Comments on: Twitter, Gnomedex and holding an attention span http://hummingbird604.com/2008/08/22/twitter-gnomedex-and-holding-an-attention-span/ The personal blog of a Vancouver-based educator in environmental issues Wed, 23 May 2012 20:25:46 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: isabella mori http://hummingbird604.com/2008/08/22/twitter-gnomedex-and-holding-an-attention-span/comment-page-1/#comment-1941 isabella mori Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:59:42 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1704#comment-1941 i think this is a very interesting question. i remember when i was at northernvoice, half of the time i was struck by that odd feeling of - impoliteness. i think what happens for many people who are sitting there with their laptops - and i've done it myself - is that we go all over the place, check email, write a bit on a post, pop into facebook, and, oh, right, also pay SOME attention to the presenter. which is why, perhaps, we need to move far more into facilitation than presentation. the media is not only the message but the medium (laptop) is also the message taker. i think this is a very interesting question. i remember when i was at northernvoice, half of the time i was struck by that odd feeling of – impoliteness. i think what happens for many people who are sitting there with their laptops – and i’ve done it myself – is that we go all over the place, check email, write a bit on a post, pop into facebook, and, oh, right, also pay SOME attention to the presenter.

which is why, perhaps, we need to move far more into facilitation than presentation.

the media is not only the message but the medium (laptop) is also the message taker.

]]> By: Stuart Maxwell http://hummingbird604.com/2008/08/22/twitter-gnomedex-and-holding-an-attention-span/comment-page-1/#comment-1940 Stuart Maxwell Sun, 24 Aug 2008 22:40:04 +0000 http://hummingbird604.wordpress.com/?p=1704#comment-1940 As a former actor, I totally understand your point about wanting an audience's complete attention. However, I think there's a huge value for me as an audience member in being able to use my laptop to get context for the speech that I wouldn't otherwise have. When I can visit a website, download software, or look up a term instantly in response to something a session leader is saying, that adds value for me. As does following the twitter stream of the other audience members' real-time thoughts. I think it's a richer experience for an audience, but I've never had to give a talk in front of that kind of crowd, so I don't know how I'd feel on the other side. As a former actor, I totally understand your point about wanting an audience’s complete attention. However, I think there’s a huge value for me as an audience member in being able to use my laptop to get context for the speech that I wouldn’t otherwise have. When I can visit a website, download software, or look up a term instantly in response to something a session leader is saying, that adds value for me. As does following the twitter stream of the other audience members’ real-time thoughts.

I think it’s a richer experience for an audience, but I’ve never had to give a talk in front of that kind of crowd, so I don’t know how I’d feel on the other side.

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