The exponential growth of the Internet has had a profound democratizing effect on the global community. It has become infinitely easier to connect with just about anyone across the planet and in real-time, no less. What’s more, it’s not just about sharing a text conversation, a voice call, or a photo attachment; live video has become the thing. And the Internet has also provided an incredible platform for anyone and everyone to have a voice.
These are all great things, but they are not without their challenges. Since everyone has a voice, it can be difficult to separate the signal from the noise. It has become increasingly difficult to get noticed. And even when you do find the platform to reach out to hundreds or even thousands of viewers, there is still a disconnect or a barrier between presenters and attendees.
Consider the more traditional stage presentation or keynote speech. One person stands on a podium in front of the crowd and says what he wants to say. The audience members are demoted to passive consumers of this talk, not active participants in the conversation. The online paradigm is oftentimes much the same, but it doesn’t have to be this way.
Even when you have globally popular and relevant events, as might be the case with a TED Talk, it is possible to leverage the amazing democratizing factor of live online video broadcasts with the interactivity of a round table discussion. One of the better solutions for this configuration is Blue Jeans Primetime. This is perfect for both your modest online talk and your massive online event with tens of thousands of concurrent viewers.
The video broadcast is shared with anyone who wants to watch it (and is granted access to it). When you have thousands of viewers, it would be a logistical nightmare if everyone could speak at once, which would be the case with conventional online chat. With Primetime, an attendee must first raise his hand (in a virtual kind of way) and the moderator can then invite the attendee to go live. Once the invitation is accepted, that attendee can become an interactive participant. This is perfect for multinationals, for instance, where executives can present from different offices around the globe. It’s also a great idea for co-working spaces.
No longer are you restricted to one guy in a three-piece suit standing on the podium, because attendees from all around the world can be added and removed from the conversation at will. It’s a broadcast that is fully interactive. You can be on your new MacBook or you can be logging in through your newly upgraded Windows 10 PC. The platform works in the cloud, so it’s even compatible with corporate-style room systems, as well as mobile devices.
Many people might view live video chats as being a completely separate notion from live video broadcasts. This simply is not the case. With the widespread adoption of higher speed Internet connections and the lowering cost of high-quality video equipment, everyone can and does have a voice. And in glorious HD to boot.