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Reach out to a mass audience via the Web?
The Situation
Communities, businesses and other organizations are no longer restricted by geographic location and the Internet has been the basis for that change. The Internet has made it possible for people to communicate with others from across the globe on a vast scale.
In addition to text chat, video/voice chat, instant message and bulletin board, webcasts and moderated chats are becoming more and more accepted as technology grows and people begin to embrace new ways of communicating with one another.
Webcasts and Moderated chats have proven to be a valuable communication tool to a wide spectrum of society that includes business, education, non-profit, entertainment and sports. They are much more personal and interactive than a memo or an e-mail. Webcasts and Moderated chats are related in that one person or entity can reach out to many and deliver a message. But that is where the similarities end.
Webcasts, traditionally, are a one-way communication tool. Steve Jobs delivering his keynote at MacWorld is an example of a webcast. He essentially delivers a speech, which is then broadcast over the Web and shared with anyone interested in tuning in. The downside is that audience members tuning in via the Web do not have the opportunity to interact with him.
A Moderated chat is a two-way communication tool that allows for interaction between the audience and the guest. They are most commonly found on fan sites like Maxis Software (www.maxis.com), developers of SimCity. Their chat events give game producers an opportunity to interact with fans. A moderator is present to screen questions and keep the discussion focused and moving smoothly. Moderated chats are also used in the business community. For instance, a moderated chat can be scheduled to announce and gather feedback regarding a new business division. The shortcoming of this technology is that the audience can’t hear or see the guest.
Each technology is an extremely useful tool in and of itself. However, each has its limitations. The next step in the evolution of the moderated chat and the webcast is a viable blend of the two technologies or a moderated webcast. It would allow audience members to pose questions during a webcast. A moderator would be able to screen each question and then present them to the guest who would then provide a response.
While moderated chat technology has been widely accepted, webcasts are just now starting to gain momentum. According to a study sponsored by MCI called “Meetings in America,” thirty-three percent (33%) of respondents have participated in a webcast in the past three months (2002). With the major downside to webcasts being the fact that it is non-interactive, the moderated webcast certainly addresses that issue, which could drastically increase the use and popularity of this new form of Web communication.
Steps to Conducting a Moderated WebCast
1.) Determine event content and make a compelling case for people to attend by publicizing occasion through traditional, as well as, online avenues.
2.) Educate guest speaker on how the webcast will proceed, how to field questions, etc.
3.) Have a moderator present to screen questions so that the discussion stays focused. The moderator will have complete control over the discussion.
4.) Once your moderated chat starts, have fun and enjoy the ability to see, hear and interact with your guest speaker.
The Digi-Net Solution
Digi-Net is currently developing the moderated webcast, which will allow users to interact with the guest speaker during a session. The preparation is similar to that of a moderated chat, in that all messages must pass through the moderator.
A chat user may not send private messages to someone who is functioning solely as a guest speaker. Private messages may, however, be sent to a Moderator even if that Moderator doubles as the guest speaker. Conversely, any individual logging into a session using the ChatMaster application may privately message the guest speaker.
As a webcast takes place, the Moderator is the first and possibly the only person to see incoming messages from a chat user. As a user posts a message, it appears in the moderator queue and at that point the moderator has the option of either sending the message to everyone including the guest speaker or just the guest speaker.
If the user’s question or comment is inappropriate, unclear or
can be answered by the moderator, a private message can be sent back to
the user or a broadcast message can be sent to all users.
Once the moderator approves a message and posts it to the guest speaker for all to see, it may be responded to publicly or privately by anyone receiving it.
It is imperative to maintain control over the tone and flow of questions and comments during a Moderated Webcast. Beyond just vulgar language, there is the potential that inappropriate or hostile commentary can derail the focus of a topic-specific conversation. Discussions can easily get out of control without the assistance of a moderator and Digi-Net’s technology solution provides the proper tools to ensure a smooth flow and appropriate conduct for a moderated webcast.
Why DigiChat?
DigiChat AV Enterprise provides the ability to conduct supervised forums where a moderator can screen or filter incoming questions or comments to a guest speaker. By utilizing the new video and voice capabilities of DigiChat AV, the moderated auditorium-style webcast is yet another facet of this latest version of DigiChat.
While the moderated webcast provides the perfect venue to communicate with a mass audience via the Web, DigiChat AV Enterprise also provides a scalable real-time chat engine with support for an unlimited number of chat rooms, Web and application-based instant messaging and now full voice (VoIP) and video chat sessions! It also supports all major platforms (Windows, MacOS, Linux/UNIX, Solaris) and all major browsers.
DigiChat AV Enterprise is the clear market-leader in Java communication software solutions. Key features for companies looking to create an active communication destination include:
1.) Real-Time Text Chat (video and voice/VoIp) Collaboration
2.) Support for Secure (128 bit SSL) Password Protected Rooms
3.) Support for Multiple, Independent Departments
4.) Support for Group (many-to-many) and Instant Message Type Chat
5.) Population Awareness (who’s online, who’s available, etc.)
6.) File Transfer Support
7.) Cross-Platform Support (application or browser)
8.) Logging and Transcript Capabilities
9.) Fully Brandable/Skinnable
10.) Firewall/Proxy Friendly
11.) License or Hosting/ASP Deployment Options
To add the latest in Java-based chat technology to your Web site or for a more detailed list of features, please contact our online community specialists at (877) 404-2428 or go to http://test.digi-net.com/technology/digichat/index.html.
