Are you thinking about adding a virtual experience for your customers or members?
Perhaps you are considering adding a virtual component to your next conference or event?
Ian McGonnigal, Executive Director, Program Strategy at George P Johnson defines a virtual event as “… a gathering of individuals who meet through a computer-generated environment at a prearranged time in order to acquire knowledge, share information, interact with each other and engage in activities of common interest.“
Are you considering intergrating a virtual experience in your current offerings?
So whether you’re looking to create a virtual event or integrate a virtual experience into your current offerings, here are eight types of virtual experiences for your consideration:
1. Hybrid Event
A mix of face-to-face and virtual experiences usually running simultaneously which may include overlapping content and interactive elements to two different audiences, those present within the four walls of the face-to-face event and virtual attendees.
2. Internet Radio Show Or Interview
Also known as web radio, net radio, streaming radio and e-radio, Internet Radio is an audio broadcasting service transmitted via the Internet. Some Internet radios providers like blogtalkradio, offer social media platform integration, free recordings and podcasting applications.
3. Live Streaming
A continuous stream of data, usually video or other media, sent in compressed form over the Internet and displayed by the viewer in real time. The receiver uses a player, which is a special program that uncompresses and sends video data to the display and audio data to the speakers. Many Internet browsers have built in streaming players. Some conference organizers are creating hybrid events and live stream aspects of the face-to-face conference to virtual attendees. Livestream, Qik and UStream are examples of free or low-cost live streaming. There are a wealth of high-end live streaming companies as well (like Midori Connolly‘s Pulse Staging & Events or Carrie & Mike McAllen’s Grass Shack Events & Media). Livestream, Ustream and Twebevent integrate live streaming with other social media platforms like Twitter or Facebook for real time chat.
4. Online Conference
An online platform that integrates webinars, streaming video and audio, discussion boards with RSS, file libraries and vendor showrooms. Often the online conference follows a similar format as a face-to-face conference, with attendees participating in real time or on-demand recordings. Some conference organizers are offering an online conference in association with their face-to-face event. Some conference organizers offer online conference social communities as an extension of a face-to-face event that may or may not include some of the online conference features like webinars, streaming video and audio. iCohere is an examples of a platform that provides online conferences. CrowdVine, NFi Studios’ MemberFuse, Omnipress’ Conference 2.0, Pathable, and Social Collective are examples of online conference communities.
5. Podcast
An audio broadcast that has been converted to digital, such as an MP3 file or other audio file format for playback in a digital music player and downloaded from the Internet. For some of the best meetings and event podcasts, check out Mike McAllen’s McCallen’s MeetingsPodcast.
6. Teleconferences
A conference of people who are in different locations that is made possible by the use of telecommunications equipment. It can be supported through telephone, computer, telegraph, radio and closed-circuit television. It is sometimes referred to as audio conferencing, telephone conferencing and phone conferencing.
7. Virtual Meeting
A live event or meeting held using a virtual platform, custom built or hosted in a 3D or 2D virtual world. InExpo, InXpo, On24, SecondLife’s Virtualis Convention Center, and Unisfair are a few of the companies providing real-time virtual events and meetings.
8. Webinars
Short for Web-based seminar, a webinar is a presentation, lecture, workshop or seminar that is transmitted over the Web. The information is streamed, live or on-demand, broadcasting the message usually from one source to multiple users simultaneously. Most Webinars, also called Virtual Seminars, offer interactive features with the ability to give, receive and discuss information. Some differentiate Webcasts from Webinars since Webcasts only offer one way data transmission from the presenter to the attendee.
I know there are others. What other types of virtual experiences would you add to this list?
Thank you Jeff for the mention of our podcast your list. I will excuse the misspelling of my family name. Many of the McAllens cannot read so I cannot see the repercussions being to harmful for you anytime soon.
I have seen some cool telepresence stuff coming out of Cisco. http://bit.ly/1xkEe4 and with a company called Obsucra http://bit.ly/3SJqEU here in San Francisco. But you mentioned teleconferences in number 6. One thing I watched at the Obsucra offices was a real time virtual projected presenter onstage while he was really in another city. Very Star Trek like stuff. Not sure if it added any value but gave a physical presence for the presenter who could not attend in physical person and of course the wow factor. He interacted with another real in the flesh presenter onstage.
Thanks for the post. keep them coming.
Mike
I agree with Mike that the Musion system of bringing a presenter into a live environment as a “holographic” image is an interesting use of virtual-like technologies and is another blend or hybrid approach to converging the physical and virtual worlds into an event experience. This is what Mike (and I) saw at Obscura, but the company that is doing it is based in the UK, but has offices and reps in the US. InVision Communications has worked with Cisco on this a few times.
One other methodology I might add is around extending the content from a conference or event by hosting it on a platform like Altus Learning Systems where the content has been recorded either by video or audio and is then transcribed and searchable down to the word and can be downloaded or streamed and you can also download slides or other collateral. They also have a social component built into the platform with ratings, comments, blogs and communities that you can form around the event as a whole or even specific content topics. While this is not really an event platform per se, it is an interesting complement to a live or virtual event of any kind and an on demand way of interacting with content.
@Mike
The telepresence holographic image you mentioned is a cool one too. Great way to reduce the carbon footprint of a meeting too. Thanks for adding to the conversation.
Oops. I fixed your name. Sorry about that. I thought you didn’t read either, just listened to audio files.
@Paul
As usual, you have some great additions. iCohere has a similar platform as the Altus Learning System. I’m with you that we should think about moving towards the Living Conference, one that becomes organic in nature as content and attendees are added. Thanks for dropping by Paul.
A couple months ago, I sat in a live audience where two of the panelists/guest speakers joined in at different times as Avatars via Second Life (Virtualis). Another cool twist for a Hybrid Event. It was received very positively by the live participants.
With that said, there are a number of folks that aren’t too crazy about the Second Life (3D platform). Second Life has a dark side from a content and control standpoint. Virtualis is a super cool venue, but the tech learning curve is too steep for a one time or occasional visitor.
I’ve seen presentations about 3D meetings on Active Networks combined with a 2D alternative for those that don’t want to do the Avatar thing (good for non-techies). Seems more appropriate & professional for business meetings to me. One company that is focused on this is Digitell, Inc – http://www.digitellinc.com
Good conversation!
Dave Lutz – @velchain
Velvet Chainsaw Consulting
Great round up Jeff.
In addition to Hybrid Event, we’re hearing/using the term Blended Event more and more.
It’s likely inspired by what’s been going on in the academic community with Blended Learning (a synergy which you’ve also covered in your post http://jeffhurtblog.com/2009/10/15/virtual-meetings-vindicated-studies-find-learning-online-better-than-face-to-face-instruction/).
We also find it to be an easy entry point – as in our case, you simply webcast what happens in the presentation room and make it available to people who couldn’t attend. And the content becomes a great base on which to build other social technologies.
Exciting to see the dialogue as the terminology continues to gel.
Erica St. Angel – @mediasite
Sonic Foundry
Hi Jeff,
Thanks for including InXpo (I see you prefer our alternate spelling =). Since someone already mentioned immersive virtual worlds, I would like to point out that Twitter group chats is a form of virtual meeting.
Like the #eventprofs chat, these happen all on Twitter using a common hashtag and happen at a specific day and time. The chat transcripts are then archived online via a wiki or other format.
Thanks!
Cece
@Velchain (Dave Lutz):
Good points about providing the 2D alternative for those hosting meetings in 3D environments. Thanks for adding Digitell to the list as well and for adding to the conversation.
@Erica:
I love the term “Blended Event” for those that provide both face-to-face and virtual experiences. It’s a great term that the academic/education community has embraced and I’m also hearing it used for “interfaith” community experiences too. Vocabulary and words are so important so people have an understanding of our meanings. Blended Event does sound less threatening as Hybrid Event, at least in my opinion. Thanks for adding Sonic Foundry to the list too, especially regarding webinars and its partnership with Zerista Software.
@Cece:
Oops another misspelling. Spelling is not my strength! I’ve corrected it so people know the correct term. Shame on me.
Thanks for adding Twitter chats like #eventprofs to the list. That’s a great example of a virtual experience that provides social and informal learning with peers.
Jeff – great round up of options for event coordinators.
I would think that the degree of collaboration among participants would effect what venues are used. For example, face-to-face in small groups is much better than a free-for-all on a teleconference line.
John
One thing some of our customers have done is a series of shorter virtual events or webinars leading up to the F2F event as a way of making sure people are prepared. This seemed like a bit of a trend in corporate meetings–keep the meeting on the schedule but make damn sure it makes people smarter. This included home work assignments on CrowdVine.
(Also, thanks for spelling our name correctly and even getting the capitalization right!)
@johnhaydon
Thanks for adding to the conversation. I think it depends on the goal of the meeting. If collaboration is a goal, research shows that online is better and improves collaboration than face-to-face. Who knew? Right? Comparing How Students Collaborate to Learn About the Self and Relationships in a Real-Time Non-Turn-Taking Online and Turn-Taking Face-to-Face Environment
@Tony
Yea, I got a name spelled correctly! I so agree that webinars leading up to the event and even following the event are great ways to extend the content for an audiece. It also helps with retention and learning for sure. Thanks for adding to the discussion.
@Jeff – Online is better? Wow – who knew is right!
These are some really great ideas. Personally I enjoy Webinars, have tried podcast once though. To implement them in events or blogging experience is a great challenge, however I assume some practices are in need too. Will share this on my fan page — something worth trying if not now, future events. Stumbled.
@wchingya
Social/Blogging Tracker