Comments on: To WiFi or not to WiFi? http://carsonified.com/blog/events/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 22:55:02 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Bobbie http://carsonified.com/blog/events/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi/#comment-175 Bobbie Fri, 23 Feb 2007 19:40:06 +0000 http://carsonified.com/fowa/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi#comment-175 I can't remember the last conference I went to that got WiFi right. That alone is a reason not to have WiFi at all, but I wonder if it's really going to do much except annoy people. Personally, I find it distracting as a speaker to watch people tapping away, but as an audience member it's incredibly useful - especially when the day is a long one with lots of speakers, or you're half-listening to a presentation that doesn't do it for you (and in any multiday event there are going to be some of those). And there are going to be hundreds of paying audience members to one non-paying speaker. One example of somebody who does it sort of successfully would be Apple, where at major announcements the general rule is that there is a press area with WiFi but the auditorium itself is a black hole without connectivity. If you need it desperately, you can go out and get it. None of this, of course, will stop people from creating their own connections inside the auditorium. I tend to do my liveblogging over a 3G phone data connection, but then it's part of my job and not everyone will want to pay for hours of access; and I noted at the iPhone announcement in January that Ryan Block had opened internet access via his machine for the Engadget crew. However, if you're running an event that lasts all day (not just an hour or so) I think not providing ANY kind of connectivity is a bit harsh and given that you're talking to people in an industry focused on the internet, seems counter-intuitive. I can’t remember the last conference I went to that got WiFi right. That alone is a reason not to have WiFi at all, but I wonder if it’s really going to do much except annoy people.

Personally, I find it distracting as a speaker to watch people tapping away, but as an audience member it’s incredibly useful – especially when the day is a long one with lots of speakers, or you’re half-listening to a presentation that doesn’t do it for you (and in any multiday event there are going to be some of those). And there are going to be hundreds of paying audience members to one non-paying speaker.

One example of somebody who does it sort of successfully would be Apple, where at major announcements the general rule is that there is a press area with WiFi but the auditorium itself is a black hole without connectivity. If you need it desperately, you can go out and get it.

None of this, of course, will stop people from creating their own connections inside the auditorium. I tend to do my liveblogging over a 3G phone data connection, but then it’s part of my job and not everyone will want to pay for hours of access; and I noted at the iPhone announcement in January that Ryan Block had opened internet access via his machine for the Engadget crew.

However, if you’re running an event that lasts all day (not just an hour or so) I think not providing ANY kind of connectivity is a bit harsh and given that you’re talking to people in an industry focused on the internet, seems counter-intuitive.

]]> By: Owen http://carsonified.com/blog/events/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi/#comment-174 Owen Tue, 12 Dec 2006 16:15:30 +0000 http://carsonified.com/fowa/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi#comment-174 How about a simple introduction movie before every presentation, much like in the movie theatres, that says: switch phones of during presentation/no smoking allowed/minimize IM/email/websurfing. Just a polite reminder to the house rules everyone already knows. It also makes a proper start of the presentation, gets everyones attention etc. How about a simple introduction movie before every presentation, much like in the movie theatres, that says: switch phones of during presentation/no smoking allowed/minimize IM/email/websurfing. Just a polite reminder to the house rules everyone already knows. It also makes a proper start of the presentation, gets everyones attention etc.

]]> By: Tanny O'Haley http://carsonified.com/blog/events/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi/#comment-173 Tanny O'Haley Fri, 08 Dec 2006 19:26:37 +0000 http://carsonified.com/fowa/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi#comment-173 There have been studies that say reading email while trying to do something else actually reduces your IQ. I think this would reduce an attendee's ability to pay attention to the presentation. http://www.ericmackonline.com/ica/blogs/emonline.nsf/dx/e-mail-is-bad-for-your-brain Not only that, but if the person next to me is busily browsing, IM-ing and making a lot of noise typing, their actions will distract me and prevent me from hearing the complete presentation. Even if they don't type loudly the flashing of their monitor will distract their neighbors. I like Eric Meyer's idea of moving people who demand to "blog/IM/type" to a different area of the room. The one change I'd make is that those who "are planning to blog/IM/type" not sit to the left, but sit in the back of the room. That way their computers are behind me and out of sight, though there still is the noise. There have been studies that say reading email while trying to do something else actually reduces your IQ. I think this would reduce an attendee’s ability to pay attention to the presentation.

http://www.ericmackonline.com/ica/blogs/emonline.nsf/dx/e-mail-is-bad-for-your-brain

Not only that, but if the person next to me is busily browsing, IM-ing and making a lot of noise typing, their actions will distract me and prevent me from hearing the complete presentation. Even if they don’t type loudly the flashing of their monitor will distract their neighbors.

I like Eric Meyer’s idea of moving people who demand to “blog/IM/type” to a different area of the room. The one change I’d make is that those who “are planning to blog/IM/type” not sit to the left, but sit in the back of the room. That way their computers are behind me and out of sight, though there still is the noise.

]]> By: Ross Hill http://carsonified.com/blog/events/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi/#comment-172 Ross Hill Fri, 08 Dec 2006 12:00:43 +0000 http://carsonified.com/fowa/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi#comment-172 Off! If people are going there to meet in person and listen to speakers in person they shouldn't be online. If you are going to have wifi, why not just webcast the whole thing from a studio? You can then have speakers from anywhere in the world, and those who want to surf can surf. Heck, why not just record sessions and sell video casts? Off! If people are going there to meet in person and listen to speakers in person they shouldn’t be online.

If you are going to have wifi, why not just webcast the whole thing from a studio? You can then have speakers from anywhere in the world, and those who want to surf can surf. Heck, why not just record sessions and sell video casts?

]]> By: Dylan http://carsonified.com/blog/events/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi/#comment-171 Dylan Fri, 08 Dec 2006 08:19:36 +0000 http://carsonified.com/fowa/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi#comment-171 I'd suggest leaving it on, for the very reason that if all 800 attendees logon at exactly the same time, only during the breaks, then no one will get any connectivity at all due to the connection crush. I’d suggest leaving it on, for the very reason that if all 800 attendees logon at exactly the same time, only during the breaks, then no one will get any connectivity at all due to the connection crush.

]]> By: Gill http://carsonified.com/blog/events/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi/#comment-170 Gill Thu, 07 Dec 2006 16:09:45 +0000 http://carsonified.com/fowa/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi#comment-170 As we're in London right now with Eric Meyer - we asked him what his thoughts were on the 'to wifi or not to wifi situation'. As it happens, he's been considering this very issue for An Event Apart. He suggested that we don't turn the wifi off during the presentations but, politely, ask people to sit on the left if they are planning to blog/IM/type and on the right if they are planning to sit quietly and just listen. I think that's a good solution - everyone wins! As we’re in London right now with Eric Meyer – we asked him what his thoughts were on the ‘to wifi or not to wifi situation’. As it happens, he’s been considering this very issue for An Event Apart.

He suggested that we don’t turn the wifi off during the presentations but, politely, ask people to sit on the left if they are planning to blog/IM/type and on the right if they are planning to sit quietly and just listen.
I think that’s a good solution – everyone wins!

]]> By: Rick http://carsonified.com/blog/events/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi/#comment-169 Rick Thu, 07 Dec 2006 14:16:36 +0000 http://carsonified.com/fowa/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi#comment-169 I say turn it off. I find it distracting, as an attendee, when half the audience is doing busy work on their laptops. If someone is on emergency call, then they hopefully have SMS (on vibrate) and a wireless card (Sprint rocks!). And take it to the lobby! :) I say turn it off. I find it distracting, as an attendee, when half the audience is doing busy work on their laptops. If someone is on emergency call, then they hopefully have SMS (on vibrate) and a wireless card (Sprint rocks!). And take it to the lobby! :)

]]> By: Matt Lee http://carsonified.com/blog/events/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi/#comment-168 Matt Lee Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:54:01 +0000 http://carsonified.com/fowa/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi#comment-168 I think I'd be pissed off if I couldn't WiFi. Why not block non-port 80 traffic during talks if it's a real problem? Looking relevant stuff up on the web is a useful thing when people talk about stuff, IMing your girlfriend is not. I think I’d be pissed off if I couldn’t WiFi. Why not block non-port 80 traffic during talks if it’s a real problem? Looking relevant stuff up on the web is a useful thing when people talk about stuff, IMing your girlfriend is not.

]]> By: Megan http://carsonified.com/blog/events/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi/#comment-167 Megan Thu, 07 Dec 2006 00:33:47 +0000 http://carsonified.com/fowa/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi#comment-167 I'm leaning towards switching it off, myself. Not to mention at Web Apps in San Fran, people became more pre-occupied (alright, obsessed) with checking their connection every five seconds than live-blogging the event. I’m leaning towards switching it off, myself. Not to mention at Web Apps in San Fran, people became more pre-occupied (alright, obsessed) with checking their connection every five seconds than live-blogging the event.

]]> By: Craig http://carsonified.com/blog/events/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi/#comment-166 Craig Wed, 06 Dec 2006 13:53:11 +0000 http://carsonified.com/fowa/to-wifi-or-not-to-wifi#comment-166 I think that turning off WiFi is a great idea. Although you may experience some backlash for doing so, I think everyone will learn more as a result. I was a student not all too long ago, and whenever there was an Internet connection during class - no one learned a thing. It's just far too easy to spend your time checking sports scores or sending IMs to friends. And while people might claim that they wouldn't act like this since they are paying to be there, I doubt that highly. I think that turning off WiFi is a great idea. Although you may experience some backlash for doing so, I think everyone will learn more as a result. I was a student not all too long ago, and whenever there was an Internet connection during class – no one learned a thing. It’s just far too easy to spend your time checking sports scores or sending IMs to friends. And while people might claim that they wouldn’t act like this since they are paying to be there, I doubt that highly.

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