I was recently referred to the following YouTube video (thanks, Doug Caldwell) that provides an interesting example of using the virtual reality space Second Life at Schneider Electric and IBM. I find it fascinating to watch and see the possibilities of a 3D interactive experience play out and I am eager to participate in such a session to get a firsthand experience. I am left wondering if the technology really creates the engagement that the narrator mention or if the technology simply prompts the meeting planners to design in more interaction than a typical virtual meeting. How important is it to the trust that one speaker mentions that participants have their own avatars that they dynamically control? Or is the real key the fact that the meeting process gave them a way to express an opinion (rather than the more common sit and listen web conference). And PowerPoint even shows up in this event! The blend of technology and process is still in evolution. Technology is getting more and more sophisticated when perhaps what is most needed is more facilitators who can design truly interactive and engaging processes. Your thoughts?
Posted by Julia Young, Facilitate.com
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16:15
Thanks for the mention, Julia. It’s nice to be noticed.
Very perceptive observations and comments. Especially “…what is most needed is more facilitators who can design truly interactive and engaging processes”
Yes, one can show PowerPoint, billboards, video and lots of very interactive media to engage the audiences either with IM chat or voice. I like the smaller meetings where everyone can shout out at any time. Bigger groups as you have written about tend to inhibit the impromptu verbal response. And then it becomes more of a lecture/presentation format.
Yes, the technology allows the presenter/facilitator to design in more interactive and thought provoking meet-ups. At a recent SL meeting I attended the discussion was started by how we relate to our surroundings as a metaphor for our business, interests and activities.
First, was standing in large bowl that was being filled with popped popcorn. We were asked how popcorn relates to our issues, business etc. Very easy to think of several things.
Next was street corner phone booth and what that form of communication meant in the business world.
Last part of the meeting was going underwater in the fish pond and lessons from being underwater…and not drowning.
By being in three different venues in 50 minutes I found myself contributing a great deal more with ideas and suggestions than a sit-down conference call. There is just something about expressing one’s ideas/thoughts while talking underwater that made all the difference.
I was able to capture the experience on my Internet TV channel for others to watch in re-runs at http://bit.ly/aAVHxa . The popcorn starts popping about 27:30 into Part 1of2 video clip.
10:49
Doug – Thanks for the live report from the popcorn bowl. It is very instructive to see this happening real time. One thing I am reminded of is the importance, as a facilitator, of practicing with my technology and my process. Just like with old fashioned brainstorming with Post-it Notes and flip charts, we can be excited about the energy of the group and the look of all that coloured paper on the walls but afterwards, when looking at the ideas, wonder if we really came up with anything of value. Seems to me that a regular weekly Second Life meet-up group is a great way to practice and experience the online 3D effect and determine when it adds the most value (and is worth the effort) and when it is a fun time sink.
Some big pluses for me from your TV snippet:
+ Your Internet TV show is a great training tool – thank you
+ The energy of the Second Life facilitator – loved her avatar (long jacket, hair, …) and her energy that came across in her tone of voice and authentic laugh
+ The visual experience of being inside a popcorn bowl (heightened if this was the size of my full computer screen) – in an enclosed bowl, bumping into others, popcorn raining down on me, food, colour, heat, …
Things I wonder about:
- Would a really good video clip have had the same impact?
- Were people writing ideas of playing with the movements of their avatars? At what point does the technology shift from an inspiration to a distraction?
- How to manage the pace of events so that people can keep up and that the metaphor of a popcorn popper can be reflected in a fast paced generation and capture of ideas?
08:37
Really interesting idea – I would like to try that for a volunteers meeting of the international organisation that I work with. For normal work purposes we are not allowed to use any service that uses foreign servers. It would be useful though, as distributed teams, like ours, face more than one challenge.
I understand the worry of the technology being more of a distraction than anything else. Hey, I would certainly end up being quite distracted myself. But I do believe that this fades after a while. And secondly I feel that this wouldn’t be a loss. Apart from being the same if not worse in any other kind of meeting with these people, doing something else can help memorizing and understanding a conversation or presentation better. Try drawing doodles when you next answer a phone call. You’ll find you absorb a whole lot more of it.
Thanks for the inspiration!