Are Chat Capabilities During Online Conferences A Good Idea
Adding the versatility of the Internet to a conference call has many advantages
. You can take advantage of audio and video capabilities, or illustrate points with pages from your own or other websites. You can also offer participants the opportunity to communicate through online chat.Many teleconference organizers, however, choose not to offer chat capabilities during their calls. This is because it presents some potential problems. Here we will examine the pros and cons of facilitating chat during an online conference call.
Arguments for Offering Chat
Conference calls are designed to bring people together to discuss things. One potential drawback is that too many people talking at one time can result in nobody being heard. Most conference call providers allow the call's originator to mute the audience during presentations so that presenters can be heard clearly. Offering chat will allow listeners to ask questions as they come to mind without interrupting the speaker.
Chat can also allow the audience to communicate with one another. Listeners may have experiences or thoughts they can share that add to what is being discussed, and chat provides a way for them to share them without being disruptive.
Another good thing about chat is that users can give feedback to the speaker. If she isn't speaking loudly enough, for example, a listener can let her know that it is hard for him to hear what she is saying. Listeners can also advise about any technical problems that occur.
Arguments Against Offering Chat
Critics of using chat during online conference calls often say that it's distracting. Listeners may get so caught up in chatting that they miss what is going on during the call. And that can be detrimental to your call's success.
Another problem with chat is the need for moderation. Someone needs to monitor the chat to watch for users who are being rude or using profane language. There is also the possibility of a spammer logging in and promoting his own agenda. These types will need to be warned or removed, but by the time that happens they could have already derailed the discussion and lowered other participants' morale.
Some also argue that offering chat during a conference call is too expensive. This is, however, not necessarily true. Online conferencing software often includes a chat program. Those who do not have full-featured conferencing software can purchase chat software on its own for a reasonable price, and it can also be used for other purposes in the future.
Whether or not to offer chat capabilities during your conference is a matter of preference. It has advantages and disadvantages, but if properly moderated the opportunity for users to chat is usually an asset. It makes your conference more interactive while minimizing audible distractions.
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