MeetingPod

MeetingPod

One of the problems with virtual meetings, particularly those based text chat systems, is knowing who is going to start speaking next. What typically happens is that several people start speaking at the same time, leading to lots of mixing and overlapping of different threads.

The bigger the meeting, the worse the problem.

The Eduserv Foundation SL MeetingPod attempts to overcome these problems by providing a virtual chair to keep track of who wants to speak. Meeting participants, who must be seated on one of the available chairs, raise their hand (by pressing the PAGE-UP key) to indicate that they wish to speak. The virtual chair then adds them to a queue. When it is their turn to speak, the chair will say so and send a message to the avatar's seat, causing them to wave their hand. When they have said their piece, the participant should press the PAGE-DOWN key indicating that they have finished. The virtual chair will then ask the next person in the queue to speak.

Participants can leave the queue at any time by pressing the PAGE-DOWN key.

The MeetingPod is located high up in the air, somewhere near the Talis tower block in Cybrary City. This location makes for great views, particularly at sunset.

There is room for 8 participants at a time.

The MeetingPod also comes equipped with presentation facilities onto which pre-prepared slides can be displayed. Participants should type '//99 on' and '/99 off' to turn the slide projector on and off.

The MeetingPod is available for use by anyone for free. However, please book a slot so that it doesn't get double booked. To make a booking in world please IM 'Art Fossett'. Alternatively email andy.powell@eduserv.org.uk.

A list of bookings will be maintained on the MeetingPod Yahoo calendar.