx.org/ Ed X] and [https://dl.acm.org/ ACM DL] can store video from conferences for replay | ** [https://www.edx.org/ Ed X] and [https://dl.acm.org/ ACM DL] can store video from conferences for replay | ||
| − | * ''1-many | + | * ''1-many synchronous'' |
| − | ** | + | ** 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] | + | ** 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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| − | * '' | + | * ''Many-many asynchronous'' |
| − | ** [https:// | + | ** [https://slack.com Slack] is a very helpful tool for this |
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| − | * '' | + | *''Many-many synchronous'' |
| − | ** [https:// | + | ** The 1-1 synchronous tools also support many-many interaction |
| + | ** Maybe we can 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 == | ||
Revision as of 19:42, 16 March 2020
Contents
Virtual Conferences
This is a collection of links and information I've put together about virtual conferences.
Why
- To reduce carbon footprint
- To deal with viral pandemics
How
- A very good collection of resources on reducing conference travel
- A how-to guide from UCSB for a specific kind of virtual conference (see below for variations)
Who
- Here's a list
- A nearly carbon-neutral conference, 2016 on "The world in 2050"
- ICANN
- PAM 2020
- ASPLOS
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} and {synchronous, asynchronous}.
- 1-1 asynchronous
- Not relevant in a conference setting
- 1-1 synchronous
- This is similar to an informal hallway conversation
- This interaction style either leverages a past history of interaction or creates new connections
- 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
- Like a MOOC lecture with multiple flipped classrooms
- 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 synchronous
- In addition to the 1-1 tools listed above, for larger audiences, tools include Livestream and ConcertWindow
- Remote presenters can record videos for presentation at the conference and answer questions on the phone or in a text-based chat room. This was trialed at SIGCOMM 2016 and worked well
- Many-many asynchronous
- Slack is a very helpful tool for this
- Many-many synchronous
- The 1-1 synchronous tools also support many-many interaction
- Maybe we can 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 poke head into someone’s office, but can’t do that on skype
- The barrier to entry to interrupt someone is high because people are diffident about 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
- Multiple hub idea: live gatherings at multiple sites linked together
- Also provides support for an in-person experience but with reduced travel
- Can be all time shifted, with presentation speakers available
- Can rely on dedicated rooms with microphone arrays
- [Collective Intelligence 2020 https://ci2020.weebly.com/]