When the Resource Development Council (RDC) of Alaska holds its Annual Conference November 18-19, they expect to draw a record number of participants. Why? Because the conference is introducing new micro-blogging technology that will track each speaker session with live updates posted directly to the RDC’s website.
Micro-blogging can be described as posting short messages, in real-time, to the web. For the RDC’s 5,000 members Statewide, this means they can still participate in the two-day event even if they cannot attend in person.
AadlandFlint, the digital communications agency behind bringing the technology to Alaska, sees the application as a natural progression from instant messaging and live-streaming. As Colin Clarke, AadlandFlint’s senior strategist explains, the micro-blogging tool means that key points from each speaker will be blogged in real-time directly to the RDC’s website, allowing anyone with an internet connection to join in and follow along with each session – in real-time – from wherever they are.
However as Clarke points out, the application is not simply about providing information for otherwise absent participants. It also provides a way to enhance the interactiveness of the conference. Participants both at the conference venue and those connected virtually to it can post comments live as the speaker is presenting. This is achieved through clever use of Twitter, where by using a special hash tag code followers can ‘tweet’ about proceedings and their tweets will instantaneously appear on the conference feed.
This is the first time that micro-blogging has been used in the State as a conference tool and overcomes many of the difficulties that some of the alternatives, such as live-streaming, can run up against. Live-streaming involves recording a presentation and feeding the recording directly to the website allowing viewers to follow along in real time. But a major problem with live-streaming is that it requires high bandwidth for it to work smoothly and also requires a follower to be watching constantly to keep up with proceedings. With micro-blogging a participant can leave the room, return, scroll back over the micro-blog updates and catch up very quickly. And with the Twitter feed they can also review the responses that the presenter got.
“We’re not talking about trawling back through verbatim transcripts, the micro-blogs will summarize key points quickly and succinctly,” says Clarke.
A micro-blog record from each session will also be saved on the RDC website post-conference so both attendees and non-attendees can go back and review the discussions and comments from every session at their own convenience.
Clarke says that the level of ‘connectivity’ in Alaska is amazing. WIFI access, web enabled handhelds, digital mobile service and more. The most recent census stats for connectivity found that Alaska is the second most connected State in the US by household. “So it’s extremely forward thinking of the RDC to take advantage of that connection and make the most of it,” he said.
RDC executive director Jason Brune said the RDC is excited to provide the new technology to its members. “It’s a great opportunity to extend the reach of our annual conference and we thank AadlandFlint for their digital expertise in providing this tool for us.”
About AadlandFlint
AadlandFlint is a leader in digital strategy providing the best in social media strategy, online training tools, web architecture, email marketing and more. Here are some places where you can follow along with the latest information on marketing communications with a digital edge.
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