Re: [vmeet] Supporting interim meetings

[Thomas Narten <[e-mail]>]

John Leslie <[e-mail]> writes:

> Thomas Narten <[e-mail]> wrote:
> > Dave CROCKER <[e-mail]> writes:
> > 
> >> ... an interim meeting could require good Internet access for
> >> participants and, therefore, limit voice to VOIP.  But content
> >> display and meeting management tools probably become more important.
> > 
> > Actually, I don't agree with this (necessarily). The absolute
> > requirements to participate in an interim meeting are more
> > modest. Think about the critical things:
> > 
> >  - audio bridge (could be VoIP, or POTS, that is a detail)
> >  - access to charts
> >  - IM capability as a side channel

>    We have been running virtual meetings with that much for some time
> now, any many folks are used to it. By human nature, if we provide a
> tool that folks aren't used to, they'll gravitate back to _that_ model
> they're used to.

Actually, I wasn't just reporting what we have today. I was thinking
of my participation in remote meetings and the parts I considered
necessary to participate.

>    2) Advance availability of charts is egregiously poorly enforced.
> Where it is enforced it leads to charts which only exist in the
> presenter's imagination. Preparation of slides is the best exercise
> for most presenters to organize their thoughts -- and, alas, the
> last minute is when it, almost by definition, happens.

Absolutely. I am assuming that advance preparation would be
enforced. For something scheduled out in advance (like a WG meeting),
the idea that charts are being editted in real time minutes before the
actualy presentation is flawwed. This is poor work habits of the
presentor, not the nature of how one prepares for meetings.

...

>    But last-minute changes, even changes _during_ the presentation
> are the nature of the beast. I agree with Dave.

Not for the kinds of meetings we are talking about. We are talking
about WG meetings that are scheduled weeks out in advance. Things
shouldn't be in serious flux moments before the call... There may be
exceptions, but in general charts can be done a few days out in
advance of a meeting.

>    Playing back an audio recording is not the normal case. We should
> design for the normal case.

Actually, I've done this fairly often. It has advantages to following
a meeting in real-time (one can pause, rewind, etc.) in cases where
one is not expecting to actually contribute/speak during the meeting.

Thomas