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Gavin Newman: Glossary of confusion
21st June 2012
Are you one of the elite few that understands the terminology used in the world of emerging online and hybrid events? No?... Well, you’re not alone.
This new space may have the word ‘event’ included in its sector defining title, however, there is a whole new vocabulary that accompanies it and it can be a minefield at first glance.
The fear of not having any understanding of this new glossary of terms can turn many a traditional event professional into a quivering blancmange. I’ve seen it first-hand and I wholly understand why we see so many live event producers, fingers in ears, going 'la la la la' when we try and explain to them how digital events could work for them.
Webinar, webcast, immersive, pseudo, 3D, virtual, avatar, hybrid, widget, plug-in, embed code... The list is long. It isn’t just about understanding the definition of these terms, the issue is much greater than this simple task.
Each word describes a process, piece of kit or software application, but understanding these terms on their own is not sufficient. It is comprehending how these elements combine and fit together to make an event that is more important.
My advice is to first relate each element from an online event to its counterpart in a live event. Working on this principle, the glossary of terms could look something like this chart. As you will see the ‘areas’ of an online event mirror those of a live event in both terminology and functionality.
| TERM | MEANING | LIVE COUNTERPART |
|
User |
Your internet self. It is how you are referred to when you log in to an online event. |
You. |
|
CMS (Content Management System)
|
A computer system that allows publishing, editing, and modifying content as well as site maintenance from a central page. A CMS is the brain behind an online event and manages all the registration, the spaces within it and the content. |
Your event management team. Production, designers, registration team and technical facilitators. |
|
Webcast
|
A media presentation distributed over the internet watched by multiple users much like a TV show. |
Sitting in an audience of real people watching someone deliver a presentation.
|
| Webinar | A service that allows a seminar event to be shared with remote locations and users. | Similar to the above but with more interactive content and audience participation such as a workshop or seminar. |
|
Hybrid event |
A hybrid event is a tradeshow, conference or event that combines a 'live' in-person event with a 'virtual' online component.
|
None. A hybrid event just gives the best of both worlds and allows for people to attend the event in the format they prefer or are able to attend. |
|
Networking lounge |
A digital networking space that sits in the online event usually with a 3D background image of a sofa laden room or bar. Live chat with other show goers, contribute to polls & surveys, or blog and post out to your social media. |
The coffee lounge at an event where you can converse, argue about the state of the industry and network with others. Don’t forget to tweet about it all from your smartphone! |
| Resource centre | A wealth of digital information held in a central repository such as programme content, event resources, press and white papers where users can go and download to their digital briefcase. | A well-hidden information kiosk loaded with paper based event related materials. |
| Online auditorium | A space in the online event dedicated to the delivery of both live and ‘on-demand’ video or audio presentations. On-demand video/audio allows users to view content in their own time. | A room in the event dedicated to the delivery of live presentations. |
|
3D immersive |
Where a user is surrounded in an engrossing three dimensional virtual reality environment. You would usually have an ‘avatar’ to walk around in this 3D immersive environment. |
It’s you again but describes the surroundings you are in...how engrossing your live environment is is perhaps up for debate though. |
|
Chat widget
|
An application that enables a user to communicate via typed chat with other users in an online event. |
You opening your mouth and speaking to people. |
|
Plug in |
A set of software components that adds specific abilities to a larger software application. A browser plug in for instance allows Google Chrome/Firefox etc to perform different and specific functions that may be relevant to you such as playing videos or scanning for viruses. It allows for 3rd party software developers to develop customisations for bigger platform for their own needs. |
Adding a customisation or feature to your live event. |
|
Embed code |
A code used to plug a picture, song or video into your online event. If you create a video in Youtube and want to ‘embed’ it into your event then you need the embed code relevant to this video. These codes can also work to embed webcasts, webinars and video into online events. |
Hit ‘play’ on the DVD machine in your event to show a video or play music. |
|
Avatar |
A personalised graphic of a ‘user’, sometimes an accurately modelled 3D effigy that accurately represents them. Or NOT in the case of 2nd life. |
It’s you, again. |
|
Digital briefcase/event bag |
As you make your way around an online event you can place brochures, videos or other people’s business cards in here for viewing later. |
As you make your way around an event you can have unwanted brochures and business cards placed in here by booth reps for viewing later or leaving under your desk for years to come. |
Have we missed some terms? Undoubtedly, there are countless others that cause events professionals to scratch their heads in confusion. If you have any suggestions, email Events Guru stating the term or bit of jargon. There are plans on the horizon to run some free workshops to introduce this whole new space to interested parties. Sign up to our newsletter so you don't miss out on all our updates!
Comments
Good day! Do you use Twitter?
Good day! Do you use Twitter? I'd like to follow you if that would be ok. I'm definitely enjoying your blog and look forward to new posts.
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