Is Now The Time To Take Conferences Virtual, Especially Short Term

[engine]

With the number of gatherings at conferences being postponed and cancelled, is now the time to slot in virtual conferences into the mix?
After all, the presentations are done and the people are ready.

There could be opportunities with the right mix at this time.

[lammert]

Pubcon Florida might be an opportunity to test it, now it has been postponed due to coronavirus concerns. Participants are from an on-line savvy environment and might therefore easily adapt to a virtual concept.

[tangor]

With all the current stress on "work from home" this might be a golden opportunity to test it.

[engine]

Apple is going virtual with its conference.

Apple's annual showcase, the Worldwide Developers Conference, has been cancelled in favour of an online-only event.

"The current health situation has required that we create a new WWDC 2020 format," Apple said in a statement.

[bbc.co.uk...]

[tangor]

I suspect a beneficial side effect will be a bit less tedium (or getting caught napping).

</smile>

Reality? Tele actually works for those dedicated to getting things DONE. Otherwise is an enormous waste of fossil fuel generated energy.

[iamlost]

It is long past time for conferences, especially tech and particularly webdev ones, to incorporate an online presence whether as an adjunct addition to a face to face in real life conference or as a stand alone.

I’ve felt for years that PubCon and similar are leaving reach and revenue on the table in this regard.

As an example: there is a YouTube travel channel that does a weekly livestream. Members sign in and text chat while the presenter and guests chat on screen among themselves and answering text chat questions. A solid conference session model to start from.

Those paying participate whether in person or digitally and at some later date some or all such released as ‘free’ marketing and subscriber reach.

The last few years have really opened possibilities in this inclusive interactive area. Increasingly one can have ones cake and eat it too :)