tracking the back channel

TRACKING THE BACK CHANNEL

Michael CoghlanTRIC ConferenceAugust 6th, 2009

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bjoern/70875998

What’s this?

What’s this?

What’s this?

What’s this?

“WE SHAPE OUR TOOLS AND THEREAFTER OUR TOOLS SHAPE US.” (MCLUHAN)

FROM SMOKE SIGNALS TO THE INTERNET

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sundve/3766277273

“Man - the compulsive communicator.”(David Attenborough)

WHAT IS THE BACKCHANNEL?

• “Backchannel is the practice of using networked computers to maintain a real-time online conversation alongside live spoken remarks. The term was coined in the field of Linguistics to describe listeners' behaviours during verbal communication, Victor Yngve 1970.” (Wikipedia)

BACKCHANNEL TOOLS

• Direct or instant messaging in web conferencing tools (eg Centra, Elluminate)

• Blogs (standard), and custom made tools like Cover It Live

• Live polling tools like Poll Everywhere• Twitter (Yammer could also be used this way)

Impact for AudienceAdvantages Disadvantages

Impact for AudienceAdvantages Disadvantages

• Audience is more engaged• You don’t have to wait till the end of a presentation to ask questions or comment• Can communicate with other people in the room about issues raised in the presentation• Allows remote participants to take part• Provides you with an archive of the presentation (note taking)

• May miss some points while writing commentary, responding to other backchannellers• Is mentally very taxing• May start to stray off-topic (what’s for lunch? How are the kids? Etc)• Opportunity to make negative remarks behind the speaker’s back

Impact for Speaker/PresenterAdvantages Disadvantages

Impact for Speaker/PresenterAdvantages Disadvantages• Can get real time feedback from audience• Can ensure that you are meeting audience needs/answering urgent questions• Promotes greater level of engagement• Can get input on specific questions from your network (both those physically present and remote)• a listener may elaborate on something you’re saying (eg add more information about a theory, post a URL, suggested a related blog, etc)• May get positive feedback from audience as it happens• Models a new way of teaching/presenting that is less teacher-centric and more network-centric• You reach a wider audience

• Many of your audience may not be looking at you• May appear as if many are not paying attention• Your audience has access to a ‘critical channel’• Your thoughts may be communicated to an audience for whom they were not intended• Can be overwhelming to keep track of (may require working in tandem with a moderator)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bjoern/70875998

WHY DO SOME SEE IT AS A CURSE?

COMPARE:• taking notes• Watching TV while chatting with others• Critiquing own music while listening to it• Talking at an outdoors event

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31031835@N08/3438438351

WHY DO SOME SEE IT AS A CURSE?

THE DIFFERENCE:• Those in the backchannel have access to

commentary that the speaker/presenter may not have access to.

• Is therefore seen as ‘disruptive’ and threatening.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31031835@N08/3438438351

• Twitter• Twemes http://twemes.com/• Addictomatic http://addictomatic.com/

AGGREGATORS

Your thoughts?

RESOURCES

• How to Present While People are Twittering • How to tweet during a presentation (Olivia

Mitchell)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/goldenswamp/2505581808

Michael Coghlanmichaelc@chariot.net.auhttp://protopage.com/michaelc