Modern Communicator

Skypecasting: A new paradigm for running events online?

It seems Skype are innovating with what promises to be a means to starting / participating in focused events on any topic you can dream up.

The service facilitates upto 100 participants joining a conversation on a given subject. Theoretically that sounds wonderful, but how on earth could you facilitate anything over five people. Well, it seems they've thought of that as well. Like ageing hippies who 'pass the talking stick', the moderator gets to do the same with a 'virtual microphone'.

Similar to podcasts, you can search a directory, find an event that interests you, and join it at whatever the start time happens to be.

This development looks very exciting. I really like the idea of rapidly convening an event online, with genuinely engaged people. After all, most are unlikely to take part unless it really interests them.

Only one minor downside it would seem. That is, you'll need to download the latest version of Skype to participate in the conversation. (Just found out this isn't actually the case). I wonder if you can record the conversation online too? That way, it'd be possible to create an event podcast, simply using content discussed online. Now, onto try it.

In theory, this could be revolutionary. It's always been straightforward to find participants online for asynchronous communication. Voice, coupled with ease of organisation, opens up a new paradigm for hosting fascinating events!

Focused Flashmobbing Online?

On and Offline are dead......

It's just communication....

Just returned from a second meeting with NMK. (First meeting posting here)

We're developing an event around the theme of organisational communication. The 'strap' is emerging. Something like,

'Online and Offline are dead. It's just communication'.

The point of the event is to focus on key organisational communications challenges, examples being Change Management, Compliance, CSR (and sub themes within them). The event might take the form of a series of short case studies outlining how both on and offline techniques were employed together to solve a problem. This would be followed up heavy duty Q & A. In addition, there'd be a seriously inter-active element, yet to be decided on.

The feeling developing between NMK director, Zoe Black, and I is a more holistic approach to organisational communication means better communication.

Additionally, to expose new (and to some, radical) offline communication techniques such as:

- Unconferencing

- Flashmob meetings (Special thanks to Tony Carey for allowing this to be published here)

We see participants as including:

- CEO's
- Brand Managers
- Internal Comms Directors
- Knowledge Managers
- HR directors
- Marcoms directors
- Web Communicators (less so, developers/designers)

The first step is to shape ideas, then build a steering panel consisting of practicioners, thinkers, buyers, suppliers. Once a basic agenda has been shaped, we'll move onto logistics, then the event itself.

I welcome feedback in the form of comments to the post. In this case, there's no such thing as a bad idea!