Backchannel Twitter Chat at Spring of Web 2009
Apr
8
During our Summer of Web 2008 event, we experimented with backchannel communication, and set up a Meebo chatroom so people could talk about the conference as it was happening. This also gave people the opportunity to ask questions and steer the discussion without having to interrupt and possibly distract the speaker.
At SXSW, this was taken a half-step further by utilizing Twitter as a means of real-time communication. Panelists would define a particular hashtag for their panel as a means of grouping communication. For instance, if a panel was about higher ed web, the hashtag could be defined as ‘#highedweb’ and then people could add this hashtag as part of their response, making it easy for the panelist and audience to track all the conversations with a mere search of the hashtag.
The problem with backchannel communication is the obvious splitting of attention of audience members between the speaker and the online conversation. In addition, there is the concern that someone would highjack the chat and steer the group away from serious discussion.
The good news is that by using Twitter and a free programs like TweetDeck or through the Twitter website search, you can easily create a virtual chatroom by searching for the hashtag. Even better, if someone is a distraction, you can filter them out by using Twitter search operators. For example, if you want to follow conversations about Gator Basketball but want to filter out all of my brilliant commentary, you would enter “#gatorbasketball -brucefloyd”. Simple as that!
We’ll be using #SoW09 as the hashtag for the Spring of Web event, so get ready to fire up Twitter and follow the conversation.
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